When Michael Dooley was merely 19, he stepped into the automotive industry. Climbing the ranks swiftly, he became a dealership manager by his mid-20s. However, he soon realized that achieving excellence in sales alone wasn’t enough for sustainable growth. Grasping the significance of a loyal customer base, Dooley ventured into the realm of marketing and brand development. This decision not only propelled his career but also reshaped the landscape of automotive marketing.
Guided by a competitive spirit and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Dooley pursued his newfound interest in marketing earnestly. His turning point came while he was launching a luxury car dealership. He cleverly used social media platforms to chronicle his daily experiences, trials, and triumphs. This authentic narrative resonated with his audience, and his live videos soon went viral. Consequently, other dealerships started seeking his counsel, propelling him to inadvertently set the foundation of a new business.
Leveraging his personal brand and his wide-ranging experience in the auto industry, Dooley discovered a unique niche. What initially seemed like an ‘accidental’ venture soon cemented his position as an influential figure in automotive lead generation and the software-as-a-service (SaaS) community.
Dooley’s brainchild, Pinnacle Online Marketing, now extends its services to clients across nine different countries. Despite this expansive reach, Dooley continues to underscore the importance of staying true to one’s unique journey and steering clear of comparisons. To him, success lies in establishing personal, achievable goals that align with one’s ‘why.’
Dooley’s entrepreneurial journey wasn’t without its fair share of challenges. Post-dealership, he faced turbulent times in Australia, including devastating bushfires and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than letting these adversities curb his ambitions, Dooley viewed them as avenues for growth and embraced a more global client approach.
The secret sauce to Pinnacle’s accelerated growth lies not in pursuing the biggest clients but in delivering personalized solutions and value to each client. Dooley’s commitment to authenticity, manifested in his public persona, fosters a deep sense of trust, which strengthens his client relationships.
Balancing a flourishing business, Dooley never compromises on family time, reserving Sundays specifically for his loved ones. The joy he derives from these moments fuels his motivation for his work. Moreover, he has built a stellar team at Pinnacle, which allows him to focus on strategic planning and overall business growth.
As he looks to the future, Dooley’s plans brim with ambition. He is committed to turning Pinnacle into a comprehensive solution for clients by continuously adding new features to their services and software. Dooley also relishes the role of an outsourced CMO for various clients, offering fresh insights and global expertise to help firms bolster their marketing and sales strategies.
His nugget of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs is both simple and profound: “Be genuine and have a clear understanding of your purpose. Draw up a plan, set manageable goals, and then go ahead and achieve them.”
As Dooley continues to steer his business towards new frontiers and assist his clients in their success, his influence on the automotive marketing industry is set to amplify. To delve deeper into Pinnacle Online Marketing’s story, visit their website or explore their journey here.
