Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michael Quinn, Owner of My Site Ranked, located in Fargo, ND, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I make SEO more accessible, easier to understand, and effective for small and medium-sized businesses. My goal is to educate marketing departments, marketing consultants, and business owners with the best information and tools they need to succeed on Google—without all the headaches.
I do this by working directly with businesses on custom-tailored SEO/online marketing plans (that leverage their existing goals and initiatives)—and through ongoing consulting services. For those I can’t help one-on-one, I offer digital courses/products and paid group training. For everyone else, I share free content—that’s equally valuable—on YouTube and my website.
Tell us about yourself
My education is in broadcast journalism and video production, but my real passion has always been marketing. And I always knew I wanted to start a business. After 10 years of working for news outlets, creative agencies, and marketing departments, I finally got the courage to take the entrepreneurial leap. Like many new business owners, in the early days, I offered a little bit of everything with no clear direction—primarily Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and website design.
But it was SEO that really captured my attention. At first, it felt like a moving target. Learning it wasn’t easy, but once I cut through all the noise, I discovered how powerful it could be—and it doesn’t have to be complex. When you finally understand it, you can look at SEO as an arm of your overall marketing, not as something that’s siloed—and avoid getting caught up in the many distractions, like algorithm changes and the latest hacks.
After honing my SEO skills (although I’m still always learning) and getting consistent results for over 100 businesses, I decided I needed to create content, assets, and a consulting/training program that could get even more people the same results—without all the unnecessary confusion. That’s where My Site Ranked was born.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment, by far, has been helping people get better results easier—by simply doing great marketing. That’s really all SEO is, and that’s why I do what I do. Today, my motivation comes from seeing small businesses take control of their own visibility on Google. When I see them succeeding with my advice or getting earned exposure from their hard work, it’s incredibly rewarding. And nothing beats the feeling of their gratitude!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is finding balance. Like many entrepreneurs, I’m always looking to improve and grow my business—which can easily lead to neglecting other areas in your life.
It’s an ever-evolving challenge to find time for family, friends, hobbies, exercise, and self-care and still be successful as a business owner. Keeping everything in check through therapy (don’t be ashamed of it) and healthy routines have been some of the most helpful things I’ve learned over the years.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don’t wait until you think you have it all figured out because you never will! Take action. But also never stop learning.
- Find mentors and like-minded peers (or mastermind group), so you can share ideas and lean on each other for support. As a business owner, it can be easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed—especially if you don’t have an extensive network of people who understand what you’re going through. But also, some of your best ideas and growth opportunities might come from these people.
- Focus on the quality of your work, not the quantity. It’s better to be known for delivering great results than to have a laundry list of services that don’t stand out or add value. And never sacrifice your integrity for money, ego, or opportunities that don’t align with your values or long-term goals.
These three tips have been essential to my success as a business owner, and I believe they can help anyone else who’s looking to start, run and grow their own businesses today. Good luck!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mysiteranked.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mysiteranked
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_quinn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Michael_L_Quinn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellquinn/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelQuinnSEO
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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