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On the Fastlane - Starting My Own Digital Marketing Agency

Marketing, social media, advertising

Santi M

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I've been interested in this business for a long time, now, I'm committed to it. It's time to start taking action and stop being only an observer. @Kyle T 's great execution thread inspired me to start my own, so today I'm doing it.

Starting this execution thread is something very important for me, as I think it will help other entrepreneurs (as Kyle's thread helped me); will help me too because of the knowledge and the mindset of this forum, where since the day I joined (almost 1 year ago) I realized that everyone wanted to help their fellow entrepreneurs. But... the most important thing: I know that by creating this thread, I tie myself to my goal even stronger and I make a commitment in front of lots of entrepreneurs, what, for sure, will force me to continue in the hardest moments.

My goals are:
  • To start and grow this business to the point that, before summer vacation ends (I'm a student), I have a business that makes me have the choice to leave the studies and dedicate to it full-time (by not continuing at the school in September), as school isn't helping me to learn useful things nor moving closer to my goals.
  • To add real value to the market and being rewarded for it, breaking down my mental barriers about starting a business.
  • To take a big step towards The Unscripted through the Fastlane, with Liberty as the final goal.
I'll be basing my way on a course that I bought some days ago, Spanish-market oriented, as I live in Spain and the GOLD thread that @Sean Marshall created, which gives a lot of valuable info and was very encouraging.

I'm working on the mornings at a luxury car dealer in my city (this is pretty motivational, because it shows me that I don't want to be working like this my whole life and at the same time I'm watching my dream cars every single day, which encourages me and reminds me what I should do, and that it's possible), so I'll be working at the Digital Marketing Agency in the afternoon, evenings and night.

As @Kyle T did, I'm going to create a checklist where I'll be updating my progress.

I'll be back tomorrow with the first update of the checklist.

Thank you!

Santi.
 
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Santi M

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DAY 1

SETUP

DONE Start thinking about your business brand including your business name. Think about what kind “feel” you want your business to have. Write out at least 10 possible names.

DONE Look up “online marketing company” and check out the first few sites – the goal is to get a feel for what they do and what you’ll be doing.

TO DO Consider taking a class or two on Udemy.com or Lynda.com to get an overview of the online marketing world. Strongly consider also going to QuickSprout.com/University

TO DO Think about an industry you might like to serve (i.e. – chiropractors) and then look up “online marketing for chiropractors” or similar terms and study what comes up.

DONE Write out (or type out) your motivation. Why are you interested in starting this business? Answer this with something more specific than “to have more money”. Get as specific as you can. Don’t skip the mental work!

TO DO List out the amount of money you would like to make in your first month, second month, following months. Include your first year’s goal.

TO DO Go online and look up other online marketing companies (again) – jot down everything that you like and that you would like to emulate.

TO DO Start thinking about what sets you apart. Ideally it can be summed up in one sentence. i.e. – “We provide SEO services for dental professionals”. This is your USP (unique selling proposition)

TO DO Come up with your 3 packages. List out the services that each package entails. Yours may be just offering social media or just website design or whatever. Be sure to be detailed - list out everything.

TO DO Come up with your package pricing. Decide what you think is valuable for all parties involved and use this as a starting point (you’ll most likely adjust this as you get more experience). Use this pattern: $499/$599/$999 OR $999/$1199/$1699 and so on.

TO DO Identify and write out your USP.

TO DO Write what your ideal client looks like – the more details the better.

TO DO Decide right now you will stay true to your niche and not take on anyone and everyone who needs help “online”. It’s better to focus on a core audience to avoid wasting time and money. Don’t be afraid to say no.

DONE Come up with your business name. Come up with your business tagline (if you need one).

DONE Pick your colors. These can literally be your favorite colors. Don’t stress on this one.

TO DO Get a logo done (use 99designs.com, Upwork.com, or Fiverr.com) – don’t do it yourself unless you’re a graphic designer.

TO DO Write up your business plan. Print it out. Change as necessary

TO DO Set up your corporation (use LegalZoom – for now, just get a DBA and then incorporate once you’ve brought on a few clients and know this is going to work for you)

TO DO Set up your business checking & savings account. Set up your PayPal (or Stripe) business account.

