What I Learned Since Starting My Agency Four Years Ago

Four years ago, I was determined to start a marketing agency from the ground up. No clients. No money. Just a whole lot of ambition, determination, and a willingness to learn. I didn't know much. I had some experience with social media, email marketing, and some website development, but looking back, I was as green as can be.

Fast-forward four years later, we are an established HubSpot Certified Inbound Marketing agency with laser focus and a growing portfolio of top-notch global clients.

Reflecting on our challenges and successes along the way, I'd like to share a few of my key learnings.

HELP? FRIENDS & FAMILY 

Starting a business without any clients and zero cash-flow is not for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is entrepreneurship. Thank goodness for family and friends willing to trust me with building their small business websites and managing their social media accounts. It's what got the ball rolling. The only way to learn the digital skills needed is to roll up the sleeves and dive in - just do it. With very late nights, long work weeks, a limited social life, and continuously learning the digital skills needed to be a marketer today, comes success. 

Thanks to all of you who gave me my first shot.

WHAT'S MY NICHE?

Starting out, I'd take any business that came my way. I had to - there was no choice. I had bills to pay.

The turning point for TMC was focusing on a specific niche market still dominated by traditional marketing methods. Challenging? Yes. But opportunity? Hell yes. Focusing on a specific market allowed us to become experts in an industry. Expertise that builds trust to drive new business opportunity. But you have to pay your dues. You have to put in the time and successfully deliver early on.  [Shout out to Kevin Eaton of Eaton Marketing]  

I CAN'T DO IT ALONE

There was a point in time where I was doing it all myself - website development, content creation/writing, strategy, social media publishing, analytics, etc., etc. Not to mention sales, collaborating with other business owners, and so on. Great way to learn, but very inefficient. Also, I ain't no writer like Chad Stamm, my business partner and Chief Content Officer [and brother-in-law]. The quality of work we are putting out today for our clients is truly incredible. And to find the missing link to our complex puzzle in Amy Dowling has been a business blessing.  

No, you can't do it alone, but you can choose the best of the best.

BACK TO 'SCHOOL' [Inbound and HubSpot Certification]

I went back to school. Well, not literally, because colleges and universities don't teach this stuff.  

(Related Post: The Performance Gap, Aligning Sales & Marketing) 

I started following HubSpot. I read and read and read. I applied. And I read some more.  And applied some more.   There is no reason to re-invent the wheel of inbound marketing. Rather, apply proven methodologies to an industry primed for change. Thank you HubSpot for your incredible online training and a special S/O to our initial account manager, Brian Moseley, who continued to push us to make us better marketers, sales people, and business owners.   

DOCUMENT YOUR PROCESSES

We failed along the way a few times. Why? Mainly because we didn't have defined processes around service delivery - both internal and external. Expectations need to be set, and tasks need to be outlined with milestones to meet those expectations. Last year, our agency committed to documenting our processes for just about everything we do as a company. We committed to using online collaboration tools like TeamWork. The result? Our client satisfaction levels are up and we are delivering with more confidence than ever. Rest assured, it's a work in progress as we are always tweaking and fine-tuning our processes.

READ MORE BOOKS

Over the past few years, I've committed to reading books recommended by my teammates, other marketing agency founders, entrepreneurs, and accountants. It's changed the way I think about my business. Here are a few I would recommend:

• The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber - before you take on a business partner(s), read this book!
• The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns - focus and confidence in your agency
• The Marketing Performance Blueprint by Paul Roetzer - the title says it all

Do you have any others that you recommend? Please share in the comments.  

Starting and growing TMC Digital Media hasn't been easy, but inbound marketing is my passion. It's our team's passion. We love what we do, and we are damn good at it.  Let's grow!

#TMCThanksYou