After his graduation in 2005 from Columbia University, Colton Schild worked for different companies and observed how they struggled in their marketing techniques. They worked so much and invested a lot in branding and other marketing techniques. However, there were so many strategies they overlooked that could have propelled the companies to prosperity. Colton Schild had an immense passion for marketing, specifically SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and SEO (Search Engine Optimization). This passion and desire to empower businesses’ growth compelled him to establish his company Colton Schild Marketing. His online company focuses specifically on SEM and SEO, and it has empowered numerous businesses to greatness and establishing their place in a highly competitive business field. Through his hard work, passion, determination, and resilience, Colton has established a large client base and has founded his company to a solid foundation in the market. His successes have created job opportunities for professional people in the same field after expanding his company. He needed more labor to maintain Colton Schild Marketing’s functionality and maintain its reputation through the years. Although he had studied Anthropology, Colton followed his passions and encourages people to make career choices inclined towards their passions to ensure they get motivation and enjoy triumph and satisfaction in their chosen career paths. As part of his many philanthropic activities, Schild helps startups grow through SEM and SEO by running successful websites and blogs to grow their brands and establish themselves in the market.
You studied Anthropology; how did you get into online marketing?
Passion is what propelled me. Working in different companies, I realized that they overlooked SEM and SEO’s power in growing their brands. I witnessed the success achieved by other brands who knew the secrets, and I wanted to empower brands and make them aware of powerful tools for effective marketing. From this passion, I put my Anthropology studies aside and decided to venture fully into the marketing industry. However, much as it seems divergent, I draw essential lessons from Anthropology and use in the digital marketing industry. For instance, you must have data collecting skills and analysis when creating marketing strategies for various brands. You have to understand the particular brands deeply to tailor-make marketing products that will make a significant impact on the intended audience.
How do you make money?
I partner with different companies and brands to help them in their marketing. My proficient team collaborates to use proactive tools for marketing the brands online, which allows the brand to revolutionize and become popular among the target audience. The success of the brand is our success. With SEO, we aim to have brands that entrust their marketing to feature on the first pages of search engines, especially on Google. In addition to the companies that we have signed contracts with upfront payments, we have a lot more from earning commissions on all products sold. It is upon us then to ensure that we help those brands move as many products as possible.
What do you think drives you to success?
My passion and resilience are what have kept me going through the years. There have been significant challenges along the way, but passion and persistence have helped me rise above the challenges. My team and I hold considerable value to customer satisfaction, which has helped us grow through referrals. We operate by the mantra that our customers are our bosses. We strive to give the ultimate service to all of our customers, thus creating a lasting relationship. The more customers we get into our client base, the bigger our company grows. Every client we add to our company is an opportunity of getting a lot more through their referrals.
What does the future hold for your business?
Our company has expanded through the years, and I am anticipating more growth in the future. We expect to partner with more brands and create more employment opportunities for young people with a passion for digital marketing. E-market is a large industry with massive potential. Partnering with existing e-commerce and digital marketing companies will go a long way to expanding our horizons and getting access to more opportunities. We hope to grow this business into a big multinational company tapping into the exciting and ever-expanding digital marketing industry.
How long did it take for you to become profitable when you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
It took me about six months to realize some profit after venturing into the marketing industry. With SEM and SEO, you need to establish a foundation for your agency to get traction and for businesses to have confidence in you. I had to do a lot of marketing myself for my company that involved a lot of SEO. This kind of work requires that you hire personnel you pay before you even get your first clients. I needed to have a good capital base then to sustain that for about six months.
Do you remember how you got your first customer?
Certainly, yes. I do remember. It was such an exciting moment finding that email in my inbox. After months of marketing my company and working on its Google ranking, we finally landed a deal with a particular brand that needed their websites to improve their rankings and needed a good digital marketer to promote the brand. This was a completely random start-up business that needed to curve a niche for itself. Though we did not get as much from the company, the focus was to help grow the business and determine the level of our knowledge and skills. As we talk now, we are still working with this client who has immensely grown their business.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
As a digital marketer, my first option for generating more business for my company is using my skills. I use the same skill set for growing my customer base as I use to help the brands that I work for grow. Digital marketing has completely transformed the advertising and marketing industry to reach a vast market base and with minimal effort and resources. Referrals and traditional marketing only come as a plus after you have exposed my business out there to the world. Any business now and especially start-ups can greatly benefit from this.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
Success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. I value consistency in everything that I set to do. It is the culmination of very many small wins that result in a big one, and it’s the policy that I adhere to. I set both long and short-term goals, then focus on the short term that eventually gets me to the long-term ambition. Such an approach requires dedication and consistency, and that is exactly what I do. I never let small obstacles or failures along the way hinder me from pushing towards success, and that is why I have a long term goal. The more I am consistent, focusing on what matters, the more I learn and perfect my skills.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I have had a lot of satisfying moments in my business. Every time I see a brand my company is promoting, rise in ranks and get the exposure that later turns into sales, I feel excellent and satisfied. Every little success that my company gets with our clients is a fulfilling moment for my staff and me. However, the most satisfying was with the first client that we helped grow their start-up into an established business. Without prior experience, we worked every day, learning along the way, making mistakes, and correcting them until we achieved our desired goal. That was a moment I will always live to remember.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The digital marketing industry has a lot of exciting prospects in the future. We are yet to tap the full potential of this niche, and I am excited to venture into the future and see what it has in store for everyone in the industry and the world.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to find mentors and to be more adventurous. There is more to life for those who are bold when young and find their niche early on in life. Mentors are meant to help you see the future before you get there.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
I am more than willing to be a mentor. Since I did not get a lot of guidance when starting, I would not want another young person to wander. I consider it my duty to guide those that I can in the best way possible. You can reach out to me via my email on the company’s website or via my social media accounts, especially Twitter and Facebook.