DONE Buy your domain name (use a registrar like GoDaddy.com). Buy your hosting (use a reliable & affordable host like SiteGround.com. Set up your website (use Wordpress – it’s super easy & all you need). Your host should have a 1-click Wordpress install.

TO DO Create a home page, about page, services page, & contact page to start. This is the minimum. Set up your social media platforms (Facebook business page, Twitter, Google+/YouTube, LinkedIn all a must. Pinterest, Instagram, etc are bonus).

TO DO Buy your business cards (and nothing else) Use VistaPrint.com because they’re super cheap. Only order 250 for your first cards. You may change some info later.
 

Santi M

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DAY 2

DONE Think about an industry you might like to serve: I've decided that, as I can't pick a niche because I don't have enough data I'm going to test different business (based on some advice I've received here and in other places).
Like:​
You want to go for businesses that either make a large profit from a single sale (they could make all their ad spend back by gaining just 1 client!), or sell something that is a monthly, or recurring purchase (thus why chiropractors are popular, because they'll see patients typically at least once a week).
by @Matt Hunt

DONE Go online and look up other online marketing companies (again) – jot down everything that you like and that you would like to emulate.

DOING Consider taking a class on Udemy.com and consider also going to QuickSprout.com/University
I'm substituting Udemy for the online course I'm doing, but I'll be reading QuickSpout University too.

DOING Get a logo done

TO DO List out the amount of money you would like to make in your first month, second month, following months. Include your first year’s goal.

TO DO Come up with your 3 packages. List out the services that each package entails. Yours may be just offering social media or just website design or whatever. Be sure to be detailed - list out everything.

TO DO Come up with your package pricing.

TO DO Identify and write out your USP.

TO DO Write what your ideal client looks like

TO DO Write up your business plan. Print it out. Change as necessary

TO DO Set up your corporation (use LegalZoom – for now)

TO DO Set up your business checking & savings account. Set up your PayPal (or Stripe) business account.

TO DO
Create a home page, about page, services page, & contact page to start. This is the minimum. Set up your social media platforms (Facebook business page, Twitter, Google+/YouTube, LinkedIn all a must. Pinterest, Instagram, etc are bonus).

TO DO
Buy your business cards (and nothing else) Use VistaPrint.com because they’re super cheap. Only order 250 for your first cards. You may change some info later.
 
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Heal Piece

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Watching your progress and referring back to it for selfish purposes.;)
Have you decided if you are going to outsource to an individual freelancer via fiverr or upwork or are you going to utilize a white label agency? Just curious, as @Sean Marshall 's original blue print uses the prior, yet I see a trend for other's using white label.

Edit: Tagged someone I thought was using white label, double checked and they are not.
 
Last edited:

Andy Black

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Curious if you’ve got a client yet? If you had a gun to your head then what would you do to get a client - this week?

I skimmed a lot of your ToDos and think many are unnecessary? For instance, I didn’t analyse industries and pick one, I just went out and helped one of the people closest to me. Maybe check out the first radio interview in my signature, and the call “Who have you helped?”.
 

Twiizlar

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Agree with Andy, you haven't taken any real steps yet. The only thing that matters in digital marketing businesses like this are SALES.

When I first started back in December, I spent ONE DAY on building a quick wordpress website. Kind of like an MVP, then I spent the next month focusing on only sales. I then landed my first client on the 26th day.

In the end, as long as you have a decent website (like the generic one I whipped up in one day), that's all you need. Focus on selling your service to the potential client and show the value you can provide. Don't worry about the colors on your website or what other agency websites are like.

Good luck.
 
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Andy Black

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Agree with Andy, you haven't taken any real steps yet. The only thing that matters in digital marketing businesses like this are SALES.

When I first started back in December, I spent ONE DAY on building a quick wordpress website. Kind of like an MVP, then I spent the next month focusing on only sales. I then landed my first client on the 26th day.

In the end, as long as you have a decent website (like the generic one I whipped up in one day), that's all you need. Focus on selling your service to the potential client and show the value you can provide. Don't worry about the colors on your website or what other agency websites are like.

Good luck.
I don’t even have an agency website. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have one, just that you don’t *need* one to get clients, even web design clients. Get something up, then go speak to people.
 

