Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Ross

Hi Jake, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

Starting a YouTube channel in my college dorm room was a game-changer.

What began as a casual hobby turned into a thriving community of over 11,500 subscribers who shared my passion for sports trading cards. Every morning, I’d go live on YouTube, engaging with more than 3,000 fellow collectors as we eagerly anticipated Target’s latest sports card releases. Together, we opened packs, played games, and bonded over our shared enthusiasm as the clock approached 9 a.m., marking the arrival of new card boxes.

The sense of community was incredible. Collectors not only participated actively but also showed their appreciation by donating during the livestreams, sometimes adding up to $100–$200 per session. This generosity highlighted the potential of building a dedicated fan base.

That experience was my first real insight into the immense value of a loyal community. It taught me that when customers become fans, your brand can soar to new heights. This revelation inspired me to create Build You Marketing, a venture dedicated to helping companies cultivate and grow vibrant communities of loyal customers.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The journey hasn’t always been smooth, and I’ve faced numerous obstacles along the way. The toughest challenge was balancing college courses with building my business simultaneously, often putting in 12-16 hour days prior to graduating.

Fortunately, I’ve had an incredible team by my side, constantly motivating each other and stepping in to help whenever needed. I want to give a special shoutout to Christina, Jheremy, Madison, Megan, & Ryan. Their support and dedication have been invaluable, and together, we’ve managed to overcome every hurdle that came our way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

Founded in May of 2022, Build You Marketing is one of Massachusetts newest growing marketing and public relations (PR) agencies in Massachusetts.

We use social media, email newsletter and press releases to increase customer retention, engagement and loyalty for out clients by fostering a community of fans around their brand. This maximizes customer lifetime value and incentivizes patrons to tell their friends.

We’re currently working with companies across 7 U.S. states and many different industries with a specialty in Instagram and LinkedIn content creation.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?

There are many things that make me happy– family, friends, freedom, and more. Yet, what gets me out of bed everyday is the ability to make a positive impact on the planet and the different communities that I am apart of.

My goal is to make others happy and be able to improve people’s quality of life. Even if that is just as simple as writing someone a handwritten note and sending it to them or taking them on a cool excursion.

This deeply relates back to the work we do at Build You– everyday, my team and I get to work with founders and marketers whose main goal is to spread the solution they have created to a pressing problem. We not only get to help them achieve their goals, but solve their customer’s problems at the same time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebuildyou.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebuildyou/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/build-you-marketing/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/build-you-marketing-sharon