Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Benjamin Brandon, Chief Marketing Officer of Media 2 Social Marketing, located in Belton, TX, USA.

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

Media 2 Social is a one-stop shop for small to medium businesses looking for all things creative, marketing & advertising, lead generation, web design, and video production. A full-service creative ad agency serving Austin & Central Texas businesses. Our customers are small to medium businesses looking to stick out from the crowd with captivating content creation, digital marketing & video marketing campaigns created to inspire their ideal customers to desire what they have to offer. Our passion is unlocking the full potential of local businesses that provide value for Central Texas Consumers.

Tell us about yourself

Media 2 Social began as a small bootstrapped company founded by a social media influencer (Me, Benjamin Brandon) and a local sales icon (Jon Vandergriff). I had built up a considerable following on social media through my engaging content and savvy marketing strategies. However, I realized that many local businesses in my area were struggling to gain a foothold on social media and reach their target audience. Seeing an opportunity to use my talents to help others, I decided to partner with Jon to start a creative ad agency, Media 2 Social Marketing. The rest was history.

What makes me jump out of bed in the morning is seeing the results our creativity generates for the small business community that works with us. The fact that I am at the center of connecting thousands of consumers with great local businesses is a great feeling.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say scaling a team of 3 to 10 in less than two years' time while 3x our revenue during the pandemic was a feat in its own right. While most businesses were shutting down during the pandemic, we were scaling up and providing jobs during a crucial time when many others weren't.

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

I think one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the constant need to make difficult decisions. Strategically setting the direction of the company while adjusting our service offerings to meet demand during an economic downturn, all while staying profitable, is a challenging task. What's also hard is making critical decisions about finances, hiring and firing employees, and managing the day-to-day operations of a Creative Ad Agency. But I do it all in stride and with pride.

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

  1. Focus on solving a problem: Our fast-paced success came from solving problems our clients faced before working with us. My biggest tip is to identify gaps in the market and figure out how you can provide value to potential customers. Once you have identified a problem to solve, focus on delivering the best possible solution to that problem.
  2. Build a strong team: You are only as good as the team around you. Do your best to build a strong team with a range of skills and expertise that perform tasks better than you do. Also, be self-aware in understanding this... just because you can do everything yourself doesn't mean you should. You are only one person. With less pride can come more talent from others you can work with to deliver an output that people will bust the doors to pay for. Invest in your team by providing them with training and development opportunities, and create a dynamic culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
  3. Stay agile and adaptable: It is crucial to stay agile and adaptable. The ability to pivot quickly and make changes to your business model or strategy can be the difference between success and failure. What we have learned in the last two years is to keep a close eye on market trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies so you can be prepared to make changes to your business to stay ahead of the curve. Stay open to new ideas and be willing to take calculated risks to drive growth and innovation.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://media2social.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media2socialmarketing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/media2social/

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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