Traditional. Digital. Creative - Advantage Marketing

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in digital marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Spencer Hadelman, CEO of Advantage Marketing, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Advantage Marketing is a Chicago-based marketing and media agency that values the importance of client relationships and building longstanding and genuine partnerships that provide customized, personal service and care to achieve their client's marketing goals. With over 30 years of combined marketing experience, the Advantage team is made up of bold and ambitious industry leaders that are willing to take chances on unique and creative ideas that produce impactful outcomes. While Advantage has a stronghold on the sports and entertainment fields, the scope of industry work is broad, ranging from national golf resorts like Sand Valley and Bandon Dunes to higher education institutes such as UNC Chapel Hill and University of California Berkeley, and retail clients such a Sanrio (Hello Kitty) and Stance.

Tell us about yourself

After a decade of experience in marketing, I founded Advantage Marketing in 2015. I realized it was time to start my own company after seeing clear holes in the agency industry, with client relationships being my top priority. This dedication to our client's success and maintaining strong relationships is what sets us apart from other agencies and fuels our work. The entire Advantage team and I take the time to get to know our clients and develop personal relationships with them, acting as partners and an extension of their internal teams and working in the trenches alongside them. I consider a lot of my client's friends, and we are there for each other not just in work but also in life in general.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Seeing our year-over-year growth since starting Advantage to me, is an accomplishment in itself. Not only have we expanded our footprint across multiple industries, but also our physical footprint with a West Coast office and internal team growth. Landing on lists of companies like Inc. and Fast Company and seeing them recognize this growth have been some proud moments for me.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Too many people focus on dreams vs. a strategized business plan. If you become too focused on a big-picture dream rather than the little tasks that get you to that dream, you'll end up spreading yourself too thin and being all over the place. Get focused and take it one step at a time.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

You can never learn enough. I think it's important to always be reading business books, biographies, investigative reporting, and other forms of journalism. It's important to always be learning and exposing yourself to different examples and processing them to see what can come of them.
Groupthink. Getting together and always leaving the door open to come up with new ideas as a company. I believe in a culture where everyone has a right to an opinion and idea, and I make sure that people aren't afraid to share them. In company meetings, always leave time for the question: "does anyone have an idea to improve the company."
Have and promote a confident culture. As a company, you need to believe in yourself and your process and have faith you know what you're doing and that you're doing it right. Have the confidence to go out on a limb and take chances. For example, hopping on a plane when you have a 10% chance of getting a client, but they're willing to see you. You need to take those chances and believe in yourself and what you're doing.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.advantagemrkt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/advantagemrkt/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advantagemrkt_chi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-hadelman-75215a33/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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