Santi M

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Watching your progress and referring back to it for selfish purposes.;)
Have you decided if you are going to outsource to an individual freelancer via fiverr or upwork or are you going to utilize a white label agency? Just curious, as @Sean Marshall 's original blue print uses the prior, yet I see a trend for other's using white label.

Edit: Tagged someone I thought was using white label, double checked and they are not.

Happy to see your comment!

I'm sorry but I'm not sure about what a "white label agency" is; I can tell you that I'm not going to outsource anything at the moment, I'll provide all the services myself, which I'm learning on a course I bought. The services are email marketing, Facebook ads, Google (and Youtube) Ads and web creation (WordPress).
 

Santi M

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Curious if you’ve got a client yet? If you had a gun to your head then what would you do to get a client - this week?

I skimmed a lot of your ToDos and think many are unnecessary? For instance, I didn’t analyse industries and pick one, I just went out and helped one of the people closest to me. Maybe check out the first radio interview in my signature, and the call “Who have you helped?”.

I've been thinking. A lot of action faking right there, right? Thank you, Andy, I did that list because on Sean Marshall's thread which I referred in my first post gives this checklist as a "Business Setup" method.

But I'll leave those unnecessary things for later and I'll focus on getting my first client. I gotta say that I'm finishing the course where I'm learning the services I'm going to sell, so I think it's better to know the skills before selling them, isn't it?

thanks!
 
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Santi M

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Agree with Andy, you haven't taken any real steps yet. The only thing that matters in digital marketing businesses like this are SALES.

When I first started back in December, I spent ONE DAY on building a quick wordpress website. Kind of like an MVP, then I spent the next month focusing on only sales. I then landed my first client on the 26th day.

In the end, as long as you have a decent website (like the generic one I whipped up in one day), that's all you need. Focus on selling your service to the potential client and show the value you can provide. Don't worry about the colors on your website or what other agency websites are like.

Good luck.

Thank you very much.
 

Santi M

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If you had a gun to your head then what would you do to get a client - this week?

Probably I'd finish the whole course ASAP and then spend all the days reaching out business owners who may need my services.

Now I know what I should do.
 

Andy Black

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Email marketing, Facebook Ads, Google Ads (including YouTube), and web development? Seems a LOT of skills/services you're trying to offer. Is that for one specific niche/industry, or for many? If many, then I'd suggest picking one skill and selling that. I also don't think you need to be be an expert in anything to help someone.

 
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Santi M

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Email marketing, Facebook Ads, Google Ads (including YouTube), and web development? Seems a LOT of skills/services you're trying to offer. Is that for one specific niche/industry, or for many? If many, then I'd suggest picking one skill and selling that. I also don't think you need to be be an expert in anything to help someone.

You're right, probably I'm spreading my focus too much. I'm going to stay with FB Ads. Maybe some Web development would be good for some potential business which don't have a website, but only that.



Thank you, Andy, this is GOLD. I understand everything much better now.

I gotta say that I already had read those threads in the past, but I couldn't see the value there, I didn't understand.

Now I see.

Thank you.
 

Danczyk

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You're right, probably I'm spreading my focus too much. I'm going to stay with FB Ads. Maybe some Web development would be good for some potential business which don't have a website, but only that.

Yes focus one and work on that. But it doesn't mean you can't offer all of the services above. For example as long as you have a developer you can depend on "hey I got a client who needs a site" and when he needs some FB ads done he can pass it to you.

I strongly recommend you to learn how the search engines work and how SEO and PPC are related to each other and what advantages one has against others.

Are you going to serve the local Spanish businesses?
 

Santi M

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Yes focus one and work on that. But it doesn't mean you can't offer all of the services above. For example as long as you have a developer you can depend on "hey I got a client who needs a site" and when he needs some FB ads done he can pass it to you.

I strongly recommend you to learn how the search engines work and how SEO and PPC are related to each other and what advantages one has against others.

Are you going to serve the local Spanish businesses?

Thank you very much @Danczyk , yes I'm going to start with local business here in my small city in Valencia.
 
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Santiaggo

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Hey Santi, glad to see a fellow teenager getting after it (and who's also called Santiago lol). Do you have any updates on your journey? How is it going?
 

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