Al Gomez is the founder and Head of Operations of Dlinkers Digital Marketing and Consultancy. He founded the company in 2008. He is currently overseeing the whole operations and heading the strategic decision making for Dlinkers. Aside from being the Head of Operations, he is also a digital marketing consultant. He leads the whole team in crafting up-to-date strategies. One vital thing that he has found out while running this company: it is essential to empower every member of the team. Since Dlinkers is in the service industry, its people are the most important asset of the company, without them they can’t produce output and result, this is the main reason why empowerment is necessary. His experience in service industry did not only start at Dlinkers, he became a working student before founding his own company. He had worked in one of the biggest fast-food chain in the world. He also became a computer instructor in one of the schools here in the Philippines. Prior also in forming its own company, he gains his relevant experience, when he works in one of the outsourcing company and became a webmaster and developer.
Dlinkers back in 2008 focuses only in rendering Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services, but now it offers digital marketing services and consultancy. It includes the following services: SEO, Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Web Development, Graphic Design, and Paid Advertising working with companies around the world. Its mission is to consistently provide high-quality, tailor-made, up-to-date digital marketing solution to every client rendered by skilled and well-rounded professionals. The company emphasizes to its members its five important core values: committed, quality conscious, productive, time-bounded and adaptable. For this year, it’s turning 9 years in the digital marketing industry and still continues to grow.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
Being in the digital marketing industry can be mainly credited in my experience of becoming a webmaster and website developer. My enthusiasm in handling a website has inspired me to start my own business. Aside from my experience, the main reason that inspires me to get started in this kind of business is that my family, I have a growing family that time. I want to become an entrepreneur, wherein I want to manage my own time and handle my own people with empowerment. I want to share also my ideas in search engine optimization and website development to every website owner that I meet. And it has been a rewarding job, every time I solved a website problem.
How do you make money?
Dlinkers offers digital marketing services and consultancy. We offer also custom-made package, to help every unique need of a website. Our clients paid service fees from their chosen service, i.e. search engine optimization, web development, content marketing, social media marketing, paid advertising or consultancy.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Through hard work, passion and being committed, I can truly testify that in less than a year I have made my company become profitable (yes, in just 6 months). One thing that is vital in making a company profitable, it’s vital that I have a wife that assist me and goes over to the expenses and how to manage my investment. With her pieces of advice, it seems that finances go smoothly.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I never have doubts in starting this company. I know that this will work out my way. With my inspiration and courage, it stays me to become calm and be optimistic that this will work. Finding clients is actually difficult at the start, especially this is a start-up, but I knew that there is no easy job for those who wanted to be successful.
How did you get your first customer?
Luckily, I believe in this one: “you will, your way”. Since I have the will to find a client that time, it leads me to the right way. I have found my first customer through an online search, when I have found an ad that a client is looking for a webmaster and SEO consultant; I immediately send my proposal and credentials. Finding clients was truly challenging, yet it is a self-rewarding each time you give help for their websites.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
An awesome answer for this one is this: “quality service”. If you render quality service, you don’t have a hard time generating new business in the future. And this is a fact.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
Probably this one is the hardest, this is all about venturing for an online shopping site. Aside from spending lots of money for this project, I have spent a million times thinking if this will work. Still, I pursue this one and it’s currently live at unlideals.com.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
Whatever it is that you want to create or join; it takes commitment to become successful. It is not enough that you are optimistic that your venture will work, it is essential that you have the dedication and passion to your work. Being in the service industry, it is essential also that you must be the one leading your members with motivation.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Whenever you have helped a website owner with their problems and make their website grow, it’s truly the most satisfying moment in business. For me handling a business is not just about gaining money, although profit is the one fueling the business, this is all about providing value to your customers or clients. Aside from clients, one of the most satisfying moments also is that you have seen your people grow; they have got achievement while staying with the company.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The digital marketing industry will entail for more changes in the future, but we are excited for it. I make sure that we are very prepared for every change that is coming. This is the reason why adaptability is very essential in our company. I am also excited to see for the newer strategies of my members.
What business books have inspired you?
I like reading about investment and one of this is by Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad. It’s truly ideal for those who wanted to take the risk and venture for something new. Additionally, I would like to recommend Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, it teaches as the best leadership advice and for me it’s an awesome survival kit for business. I’m also a fan of Steve Jobs, I have bought Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs’ biography book. I like his idealism in terms of innovation.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
Purchasing significant tools for digital marketing service is truly beneficial. In this kind of industry you need to have the right tools. Recently, I have been looking for suitable tools that can be used for every strategy that we have. And we don’t stop from searching for what is ideal.