Making Your Business Visible - Little Red Hen Marketing

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Maryanne Ellison, Owner of Little Red Hen Marketing, located in Republic, MO, USA.

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

Little Red Hen Marketing is a boutique marketing agency specializing in getting businesses visible online from the ground up. We build websites, write blogs, SEO, and manage social media for our clients. Our goal is to help businesses grow and succeed online.

Our customers are businesses of all sizes who need help getting started with or improving their online presence. We work with businesses in a wide range of industries, including service-based businesses, e-commerce businesses, and brick-and-mortar stores. Our specialty industries include construction-based businesses and small brick-and-mortar businesses looking to improve their online presence.

Tell us about yourself

Hi, I am Maryanne Ellison. I have always been tech savvy, building websites and creating copy since I graduated high school a couple of decades ago. I always did it as a favor for family members, church members, and ultimately my husband and his business. I even went to school and have my first degree in business admin and another one in technology.

But that wasn't enough; I still longed to help people, so I became a middle school language arts teacher and did digital marketing on the side for businesses that needed it. Selling "essays" as something fun to do for a classroom full of middle-schoolers is not for the faint of heart! Overall, being a teacher just strengthened my copy, technology, and marketing skills.

In 2021, I decided it was time for a change and started Little Red Hen Marketing. I wanted to help businesses grow and succeed online like my husband's business had. It's been a lot of work, but I love it and wouldn't change it for the world.

One of my favorite aspects of my business is meeting other business owners who genuinely need help gaining an online presence. They are all excited about their business, and it's so rewarding to help them grow.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

For me, my biggest accomplishment has been helping my clients make the transition from brick-and-mortar businesses to online ones. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, many businesses struggled with making this switch. But in 2021, at the start of my business, I was able to help so many businesses succeed in going online.

It has been a really difficult time for everyone, but seeing the joy on my clients' faces when they finally made that sale, got that new client, or made it to the front page of Google, is why I do what I do.

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

There are a lot of challenges that come with being a business owner, but I think the hardest thing is knowing when to expand and delegate. As a business owner, you have to wear many hats and be good at many different things. But eventually, you have to know when to delegate tasks to other people so you can focus on things only you can do.

It's also hard to know when to expand your business. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew, but you also don't want to miss out on opportunities. It's a fine line to walk, and it's one that I'm still learning how to navigate.

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

Believe in yourself - If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will. It's important to have confidence in your abilities and your vision for your business. This will help you when things get tough, and it will also help you attract the right people to your business.
Just Get Started, Stay Focused, and Don't Give Up - Just getting started is the hardest part. Once you take that first step, everything else will start to fall into place. But it's important to stay focused on your goals and not get sidetracked. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way, but don't give up on your dreams.
Surround yourself with a supportive community, and go out and network - Finally, it's important to surround yourself with a supportive community and like-minded individuals. Go out and network, attend events, and join relevant online communities. This will help you connect with potential customers and collaborators, and it will also help you stay up-to-date on industry trends. There are a lot of people out there who want to help you succeed. These connections will be invaluable as you grow your business.

One of the things that I have learned is that my only limitation is myself. The ceiling is where ever I decide it is going to be, and the sky is the limit. Having the right mindset is critical for success. When you have the right mindset, anything is possible. When I started my business, I was so afraid of failure that I didn't want to take any risks. But I quickly realized that the only way to achieve success is to take risks and put myself out there.

It's important to be learning and evolving as a business owner constantly. I'm always reading new books and articles, attending workshops and events, and networking with other business owners. This has helped me to grow and improve as a business owner, and it's also helped me to serve my clients better. If you're struggling to get your business off the ground, or if you're just looking for some tips on how to be a successful business owner, I encourage you to keep learning and growing. The sky really is the limit!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://littleredhenva.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleredhenmarketing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleredhenmarketing/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryanne-ellison/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.