Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lani Colhouer, Co-Founder of Simply Clear Marketing, located in Arroyo Grande, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Simply Clear Marketing, Inc is a creative marketing firm that builds a successful community using client-centered relationships combined with innovative marketing strategies. We specialize in design and brand and implementing marketing strategies to generate leads, create exposure in your community and develop sales strategies that enable you to grow your business.
Tell us about yourself
My parents owned their own antique store - I experienced merchandising, sourcing, and sales and loved every minute of it. We had to wait for people to come to the store to purchase, and I started in marketing because I loved being able to help other businesses grow their market share and get exposure. Our company started out as a trade show production company that my husband and I started with another couple. We ran it for many years as a team. When that changed, we merged our publishing business with our event company and added digital marketing to the mix. We have been growing in the digital marketing arena for the last 10 years and have loved helping companies figure out their brand and how to get them known digitally.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is my ability to be authentic and create relationships with my clients. Running a business is hard, and I love to create comradery and community for my clients and with my clients.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is managing your team. It is difficult to be transparent and yet not burden your team with all the issues you are dealing with. Each team member has their goals and concerns, and we are constantly trying to figure out if we are keeping our team happy, if they need a challenge, or are growing enough. At the same time, business owners are cultivating business, working in the business, and trying to manage their own life. It can get very tricky at times!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Go for it! You only live once, and you will learn a lot about yourself. You will learn your strengths, weaknesses, fears, failures and how you integrate your values into your life.
- Do as much research as you can in the market you want to penetrate about the customers you want to reach.
- Don't forget to budget for marketing. People think that word of mouth is enough for a business, but it typically is not. You can wait for people to talk about your business, or you can get in front of people, so they start talking about your business. It really works.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.simplyclearmarketing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyClearMarketing/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyclearmarketing/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplyclearmarketing/
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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