Scott Cooper is the founder of the lifestyle brand Scott Cooper Miami, an online venture that focuses on bringing attention to the Miami-Dade area of Florida. His goal is to attract visitors from around the world and educate locals on the beauty of Miami, from events and beautiful sights to historical anecdotes. Before the creation of Scott Cooper Miami, Cooper worked in a variety of roles, from banking to technology, throughout North America. This unique collection of experience led Cooper to start a business that married his love for Miami with his desire to connect with the community. From the best family vacation spots and updates on the hottest Miami fashion, there is something for everyone at Scott Cooper Miami. When Cooper isn’t working, he loves to spend time with his family, travel, and do philanthropy work, most commonly through his local synagogue.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
I got into this business because I wanted to draw more attention to the Miami-Dade area, specifically how great my city is for business, fashion, vacationing, and the benefits of living here year round. Miami is a fun and exciting city, and has risen to become one of the top destinations in the world. So, I focused on creating a place that shows off the lifestyle in one of the most diverse areas around. I have multiple websites that focus on unique subjects, including local news, fashion, and history. I even have a website dedicated to educational toys, which of course doesn’t have anything to do with Miami but it is a passion of mine as I have a child of my own. I want Scott Cooper Miami to be a community where locals and visitors can share their experience in this international city.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
That’s tough to say because being profitable with Scott Cooper Miami was not the original goal. I just started making websites on topics that interested me. I love website design, writing, and Miami so everything just fell into place. Before I knew it Scott Cooper Miami was a full on brand! I became profitable very naturally. Nothing becomes successful overnight, but with hard work and dedication, you can make any hobby or business venture profitable. Once I realized how much fun Scott Cooper Miami was, I put all my energy into it and the profits started to come in steadily.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Of course, there were times where I thought things might not work out the way I wanted them to. But I think it is natural for any business owner or entrepreneur to have a bit of anxiety when they’re first starting out. Anxiety and stress can be great motivators. What I did to avoid letting the stress consume me was to focus on my personal interests. I could continue expanding, covering popular topics, but I know that if I have an interest in it, the content will be of high quality. It is all about having the drive to want to succeed in anything you do and coming up with ways to overcome the obstacles that may get in the way.
How did you get your first customer?
Scott Cooper Miami does not have customers in the traditional sense. As an online community publishing authentic Miami related content, we got readers almost instantly. Before I began my journey with Scott Cooper Miami, I spoke with my friends about my vision, and they helped me perfect it and spread awareness.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works well to generate new business?
For me, the most significant strategy that has helped Scott Cooper Miami so far is social media, which has given me the opportunity to reach a large population and connect with my readers. I can give them updates on the latest happenings with the brand, whether it is news, fashion, or recent events in the Miami-Dade area. Being able to connect has been an important factor in growing my brand and bringing attention to South Florida.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
That is a good question. I’ve been looking for someone who can be my assistant so that I can get more accomplished throughout the day and have more time at the end of the day to spend with family. I am always putting a lot of hours into my job because I want it to be successful and it doesn’t work well to create a good work/life balance. So, the hardest decision has been to reorganize SCM so my employees and I can have some time for ourselves! With online businesses, you have to work around the clock. You always have to be ready to fix a website design problem or respond to reader inquiries. But we are only human, and we need time to ourselves to refresh and gather our thoughts. Or else we will burn out! Luckily, after a lot of looking through resumes and interviews, I found an assistant who is a good fit for the brand.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
What makes me successful is the drive and willingness to do what it takes to achieve my goals. I am a very solutions-based person, and if I come across an obstacle that can affect my business and brand, then I come up with a way to solve whatever gets in the way. Because of that, I have been able to find success in ways that one can only dream about, and I credit it all to drive and problem-solving.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I love connecting with the community and having something that pushes me to explore Miami. Giving back to the community is another satisfying moment that pushes me to work hard. I also do a lot work with charities through my synagogue to help those that are less fortunate. Being able to know that I am passing my good fortunes to someone else in need is one of the most satisfying moments in and outside of business.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future of Scott Cooper Miami has no limits. We want to grow as a brand, explore different interests and different subcultures. I am also very excited to see advancements and trends with technology, and how was can grow our online platform with these new techniques.
Some of the things that have been pretty exciting are health and wellness, so I want to show readers and customers who want to visit Miami, the best spots to look for organic, natural foods, and some of the hottest workout spots to go to while visiting. Also, of course, kids are a pretty popular niche, and parents are always looking for fun things for their little ones to participate in, so I would like to create a list of things to do at different costs around the South Florida region. Those are just a few of the things that I am pretty excited about.
What business books have inspired you?
Two books have inspired me throughout the years. The first book is “The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere And Join The New Rich” by Tim Ferriss. I like this book because he provides a lot of valuable information and a step by step blueprint to help those who want to become entrepreneurs work towards being financially independent.
The other book that has inspired me throughout my career is “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. This has helped millions of people, including myself become financially successful, and provides the right amount of inspiration to make it happen.
What is a recent purchase you have made that helped with your business?
The most recent investment that I have made for my business is hiring an assistant. That was one of the best things I could do for myself personally and in terms of being more productive in business. It has been well worth the money. My assistant is excellent and has helped me tremendously to help organize and execute tasks while helping me grow my brand.