We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Geoff Cummings. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Geoff below.

Hi Geoff, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Well, I started my business, in June 2015, so I am coming up on 7 years.

Where was I at life-wise? Well, it had been just about a year and a half since my divorce. That was by far the most traumatic thing I had ever gone through. It came as somewhat of a surprise, yet now looking back there were signs and I am now happier than I have ever been. When you go through such a life-changing thing you step back and look at your life. I was finally finding out who I was and for the first time beginning to gain some self-confidence in myself. Additionally, I was not happy with my career. Took a job in the financial industry purely out of a need for a job, when my ex-wife and I moved to Arizona with no job prospects in 1995. As you can imagine, life happens, you buy a house, have a child and next thing you know it’s 10 -15 yrs later, and find yourself not pursuing your dream and are in a job you are miserable in.

Long story short a friend asked me what I was passionate about and I said doing marketing, designing logos and websites. It’s what I received my degree in and what I had always wanted to do, but couldn’t get my foot in the door. She said, “well start your own business”, so I did. The first few years I felt very inadequate and did not have much confidence in myself. This person who encouraged me to start my business ended up being my first client, which allowed me to gain confidence and get caught up with the changes that had occurred in the last 20 years.

The reason why I wish I would have started earlier is that I am still working in the financial industry. Now being a single parent with a child in college, it is hard to break the ties of a weekly income. Had I started this business when I was in a two-income family I could have devoted 100% of my time to my business.

All this said this is definitely not a side business. It’s my goal and dream to be doing this full-time in the very near future.

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

I have a degree in Marketing and Communications from Aquinas College, in Grand Rapids Michigan. With over 35 years in customer service, my experience has afforded me in providing marketing for a Fortune 500 company and a local non-profit company. Additionally, I have done marketing for silent auctions, political debates, managed over 200 employees, and started a local fraternal organization. I take great pride in everything I do.

The name of my business has significant meaning for several reasons, but mostly it is how I believe a business should be run. I believe one should always be forthcoming and truthful – both in work and life.

I have a diverse background, so On The Level Marketing & Consulting LLC can assist you with most of your marketing and digital marketing needs. We also have a great support system, and connections to assist with whatever marketing needs arise. Quite simply…I want to help people.

Primarily I design logos and websites, but I can also do brand marketing as well, along with designing newsletters, sales presentations, business cards, letterhead. I know a little about social media and can at least get you a presence on there, but it’s is not my forte.

Problems I solve:

– Save time
– Choose a logo and branding that represents your business.
– Get their business online
– Promote their business
– Keep their business website up-to-date and relevant
– Track their customers
– Help the business owner capture client testimonials

Why should you choose On The Level Marketing?

We believe in business the old-fashioned way. We do what we say we are going to do and we do it for a reasonable price. We listen to our clients, find out what their vision is, and then incorporate that into a logo or website that will be eye-catching and represent the business.

We communicate with the business owner throughout the whole project. This is so they can see the progress and make any slight changes along the way. More importantly, we partner with our clients. We do that by putting them on our website as a partner of On The Level Marketing.

On The Level does its best to make it easy for the business owner. Most important of all, you OWN YOUR content. You paid for it you deserve it! If you are looking for a straightforward, no-nonsense marketing company, then let On The Level Marketing & Consulting LLC take your business to the next level.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It’s been a challenge working on a business and working full-time, but then nothing good comes easy, and it is the challenge that makes us grow. I have been growing my business virtually by word of mouth. It’s next to impossible to find referral groups that meet in the evenings or on weekends, so the only way I get business is by word of mouth.

I have over the years joined some evening referral groups, but unfortunately, they have not really been the types of businesses I want to target. That said, you never know who you might meet that might know someone who needs your help. Lately, I have been doing a Zoom referral group in the evenings, but it’s the presence this group has on Facebook as to why I’m a member. I look at social media as a way to get my name out there, but not really as a lead source.

Each job I have received there has been an aspect to it where I’ve wondered if I was going to be able to do what my client has requested. Each time, I have been able to create what the client has wanted and it has ended up being better than what they expected. For me, that is the best part of my job. Designing something for someone, and seeing their reaction, and hearing their feedback. Even better when they tell me they have received complements on whatever it was I have designed.

It took me quite a few years to realize, what I do not everyone is going to like. That is why there are many marketing businesses out there. Businesses hire someone they identify with, someone they trust and like to work with. I realized not everyone is going to like me and that is fine. There are enough people out there that will like what I do and will hire me to do their marketing. Just like with every industry, there are many who provide the same service and customers hire who they trust and like.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I haven’t really funded my business. My funding comes from my own personal funds, and the little that I have made over the last 7 years. I have been growing this business from the ground up, with no help or funding from anyone. I’ve done a lot of pro-bono work sometimes just for the experience and a lot of time because I am just wanting to help and I simply use it as a learning experience and it is helping me hone my craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: onthelevelmktg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otlmarketing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otlmarketing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffc/

Image Credits
None. All are my photos and my work.