Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Richard Forshaw-Smith, Founder and Managing Partner of RFS Marketing & Communications Ltd., located in Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We provide digital marketing services to small and medium-sized businesses - so that's email marketing, social media marketing (organic posts and videos as well as paid ads), websites, and search engine optimisation. Our customers come from all kinds of niches - we have lots in hospitality in tourism, but also professional services, construction and architecture, e-commerce, and more!
Tell us about yourself
I set the business up after more than 16 years of working in agency and client communications, marketing, and PR roles. This included working with or in some big organisations with global profiles, and I was keen to turn my hand to helping smaller businesses closer to home, which is what we do now! We have a team of 8 and have experienced significant growth in the past couple of years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Moving the business from just me as a solopreneur to building a collective of associates and ultimately to a brilliant permanent team on payroll.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Not hard as such, but there is a sense of great responsibility when others rely on your business for their livelihoods - whether that is clients who need your support to succeed or staff members who feed their families with their salaries.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you can sell. If you can't, and be honest with yourself, get someone in quickly who can. Otherwise, don't set up on your own.
- Get help. Don't try and do all the jobs on your own. Invest in the right kind of support.
- Network. Meet like-minded business owners, and create a support system where you can share your own good practice as well as learn from others.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://rfsmarketing.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfsmarketing/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rfs_marcomms/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rfsmarcomms
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardforshaw/
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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