Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in digital marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christian Janell Tapic, Founder & Creative Director of Digitalpha Media, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

My business is Digitalpha Media, a boutique web design & development agency. We serve small-medium-sized businesses in Canada. We help them by creating beautiful and effective websites to help them grow their online presence and attract more customers.

Tell us about yourself

I'm Christian Janell Tapic, the founder of Digitalpha Media. I immigrated and followed my wife to Canada from the Philippines in 2018. I was a freelance graphic designer in the Philippines, and I have worked with agencies in the US, which is why I have an experience in design and earned an income with no college degree. But as an immigrant and a newcomer to Canada, I didn't know what path to take, and I knew for sure that going to college was not an option for me. So I decided to start a web design & development business to serve businesses in our local area (Toronto). But, I didn't have the experience or skills to make it happen and be successful on the first try. As a result, of my lack of industry experience and zero selling experience, I never got a single client after hundreds of cold calling and walking into local shops and clinics to hand out business cards and flyers. No one called or emailed back. I spent a few months learning how to design & develop a website and improve my selling skills. I then figured that It would be a good idea to acquire actual industry experience by working at a web design & development agency in Toronto. I got hired as a contractual/part-time web designer & developer position at an agency in Toronto, and I learned more about the industry and improved my skills as a web designer & developer.

After 4 months, I decided to give Digitalpha another shot. I ran Google Ads and improved my website's SEO, and onboarded my wife to help me out, and we were finally able to get our very first client, who is still a client today, and the rest is history! I'm motivated by helping small businesses grow their online presence and attract more customers.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that we have built and managed 50+ websites and marketing campaigns and reached a six-figure revenue in 2022. This shows that our hard work and dedication have paid off, and we're proud of the impact we've had on the small businesses we've worked with.

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

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the uncertainty and risk that comes with running a business. There is always the fear of not being able to get enough clients or not making enough money to keep the business running. It can be stressful, but it's also part of the journey.

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

  1. Get experience and learn the basics and fundamentals of your industry. It's important to have a strong foundation of knowledge and skills before starting your business.
  2. Be patient and persistent. Starting a business is not easy, and it takes time to see results. Don't give up too soon.
  3. Use online marketing to reach your target audience. Google Ads and SEO can be powerful tools to help you attract more customers to your business and ensure you have good service/products that can provide a benefit or a solution to your clients.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://digitalpha.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalphamedia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalphamedia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/digitalphamedia
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digitalphamedia/

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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