We were lucky to catch up with Clarissa Serrano recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Clarissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Right from the get-go, after graduating from Cal State Long Beach, I had this burning desire to start my own digital marketing agency. At the time, I was running my own clothing brand, Young and Woke Society. It was all about streetwear with a twist – uplifting and positive vibes, shining a spotlight on entrepreneurship and local businesses.
But then, bam, March 2020 came along, and the global pandemic hit. Life took a sharp turn, and so did my plans. With the world on lockdown, continuing with Young and Woke Society became impossible, and I had to make the tough call to close shop. Trust me, it stung – it was my first business, and it didn’t make it.
I was in Los Angeles, my hometown, and it felt surreal. Sunset and Vine, usually buzzing, stood deserted. Storefronts were boarded up, businesses closed indefinitely – it was heartbreaking. My own business loss was just the tip of the iceberg; I could feel the pain of fellow entrepreneurs and business owners.
So, I decided to step up and lend a hand. I jumped into freelancing, helping out local coffee shops, salons, ecomm brands, real estate agents, and marketing agencies across LA. With my background in retail and customer service plus digital marketing skills, I knew I could help these local businesses bring in new customers and create a thriving online community.
Fast forward to August 2023, three years after the world-changing impact of COVID-19. That’s when I launched NOW Marketing Collective, a digital marketing agency custom-crafted for local businesses. But it’s not just any agency; it’s powered by AI and ready to supercharge local entrepreneurs and business owners.
Our approach is the perfect mix of simplicity and effectiveness. We team up with business owners to craft standout digital marketing solutions that won’t break the bank and are packed with innovation.
The pandemic left many local businesses struggling to attract customers and stand out online. That’s where I come in. My mission is clear: to provide innovative and effective digital marketing strategies so local businesses can thrive in this ever-evolving digital world.
For me, this is just the beginning of an exciting journey in the world of digital marketing, and I can’t wait to help more local business owners turn their dreams into reality. 
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hey readers!
My name is Clarissa Serrano, I am the freelance digital marketer and owner of NOW Marketing Collective. I have a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from Cal State Long Beach, and have over five years of experience in digital marketing. II’m proud to have worked with a variety of businesses ranging from small family-ruined local businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
This year, I decided to chase my dream and start my own digital marketing agency – NOW Marketing Collective.
NOW Marketing Collective is an AI-powered digital marketing agency that is here to help local businesses thrive online.
We specialize in a range of digital marketing strategies, including social media marketing, email marketing, and digital advertising. We work closely with our clients to understand their unique business goals and develop customized strategies that meet their specific needs.
Our services are powered by AI technology, which means that we are constantly analyzing data and making adjustments to our strategies in real-time to ensure that you are getting the best possible results. This allows us to be proactive and agile, adapting quickly to changes in the market and providing you with the best possible ROI.
What makes our agency stand out is our seamless integration of AI technology into our digital marketing approach. We work closely with our clients to craft distinctive and impactful digital marketing campaigns that deliver exceptional results without straining your budget. Think of NOW Marketing Collective as your own personal CMO!
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
Back when I was running Young and Woke Society, I remember the day of our official launch which included our new website and the drop of our Fall/Winter collection.
It was a much anticipated collection drop with almost a month of heavy promotion on social media, email marketing, and influencer marketing. The day came when our website was officially going to launch and Google had a widespread outage that affected multiple websites, including Shopify.
The outage lasted for several hours and I remember thinking how terrible the launch is going. Friends and family where reaching out to me letting me know that they can’t access the website had trouble purchasing items. It was a complete flop, or so I thought.
That day I was doing damage control on social media, letting everyone know that Google had an outage and the website will be up and running as soon as possible. I reached out to people who were trying to purchase from the website and offered a discount for the inconvenience. By the end of the day, I thought the launch was a complete disaster.
The next day, however, I go onto my Shopify account and saw that the website was active and we had multiple orders from the day before. I was in complete shock. Not only was the launch successful, but the Google outage did not effect the analytics and the purchases on the website.
And in a way, it also became its own mini campaign. Since I was posting about the Google outage on my Instagram stories, my audience online followed along and was with me every step of the way – checking the website, trying to order, etc.
In the end, we managed to pull it off! The Young and Woke Society F/W19 Collection Drop was a success!
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Being a digital marketer means being at the forefront of business innovation. To stay ahead, I make it a point to keep up with fellow marketers and industry thought leaders. Online, I regularly follow individuals like Gary Vaynerchuk, Neil Patel, Jordan Platten, and Alex Cattoni. Their perspectives on digital marketing strategies and their ability to provide substantial value as agency owners and digital marketers are truly exceptional!
Online videos aren’t the only resource I use to help shape my thinking and philosophy on marketing and entrepreneurship, I’m also an avid reader :)
There are many books that have significantly impacted my views on entrepreneurship and marketing. But a few books in particular hold the top spots on influencing my mindset in business and in life: Principles by Ray Dalio, Mastery by Robert Greene, Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk.
These books proved instrumental during the early stages of my first business venture. They provided invaluable insights into my own identity as a business owner and entrepreneur. The concepts and philosophies within these pages not only helped define my personal journey but also instilled principles that continue to benefit not only me but also those around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nowmarketingcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissa.california
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/NOW-Marketing-Collective/61550777926238/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/now-marketing-collective
Image Credits
RCV Media (@rcvfilmedit) Daniel D. (@djdmedia)