Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amanda Kreuser, co-founder of Masthead Media, located in Hastings on Hudson, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Masthead Media Company is a content marketing and editorial SEO agency. We collaborate with iconic brands to develop high-quality content programming that forges meaningful connections with audiences. Masthead Media was founded by editorial and digital leaders from major national publishers who saw the opportunity to apply the editorial process (and the specialized talent needed to make it successful) to branded content. This highly customized approach to content marketing has enabled brands to create a true lifestyle around their products and services, leading to stronger relationships with customers.
Tell us about yourself
When my co-founder Julie and I launched Masthead Media in 2012, brands were just gaining access to the tools they needed to create content directly for their customers. They just didn't yet know how to leverage those tools (and the content itself) to achieve specific goals. We created Masthead Media in order to provide brands with every element they need to make content marketing a highly successful part of their business. That included full-service project management, strategic planning around content and SEO, and an extensive database of creatives, strategists, and SEO experts. The work that we do for clients is crafted by editorial and SEO experts, many of them former or active journalists. These are creators who have spent their entire careers learning the nuances of brand voice and how to build lasting trust with audiences.
I am motivated every day by the joy of seeing our business grow. I love that we are able to provide flexible jobs and educational opportunities to countless freelancers who develop content programming for our clients. I'm also excited to expand our services as we grow. We have built out an outstanding content and SEO department, and the next horizon for us will be paid marketing channels.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The biggest accomplishment may well be the most mundane sounding one! It's the fact that my partner Julie and I kept going and moving forward day by day in our earlier years of the company. We had some setbacks along the way, but we really didn't allow ourselves to dwell on the negative. We learned from each challenge and approached each day with fresh energy and positivity--and that's what I would tell any new founder to do.
I'm also extremely proud that we founded and continue to run the Women in Content Marketing Awards (WICMA), a program and event series that spotlights and connects women marketers and provides scholarships to rising industry stars.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest (but also very rewarding!) part of being an owner is knowing that every decision you make, larger or small, will affect you, your team, and the health of your business. And you're constantly confronted with those decisions, especially as you grow, and your staff increases. These are exciting decisions, but you definitely want to try to get them right the first time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Being a founder means that you have the opportunity to surround yourself with amazing people who will champion your business and make it an incredible place to work.
My first piece of advice is to take the time to find the right hires for your company. Really do your homework when interviewing them and speaking to their references.
I'd also recommend finding a great bookkeeper as early in your business as you can. As you grow, there are innumerable little tasks related to finances that you'll need a trusted partner to help you handle.
Lastly, I'd recommend blocking a full day every quarter (No calls or meetings!) to review what's happening within your business and make strategic decisions. If you have a partner, as I do with Masthead, you can set an agenda and do this together. Otherwise, it's too easy to get caught up in executing all the time and not set intentions for your growth and success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mastheadmedia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastheadmedia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastheadmedia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mastheadmedia
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/masthead-media-company/
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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