Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in branding and marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Scott Kasun, Principal Manager of ForeFront Web, located in Columbus, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a full-service digital marketing agency founded in 2001. We're based in Dublin, Ohio, which is a suburb of Columbus.
Tell us about yourself
I have the attention span of a chipmunk, so I love that we are in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry with a wide variety of clients. Every day brings a new challenge and a new opportunity to create for the people who depend on us. I've been doing this for more than 20 years, and there's never a time that I don't look forward to coming to work.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being in business for more than two decades - with a rock-solid reputation - is certainly something I am very proud of, but I'm actually more proud of what this company does for our clientele. For most of our clients, the digital efforts that we create and manage represent most or all of their total marketing outreach. If we stumble, they stumble, and that is a responsibility we take very seriously. I never get tired of looking at the reports we prepare for our clients; they reflect the hard work and incredible talent of our people, and that work translates into huge revenue and growth gains for all the organizations that trust us with their marketing.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
For a long time, it was imposter syndrome, but as the company has grown, the hardest thing has been ceding control and decision-making to others. As a business owner, you feel responsible for everything you do or create, and as a result, you feel like you need to be intimately involved in every aspect. Unfortunately, there are not enough hours in the day to do that, especially as your business scales.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Starting your own business is one of the biggest gambles that most people will take. Sadly, I've seen so many people take that chance, only to go conservative from there on out. Never stop taking chances, and don't be afraid to fail. It's what separates true entrepreneurs from the masses.
- No one is great at everything. The sooner you identify the areas where you have weaknesses, the better off you will be. Hire someone measurably better than you, let them own that aspect, and go off and do what you are great at.
- Innovate, never follow. It doesn't matter if you are in the most commoditized market; find some way to be unique and deliver more. Yeti found a new way to market coolers and buckets and charge a premium for them. If they can do that for that market, you can do it for yours.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://forefrontweb.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForeFrontWeb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forefrontweb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/forefront
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forefront-web/
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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