Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ben Theis, Founder and Owner of Skol Marketing, located in Hopkins, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a digital marketing company specializing in Website Development & UX Design, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing (PPC, etc.), and Social Media Marketing. We work with small to mid-size companies predominantly in the Minnesota area.
Tell us about yourself
I always loved the idea of being your own boss and being responsible for your own success. I have always been proud of my work ethic and love that I get to apply that to something I own. I'm motivated by success and continuing to grow! I love the impact we have in our community and on our team members (and their families or lives).
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm most proud of building a successful growing company that continues to be profitable and grow. I would also add that we are the highest-rated digital agency in the state of MN when combining multiple online review platforms. Does that mean we are perfect? Absolutely not but we treat customers with the utmost respect, own up to mistakes, and make them right. We do digital marketing the right way in our minds!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Balancing all of the tasks and realizing you can't do it all yourself and making the certain sacrifices that are needed. If it were easy, everyone would do it. You have to trust people to do their job, and ultimately your name and reputation is on the line for employees' jobs and tasks. Building trust, training them, and instilling confidence lower the risk of them making mistakes and perhaps affecting that reputation...but at the end of the day, you can't control it 100%.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Good problems are better than bad problems. But good problems still need solutions.
- Identify the things that are slowing you down and preventing you from fully growing your company (bookkeeping, HR, payroll, scheduling) and try to hire a contractor of software asap to help you with those. Money is absolutely critical, but if you just make decisions on the cost and not the value (like the time it will free up for you to grow the business more efficiently), you will hurt your growth.
- Value skills (like work ethic, trust, loyalty, etc.) are more valuable than hard skills (coding, marketing, etc.) that can be taught. Value skills are inherent and cannot be taught.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://skolmarketing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkolMarketing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skolmarketing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkolMarketing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentheis/
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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