Hosted by Stafflex, Why I Work In is a regular feature where we ask people about their jobs., Today, to mark International Women's Day, I'm Melissa Cooper, MD and founder of Beanie Media, based in Denbigh Dale.
What is it like to start a digital marketing agency as an 18-year-old woman?
Melissa Roberts founded Beanie Media when she was 18 years old. While studying Business at Kirklees University, she decided that a career in digital marketing was for her and started working in digital marketing at her local agency alongside her studies. I worked as an executive.
After leaving Kirklees University, Melissa worked full-time as a digital marketing assistant at another agency, but deep down she knew she wanted to work for herself and set up her own business.
In addition to the great accomplishment of running her own business, Beanie Media, for almost six years, Melissa was also awarded 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year' at The Examiner Business Awards. Here, Melissa talks about starting her digital marketing agency as an 18-year-old woman.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
My father always had his own business, so I grew up always surrounded by business conversations and was taught the importance of hard work. Seeing his father work hard for himself gave me confidence.
I was only 16 years old when I discovered my interest in digital marketing. I took a job as his marketing assistant while I was still in college, but I wanted to invest myself more deeply and develop my skills faster, but I knew that wasn't going to happen. You have the opportunity to do so as an assistant secretary for a small company. When I'm interested in something, it takes over my brain and I have to put all my energy into it.
I didn't have to travel to Leeds or Manchester to find my big opportunity. I think I always had the ambition to work for myself and a passion for marketing. That's what led me to quit my job. start your own business.
What advice would you give someone just starting their own business?
First of all, let's just try it! When you have a business idea, there are usually a lot of things going on in your head, but the hardest part is getting started.
My second piece of advice is don't do it alone.
Starting your own business can be difficult and requires a good support network around you. Talk to your family and friends about your idea. Even better, try joining local or industry-specific networking groups. I've met a lot of great people through business and have become friends with whom I can bounce ideas off and ask for their opinions on situations.
I also had business mentors in similar industries, so I was able to learn from others who had started and grown similar businesses.
There will be things you don't understand, and if you try to do it alone, you'll be stressed out and spend more time figuring things out than working on your business. Instead, work with people who can support you on your journey. One of the best business decisions I made was finding an accountant and bookkeeper who understood our business.
How is your business different now compared to when you first started?
When I started Beanie Media, I didn't have much direction in terms of the clients I would work with. I was willing to take any job I could do with anyone who showed interest.
Today, Beanie Media is a team of skilled digital marketing experts. As a team, we understand our strengths and the industries we are passionate about. This means we strategically seek out and work with clients.
Working with clients who share our vision and values has not only increased our success, but also increased job satisfaction for our entire team.
Since I started my business, my vision has grown as I continue to see what's possible and prove what I can do.
Where do you think your business will be in five years?
My horizons expanded, but not in the way you would automatically expect. A few years ago, my vision was to have a huge company that employed many people and worked with huge clients.
That's not really the case anymore.
In running Beanie Media for the past six years, I feel like I've found myself. I've grown a business, gotten married, had a child, and am at a place where my perspective on life is different than it was a few years ago.
My goal is to build long-term, meaningful relationships and continue to strengthen our customer base. In addition to this, you will lead a team of people who can work flexibly and maintain a positive work-life balance.
Fundamentally, I want to live a meaningful life and work with a team of positive people who all support each other, while providing the best experience and results for my clients.
We truly believe that these customer relationships are right on our doorstep in Huddersfield and the surrounding areas.
How does Beanie Media differentiate itself from its peers?
When I founded Beanie Media at the age of 18, I had no connections (or money!), so I had to work really hard to build the business from scratch. For this reason, I have the mindset of recovering my client's investment with minimal outlay, as he knows how important ROI is for businesses, especially small businesses.
In addition to this, Beanie Media is constantly testing and experimenting with our algorithms, website layouts, and social media platforms to ensure we are always up to date. The average age of Beanie Media's employees is 25 years old, an age group that has grown up with TikTok, Instagram, and the ever-changing digital landscape. We live and breathe what we do for our customers.
In addition to being ahead of the curve, what sets us apart is the fact that we listen and communicate honestly with our clients' wants and needs. Many companies that come to us already have some experience with an agency, but are not able to get the results they wanted.
We may not always be able to achieve what the client wants, but if that is the case, we will let them know. This means avoiding giving false hopes and promises.
What is the most difficult part of being an entrepreneur?
Balance everything! Since starting Beanie Media at the age of 18, I've gotten married, become a first-time mom, employed 5 people, and grown my customer base significantly. It can sometimes be difficult to ensure that everything is given full attention.
Running your own business means you never really stop. Even if you have a great network, you can still feel lonely. At times, you may be forced to make difficult decisions or be thrown into difficult situations that you have never experienced before.
Being organized is the only way to avoid dropping the ball in your personal and professional lives. If you're feeling stressed about something, be sure to tell your husband or family member so you don't have to worry about things. Deal with things better.
How have you personally grown since becoming a young entrepreneur?
Since starting my business as a young entrepreneur, I have gained a new level of confidence and become more decisive. When I started Beanie Media, I was taking a different path than my friends and the people I went to school with. I didn't know anyone my age in the business, so I doubted myself and worried if I was doing the right thing. I also didn't have the confidence to talk to people I didn't know well.
As a business owner, you have to be your own cheerleader 24/7. You need to make quick decisions and talk to people you don't know in order to expand your network and talk to potential customers. As time went on…my confidence grew and I didn't worry so much anymore because I felt like I had proven myself.
In my personal life, I learned one of my business habits: to stop waiting for the right time. Starting a business has allowed me to create a schedule that I feel allows me to balance work and family life while becoming a mom.
I have also greatly improved my communication skills, which are essential when running a business, and have become better partners who can discuss the good and bad of things and find solutions. .
After becoming an entrepreneur, I started dealing with business scenarios on a daily basis and it helped me approach every challenge I faced personally. It became easier to deal with feelings of disappointment and upset. Because I have developed resilience and it has given me the mindset that I can do anything.
If you could describe your work in just three words, which would you choose?
It's fast-paced, diverse, and technical.
What do you like most?
I love the diversity of digital marketing and entrepreneurship. No two days are the same. Some days I work on client work, and other days I work on our own business strategy.
I love digital marketing, but I probably wouldn't be happy working in an in-house role as I love working with different businesses.
I love being able to talk to different business owners and learn about their own businesses, their industries, and their experiences in business.
How would your colleagues describe you?
I didn't really understand, so I asked! Determined, ambitious, kind, gentle, entrepreneurial and confident. (Thanks to the team!)
Finally, who is your biggest role model?
My aunt is a strong woman who always inspires me.
