Every since I’d interned for my first start-up, I knew I needed to start my own business. There’s something so exhilarating about building a company from scratch – it provides a sense of fulfillment that I think is sometimes hard to find in business. And on top of that, building something that is truly yours, your ‘baby’ as some might call it – that’s addicting. The idea for my first business, Loudley came after noticing that the digital marketing industry has turned into such a ‘churn-and-burn’ space. Agencies will sign clients only to over-promise results without putting in the effort to help consult their clients towards a path that can lead to successful campaigns. Whether it be a strategy or even content and ad ideation and creation, it’s imperative that a digital marketing agency helps their client launch with the best possible chance for success. That was the goal for Loudley, to provide a personalized digital marketing experience to all our clients.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
Never get too comfortable. We were lucky enough to be able to scale our business incredibly quickly after launch. We assumed that it could only keep growing. However, after one of our largest clients underwent an internal strategy restructuring, they had to halt their digital marketing for the time-being. This led to a substantial decrease in revenue for the following month. Luckily, we had new clients looking to get started. If we hadn’t though, it would have been quite a scramble to make up that lost revenue.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits?
How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight
I was incredibly lucky to have my family and friends encourage my entrepreneurial pursuits. However, as odd as it may sound, there were times where I felt myself feeling pressured by that encouragement. I felt the need to succeed, otherwise their support would go to waste. It’s important to be mindful of thoughts like these. Recognize that encouragement is positive and it doesn’t require anything but gratitude in return.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
Hunger. Be hungry to learn more. Be hungry to expand your network. Be hungry to change the world.
What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?
Everything you do, no matter how bigger or small, no matter how un-important it may seem, builds your foundation for success.
What advice would you give to an upcoming young and old entrepreneur locally and internationally?
As cliché as it may seem – there truly are no limits. Your passion can be turned into a career. The key to turning your passion into a career is creativity. Think outside the box. There is always a way to create something unique.
