The experts who help your business get found – meet the founders of Grandur!

In the bright lounge on Sankt Eriksgatan sit Grandurs founders comfortably on a sofa. Through the large windows you can see parts of the Gothenburg Opera House, NCC logos with associated barracks and boats gliding past in the harbor entrance. David, Josef and Otto exchange glances between each other and the view as they talk about their journey.

Tell us a bit about Grandur. What is your corporate journey like?

“Our story actually started in a rather odd place,” David begins, leaning forward on the sofa. “I was sitting in the waiting room at the medical center and suddenly Josef appeared. We’d worked together at another agency a couple of years earlier and had become good friends.”

Josef nods in agreement: “I had been thinking a lot during my parental leave, thoughts of doing something of my own emerged.”

“David has joked and nagged me several times before that we should do something together,” Josef continues with a laugh, “but the timing was never right. Now I finally got him to shut up!”

David smiles: “But we both knew we needed a third person in, and we both had our sights set on Otto.”

“When they pulled me in for a few lunches and conversations, I could see the potential right away,” Otto adds as he takes a sip of coffee. “We had all seen the same problem from different angles – agencies trying to be everything to everyone, but not really excelling at anything.”

With over a decade of experience in both large and small agencies, they chose a different path – focusing on what they do best: SEO, search advertising and tracking.

“We decided to be extremely clear about what we are good at,” David continues. “When our clients need something outside our area of expertise, we’d rather recommend a good partner – we really believe in doing fewer things, but doing them really well.”

Otto sums it up succinctly: “In short, if you want your business to be visible when your target audience is actively searching and looking for what you offer – then we have a black belt in just that.”

How did you get into the marketing industry?

“For me it all started in retail,” says Otto. “I worked in consumer durables and immediately saw the link between marketing and sales. When we communicated the right message at the right time, we saw an immediate sales increase in the store.”

Josef touches his coffee cup: “I’ve always liked data, and the psychology behind buying. Digital marketing gives us tools to understand and influence buying decisions.”

“As Josef mentions, I love psychology and behavior,” David adds. “What does the target audience need to know to make a decision? Really understanding that and then responding to it permeates everything we do.”

“The worst marketing is the one that never happens”

For all three of them, working in digital marketing has been a natural progression, where they can use data and insights to help businesses grow in a measurable and strategic way.

Do you have any tips if you want to work more on your digital marketing?

“The most important thing is to get started,” Otto says firmly. “We see so many companies getting stuck in the planning rut. They want to have the perfect strategy before they start, but the truth is that the worst marketing is the one that never happens.”

David nods in agreement: “Start by understanding what your target audience actually needs. I always say that marketing is simple, it’s three things: One, understand your audience. Two, position yourself as the solution. Three, be consistent.”

“And don’t be afraid to test and adjust,” Josef adds. “Make sure you have proper tracking set up so you can work data-driven and base your decisions on real results instead of gut feelings.”

Why choose Grandur if you want help with your digital marketing?

“Do you want your business to be visible where your target audience is actively looking for what you offer? Then we are definitely the right partner!” David says with a smile.

Otto looks up from his coffee: “For us, it’s all about personal chemistry. We believe in building strong, long-term relationships with our customers. That’s why we value the personal touch – we love meeting in person, it makes it easier to pick up on small subtle signals and ask an extra question that can lead to important insights.”

“Marketing is simple, it’s three things:
One, understand your target audience. Two, position yourself as the solution. Three, be consistent.”

“I also think our honesty is appreciated,” says Josef. “We are never afraid to say no if we don’t think we are the right match. Our ambition is to always deliver value, and if we see that someone else can help you better than we can, we recommend them instead.”

What is most important to you in the office?

Josef laughs: “For me it’s definitely the coffee!”

Otto quickly adds: “There is free coffee here, but still Josef runs and buys a spaceship for a coffee maker, coffee grinder and a coffee scale.”

“But how good is the coffee?” asks David.

There is silence for a while.

“It’s very good,” Otto replies, and everyone laughs.

“But apart from Josef’s coffee fixation,” Otto continues, becoming a little more serious, “I would say the social spaces.” He gestures to the open landscape around them. “And the proximity to good lunch spots, of course.”

“For me, it’s about networking,” David adds. “Being in an environment where you can bounce ideas off other entrepreneurs gives you a lot of energy and new perspectives.”

“Being able to bring Grandur’s fourth colleague was also important,” says Josef. “A dog-friendly office was a must.”

At that moment, all three look towards Gaston, Josef’s dog, who is sitting calmly below the sofa, his eyes analyzing the slightest movement of his colleagues.

“He’s the happiest guy in the world and has the energy level of the whole office.”
Josef continues. “He is training hard right now to be a good office dog,”

“How do you think it’s going?” Otto asks with a smile.

Joseph shakes his head: “It’s your fault he can’t keep his cool, you are messing with him all the time.”

“What can I say,” David replies with a shrug. “He’s my favorite colleague.”

All three laugh, while Gaston wags his tail as if he understands that the conversation is about him.

When we sum up the conversation, all three agree on one thing – the atmosphere in the office is incredibly important.

“It’s hard to put your finger on,” says Otto thoughtfully, “but it affects everything – from how productive we are to how we feel together. A good working environment is not just about nice furniture and good technology, it’s about creating a place where people feel good, thrive and look forward to coming to work every day.”

 

Read more about the SEO agency Grandur here!