Broadcast Your Messages More Efficiently

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in advertising services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jordan Calderon, Founder of StratDev, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

We are StratDev, a full-service, boutique digital marketing agency. We've won the MARsum® Top 100 Agency Award and have been ranked consistently as one of the top agencies by Expertise.com -- in addition to great reviews all over the internet. We specialize in two verticles. We service e-commerce and SaaS companies (or tech companies as a whole).

Tell us about yourself

When I was 5, I started picking plums off a plum tree with my father and sold them at our local community pool. Shortly after we started, our little business became a neighborhood hit, which is when I discovered I had a knack for conducting business. At 18 years old, I launched my first true company, College Clout, while attending UC Santa Barbara. A few months after the launch, my co-founder dropped out, and I turned to YouTube to learn how to market the company efficiently. I bought out and merged with a similar company run by college students in the Midwest, built a nationwide brand, and turned my initial $500 investment into a nearly fully automated profitable business. After that, I ended up taking all of my learnings and knowledge and putting them to the test by founding what is now StratDev Digital Marketing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a business owner, my biggest accomplishment is being able to put food on my team's family table -- it's a beautiful realization to know that I've built something that benefits more than just myself. It's fulfilling to know that I am creating an environment that promotes teamwide success, where we can tangibly see and feel the rewards of us growing as a collective. This also applies to our clients, as we work to help grow their businesses every day.

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

You're somewhat forced to become a jack of all trades. Being a business owner, you have to be good at a lot of different things. You have to teach yourself legal stuff, accounting stuff, client expectation stuff, etc. You have to not only understand the work that you are doing but also learn how to sell yourself in the process as well.

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

My first tip would be to understand that entrepreneurship isn't for everybody. It's perfectly fine to have a 9 to 5 job. You have to be very risk-seeking to become an entrepreneur, and you need to deal with consistent failures (probably more failures than successes). It's not for everybody, and that's perfectly okay.

But if entrepreneurship is for you, then my second tip would be to make sure that you protect yourself before you start. Do this by forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and getting business insurance or any business licenses you need. Don't drive head first while putting liability on yourself. Making sure you protect yourself will prove very helpful.

Lastly, learn to time manage and time block. You have a very limited time in the day to do a lot of things, so make sure that you schedule your time accordingly. With that being said, make sure that you also have a work-life balance and can enjoy life. Your work should not take over your entire life.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.stratdevdigitalmarketing.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjordancalderon/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratdev-digital-marketing/

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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