We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Willis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Ashley , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard
You know, when I worked at that small marketing firm, I saw a lot of businesses, especially those just starting out, get lost in the shuffle. It felt like everyone got the same cookie-cutter plan, whether you were a pool company or an insurance agency.
It honestly broke my heart a little! These amazing entrepreneurs were pouring their heart and soul into their businesses, but their marketing just wasn’t connecting.
So, I decided to do things differently. I wanted to create a service that truly grows with businesses. No more one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, I focus on building a deep understanding of each client and their unique goals.
I use data and insights to craft a personalized strategy that’s not just effective, but also authentic to their brand. It’s about helping them tell their story in a way that resonates with their ideal customers.
For example, I recently worked with a branding photographer who was struggling to get her website noticed. She was on a tight budget, so she started with my 6-month SEO coaching program. This allowed her to gain a deep understanding of SEO principles and how to apply them to her own business.
What matters most is that by starting with a budget-friendly option, she was able to experience firsthand the power of online marketing. She saw the results – a 40% increase in website traffic in just three months! This newfound knowledge and appreciation for SEO will empower her to make informed decisions about her marketing investments as her business grows.
From our SEO coaching programs to our VIP days and done-for-you services, we offer a range of solutions to help small businesses at every stage of their journey. Our goal is to empower them to build a strong online presence, attract their ideal clients, and achieve their business goals.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hey everyone! For those who haven’t heard my story, let me introduce myself. I’m the founder of SDM Online Solutions, and my journey here has been quite the ride. I’ve always had a passion for empowering women and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. It started with my own beauty brand, but I quickly realized how tough it was to connect with my ideal clients online. I felt lost and confused, a feeling I later discovered was shared by so many businesses I worked with at a marketing firm.
That experience, both as a business owner struggling to find my footing and as a marketing professional seeing the same struggles in others, really shaped my understanding of what effective digital marketing really means. I saw firsthand how opaque and confusing things were for businesses working with traditional agencies. There was a real need for a more personalized and affordable approach, especially for solopreneurs and small businesses.
So, now I’m all about helping other amazing women navigate the sometimes-scary world of digital marketing. I use my own experiences and professional expertise to guide them through search engine optimizations (SEO) for both Google and social media, SEO-enriched content strategies, SEO coaching, VIP days, and more. I take a holistic approach to SEO, using innovative strategies to boost their online visibility and attract their dream clients. My big goal is to empower them with the knowledge and tools they need to truly connect with their target audience, build a powerful online presence, and crush their business goals. I firmly believe that when women understand the power of digital marketing, they can authentically represent their brands and connect with their ideal clients in a way that’s meaningful and impactful.
What makes SDM Online Solutions different? It’s our personalized touch. I know that every business is unique, with its own set of challenges and aspirations. Some might have a full marketing team, while others are solopreneurs juggling all the hats. But regardless of size or structure, everyone needs clarity and actionable steps to reach their ideal clients.
Since starting SDM, I’ve had the privilege of guiding over 120 businesses on their SEO journey. Seeing them implement the strategies we’ve built together and watching their online growth is incredibly rewarding. In fact, that’s one of the things I’m most proud of – witnessing the tangible impact of our work on these businesses. Seeing their confidence grow and their businesses flourish is what fuels me every day. We’ve achieved this through a mix of my own workshops, partnerships with organizations like Baker Ripley, Mala Market, IFEL, and women’s communities like The Beauty Boost Houston and The Houston Hotties. I’m also super excited about our partnership with SCORE Houston, which will help us reach even more businesses. These collaborations have been amazing for expanding our reach and providing accessible SEO education and support to businesses across different industries.
Getting here wasn’t always a walk in the park. There were definitely moments of doubt and uncertainty. But I learned to push through those challenges by reminding myself that consistent action is key, even when you don’t see results right away. It’s like planting seeds – you have to nurture them even before they sprout.
Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that I want to share:
Embrace the unknown: The biggest growth often happens when you step outside your comfort zone.
You don’t have to have all the answers before you start: Just take the first step and learn as you go.
Consistency is king: Small, consistent efforts really add up over time.
Your voice matters: Share your expertise with the world!
Through SDM Online Solutions and Amplify My Biz Online, we’re on a mission to empower women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive. From educational workshops, speaking on panels, our services and our podcast, we’re here to be your trusted SEO Bestie, cheering you on every step of the way.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The beauty industry is truly my first love. With over 14 years immersed in it, from cosmetology school at a Paul Mitchell academy to working at a Chanel counter and freelancing for Chanel and other major brands, you could say it’s in my DNA. I always loved analyzing the marketing strategies of beauty brands, and even when I briefly stepped away to explore other avenues like banking, I always found myself drawn back.
The real pivot happened towards the end of the pandemic. In the summer of 2019, I’d moved to a new state in a new environment, and while in-person vending with my beauty brand had been successful, I craved something more sustainable. I experimented with different approaches, trying to achieve different results, but ultimately, I had to make the difficult decision to pause that business. I was at a crossroads, really thinking hard about what I wanted to do next.
Then, I was fortunate enough to get a job that finally allowed me to put my business degree to work. That’s where the real shift occurred. I was introduced to the world of online marketing, and I became absolutely fascinated. Learning about the power of search, how the internet functions, it was like a whole new world opened up. I dove deeper, learning even more outside of work hours. And that’s when I noticed a significant gap. The online landscape is constantly evolving, and many businesses were struggling to keep up, often relying on outdated tactics from 10+ years ago. Google and its algorithms have become so much more sophisticated, and it became clear that a more innovative, data-driven, and human-centered approach was essential for success. That realization sparked the creation of SDM Online Solutions, and it’s been an incredible journey ever since.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’ve had to unlearn a few things on my entrepreneurial journey, but two stand out. The first, and maybe the most significant, is the danger of overthinking and self-doubt. Closed mouths don’t get fed, as they say. The second, and closely related, is recognizing when I’m the one standing in my own way. I realized that if I wanted something amazing to happen in my business but simultaneously gave a laundry list of excuses why it couldn’t happen, I was essentially admitting I was afraid and letting fear and the (often well-meaning) voices of others keep me stuck.
This is a story I haven’t shared with many people, but it really illustrates these lessons. When I first decided to launch my beauty brand, I started with beautiful, luxurious lashes in a mirrored compact. I worked with an overseas manufacturer, and the lashes were stunning. I had people around me excited to buy them. But I wouldn’t sell them. Yep, you heard that right. I couldn’t bring myself to actually sell them because I’d convinced myself that everything had to be perfect first. I needed a professional brand shoot, a fully developed website, perfect packaging – the whole nine yards. I got so wrapped up in this idea of perfection that I barely spoke about my brand. Naturally, those initial interested buyers lost interest. And yeah, both getting in my head and keeping my mouth shut held me back for almost a year. So, you can imagine my frustration when I finally launched with everything “perfect” and couldn’t understand why sales weren’t pouring in. It was a hard but valuable lesson.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://seodigitalmarketing.online/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleytheseostrategist
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytheseostrategist/
- Twitter: https://youtube.com/@ashleywillistheseostrategist?si=D1TCLkurAlEEHtA_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AshleyTheSEOStrategist
Image Credits
the main picture and first two picture are taken by the Trident Media Group