Colton Schild is the CEO and owner of Colton Schild Marketing in Miami. Before opening his own business, he worked in several companies while observing their marketing strategies. This inspired him to put up his own marketing business that provides a more effective approach in the digital marketing field. The company focuses on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) that have been proven to be very effective, practical, and advantageous.
The success of his company created job opportunities for professionals as he needed more help in maintaining and improving his company. As a philanthropist, Colton Schild conducts a mentorship program to encourage startup company owners to pursue the vision they have for their company. Colton, the CEO of a marketing company, loves sharing his knowledge through blogs and informational web pages.
What is Colton Schild Marketing all about?
My company operates on a simple business concept. I work with brands to help them market their products online. SEO and SEM marketing techniques are methods of optimizing specific brand sites using SEO content. Our services boost companies’ Google rankings so that when an internet user searches specific keywords, the site can easily be found. This technique boosts brand visibility which results to greater sales.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
Right after graduating from college, I worked with different companies, and I’ve observed that they don’t give much importance to SEO and SEM. While working with these companies, I saw how other companies prosper through SEO and SEM, while the company I worked last with remained stagnant. Because of this, I put my Anthropology studies aside and ventured into marketing with the goal of helping brands increase sales by using a more modern marketing approach. Though Anthropology and marketing are two different fields, I was able to use essential skills from Anthropology such as data collection skills and analysis in digital marketing industry.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
I am anticipating more growth in the future. With how fast technology is changing everything, we expect to partner with more brands. E-market is a large industry, and young people are enthusiastic about it. As brands from different companies continue to expand their businesses, we would also grow with them and adapt to changes in digital marketing. I am excited to see what my team can do to improve marketing strategies for our clients.
How have the pandemic and lockdowns affected you or your new business?
The first challenge was to shift from office to work from home setup. Everyone had to adjust with how we work, but that was just surprisingly easy. The real challenge was losing clients. Businesses closed and partnerships were halted because of the pandemic. I had to ask my team to work on a skeletal schedule until the situation gets better. We worked hard to promote the company to businesses that are still operating during the lockdowns.
Fortunately, business owners learned to adapt to the situation quickly so we got back on track in a short time. This pandemic has somehow increased the number of our clients because E-commerce has become more essential than ever.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
In any kind of business, you should have an edge to stay above your competitors. In our case, we focus on what our customers and prospects need. Colton Schild Marketing is not only interested in making money, but also in solving difficulties for the clients. In addition, we make professional communication a fundamental component of our business. This requires dedication and consistency.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
Traditional marketing techniques are not as effective as before— paid media advertising will cost you a lot. So, I’ll say SEO and SEM are still the best marketing strategies. Companies can benefit from these for a long period. Brands using SEO and SEM have more exposure, and they get more customers than companies that use traditional strategies. In this time of digital marketing, utilizing modern approaches to increase sales should be prioritized. Startup businesses can greatly benefit from these strategies.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
The first six months of venturing into the marketing industry were the most challenging for me. I had no clients during those times, so I had to do a lot of marketing myself using SEO. This required me to hire people without generating income. I had to add more capital to my business to sustain operations. The most difficult part was motivating myself to continue. Imagine working for six months without income. That’s frustrating! It required a lot of work, but it all paid off. I got an email from a brand that needed online promotion for the first time, and I’m very proud to say that until now, we still work with this brand.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
I am more productive when I get up early. I get up at five a.m. to get ready for work. Starting work early allows me to work longer hours. Conversely, the earlier I begin, the sooner I may return home and rest. I am more likely to procrastinate if I wake up late. Thus, I always get up early. As a CEO, I sometimes get overwhelmed with the tasks we have to do, so I learned to delegate tasks to my team. This way, I worry less about not finishing something. I could just focus on what needs to be done first.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
I’m not into podcasts, but there’s this book by John Brooks that’s called Business Adventure, and it is a good read. I learned about this book from Bill Gate’s blog. Since then, it became my favorite book. It focuses on how people think and react to business. He utilized several stories to teach his readers various lessons. It doesn’t only talk about how businessmen succeed but also talks about the mistakes they made to keep aspiring entrepreneurs from making the same mistakes.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
One of the reasons why I keep on expanding my business is to give more job opportunities to people. So, I somewhat have a big responsibility to keep the business going because many people depend on their work from the company. When I face challenges, I use them as motivation. I tell myself that there are many lives under my roof.
What is your favorite quote?
I always think of a quote from CJ Walker.
Don’t sit down and wait for opportunities to come. Get up and make them.
This quote is very inspirational in any aspect of life. It reminds me to keep making opportunities for our partners. I also have personal goals that I have to work hard for, so I thrive to create more opportunities for the growth and success of everyone.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
Starting a business is never easy, so you should expect failures, losses, disappointments, and criticisms. Nevertheless, nothing should stop you from trying and pursuing your dreams. If you don’t try now, you’ll never know what you could have achieved. Start with baby steps, and when you get the skills and resources you need, be ready to take bigger steps.
What is your definition of success?
Success to me is being content with what you have, and that you can sleep soundly at night. The success I achieve in everyday life depends on how I see things on the table. Whenever I feel satisfied, I feel successful. Whenever I know I have helped someone, I feel successful. I don’t tag a long-term goal as a single success because it comprises of many small successes. Regardless, when your heart and mind are at peace, that’s success.
How can we get in touch with you?
Feel free to reach out to me at my email address which isc.schild@coltonschild.com
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