Jerren Willis (JW): What inspired you to start your business?
Chris N. West (CNW): I decided to start my business because there was a need for businesses and organizations to understand how digital marketing can bring customers. While working at different companies I got a chance to meet many people from across the country and learn about their challenges. I realized some small business and large corporations have similar problems when it comes to being visible and understanding online marketing for growth.
JW: Explain to us what digital marketing is and how we can utilize this in our daily lives?
CNW: Digital marketing involves reaching audiences through methods on the internet or mobile devices. This includes when people use search engines, social media, advertising, and email marketing. You can utilize this by being aware of how these channels work. Finding out where your audience is currently spending the most time is a good start for someone building a brand. You might want to just get on what is trending at the moment. Instead, you can test out many platforms and channels on a daily basis to see what works. Even if you’re are thinking of going into business or you currently work as a marketer this could be helpful
JW: How did your corporate experiences help how you operate your business?
CNW: Originally, I did not want to work in corporate before starting a business. I ended up getting a position at Google and other companies before going into business full time. I realized that working at a company can teach you valuable lessons in business. You can see exactly what has worked for them for years instead of testing out everything on your own. You also get additional credibility for having corporate experience. People may see that you know about corporate settings and will want to work with you. This also helped me to understand what I really wanted to do in my business. I’m still using what I learned years ago at my past jobs.
JW: You’ve been a speaker at over 100 events in 46 states. Tell us a story of one of your most memorable speaking engagements.
CNW: My most memorable engagement was in Hawaii. There are people there from all over the world that decided to work in the state. The people are always friendly, and the atmosphere is unique! Its great to know my client found enough value in my services to have me come to Honolulu and work with their group.
Chris N. West, an experienced professional dedicated to helping organizations increase results, utilizes search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing to expand businesses. Chris is an internet marketing speaker who shares a wealth of actionable ideas that organizations can use right away to produce a positive difference in their marketing and business team’s success. Formerly, Chris served in a position at Google where he worked in the area of marketing key products. His career has taken him to 46 states along with cities outside of the United States.
The focus of Chris’ career is to help marketing teams save time and focus on what matters by utilizing the latest online tools. His career advancement aided in him qualifying to become a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA). Chris has worked with team members at Lionsgate, Yamaha, and multiple universities to name a few.
Currently, he lives with his wife in Houston, Texas. Engagement photos were taken by Jerren Willis Photography!
