Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Martin.
Hi Alyssa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I graduated college Spring of 2020 when COVID-19 was just kicking off. The last few months of my Senior Year were cut short. I didn’t get to graduate or say “Goodbye” to my friends. Everything shut down so quickly, and I was forced out into the world of work, yet also forced back into my parents’ home.
It was hard. I always wanted to be a writer, but suddenly it was hard to find inspiration, or a job, with the world around me shut down completely.
After months and months of searching for a journalism job, and then any job at all, I briefly met a woman who was a Marketing Director at a Tech Startup, who took a chance on me. For the next eight months, I learned the ins and outs of marketing, social media, SEO, email marketing, blogs, webinars, and Corporate America-all while trying my hand at photography and navigating my way through my personal life and relationships.
Unfortunately, that role came to a close, and I once again found myself searching. For drive, for passion, for purpose, for my thing. Yet, COVID-19, and its variants, still made that difficult.
Until I met two women who took a chance on me. I took everything I learned before and dove head first into this company. I did my best to grow their social media, writing articles, and creating emails-all the things.
I started to slowly realize how important social media is for small businesses. In the times we’re in, there is no better way to reach a large audience, for not a lot of money, and make a huge impact.
So, I decided to start my own small business specifically geared towards helping small businesses who may not understand social media or the impact it can have on them, create an online community of loyal customers, clients, and followers. All the while, still trying to find ways to incorporate my growing love of photography.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest struggle and roadblock is always myself. I doubt myself and my abilities so much that I procrastinate even the little things.
Every day I fight myself to become a better version of myself. Somedays I lose that fight, but I still get up and work towards my goals, even if it’s just a little bit every day.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Crooked Creek Marketing Group is my baby.
When I decided to start my own Social Media Marketing business, it took me months to actually go through with it. Month one, decided to eventually do it. Month two, maybe I should do it now and create a filler website. In month three, said yes and got a business license. Month four said I was going to quit my 9-5. Month five, actually turned in my resignation letter.
It took a while to get the courage to actually go through with it. I’m very young to be a business owner, but one day I thought, “I could get a job I love and in a year be wishing I started my business or I could start my business and a year from now be happy, independent with a thriving company that I build.”
The choice was obvious.
Deciding a name was also obvious. I originally played around with the basic titles like “Martin Marketing” or “Alyssa Brooke Marketing,” but one day my dad was telling me how my grandfather, who passed away when I was young, had a stable where he kept the horses he showed and he called it “Crooked Creek Stable.”
At that moment my mind was made up. Nothing else would be as perfect or have as much meaning as “Crooked Creek.” I feel honored to have the opportunity at my age to build something I feel so passionately about and also have a name that means so much to my family and me. It almost feels like I’m carrying on a legacy, in a sense.
Since I opened my business with small businesses in mind, that’s what my pricing and packages are geared toward social media help that everyone can afford. I even offer a create-your-own-package for those who may not see exactly what they want to be listed on my website.
I also include branding photoshoots in all of my packages, because I think it’s VERY important to put the people who make your business run so well in the eye of your consumers. Also, why not incorporate all the things I love into my business writing, helping small businesses grow, and photography!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, I would love to be able to hire a few social media experts to help take my business to the next level and have an actual office-not just be forced to work from my bedroom and coffee shops.
I want to be able to help as many small businesses, and even larger ones in the area, as I can. But I think hiring for my small business is the first step to getting there.
Contact Info:
- Website: crookedcreekmarketinggroup.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrookedCreekMarketingGroup
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crooked-creek-marketing-group/
