Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in advertising services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ty Sandstra, Founder of Digital Voice Marketing Inc., located in Sherwood Park, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Digital Voice Marketing Inc. My customers are small business owners looking to stay competitive in an ever-increasingly digital marketplace. I believe that small businesses can still have a big voice in our economy.
Tell us about yourself
I first started when I saw a need to create an affordable online presence for my mom's small business. She and her business partner had been paying a lot for a minimal return on investment regarding web design, website maintenance, and social media content. They simply didn't have the know-how or the time to figure out how to manage their business's online presence appropriately. I quickly realized I could offer her a superior product for a fraction of the cost. It's small businesses that make the Canadian economy thrive, and they're run by some of the most honest, hardworking folks who put their all into their business. I want to provide success stories for business owners like my mom and continue to see small businesses flourish.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is gaining online traffic for my clients. By creating new websites and strategically optimizing advertising campaigns, I've been able to increase user sessions and leads by an average of 10x for most of my customers.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Accepting that you don't know everything. Business owners, myself included, yearn to be the best at what they do. Make excellence your goal, but not your expectation. There will be times when you have to admit you're wrong. Once you do, you'll find yourself maturing faster as a person and a trustworthy business owner.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Manage your work/home life wisely. It's easy to overburden yourself trying to be the best business owner you can be. Remember why you're running a business in the first place, to support your home life, family, and dreams. You won't be able to enjoy any of it if you're always in work mode.
- Be humble and cut yourself some slack. We have about 80 years on this planet to grow into the best person we can be. Nobody starts off perfectly, and you will never be perfect. It takes years of mistakes, learning, and humble persistence to get where you want to be.
- Start now. Entrepreneurship comes from big dreamers. It can sometimes feel like your dreams are so far out of reach that you get discouraged from even beginning the process. Every one of your heroes in business had to start somewhere sometime, and so do you. No matter how small the task, start something today.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.digitalvoicemarketing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalVoiceMarketing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoicemarketing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Digital_Voice_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-voice-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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