Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Berg.
Hi Jared, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I first started my business, I was working at a growing marketing agency. At the time I was working as an SEO specialist and was doing all of the technical work and reporting for around 20 clients who were on a monthly retainer. This was great for experience, but I started to look at the bigger picture which led to me questioning the agency model and its many flaws. While many agencies give the appearance that you are valued and you have a whole team at your disposal, the reality is a client would probably get 4 hours of the technician’s time, a few blog posts, and a monthly report where we would update them on progress. Overtime, this started to wear on me, especially as I developed relationships with my clients and started to see how much they were paying for these services. This experience led to me doubling down on my freelance marketing business where I would offer the same services, but at a significantly reduced cost. Yes, some of this was due to my lack of experience, but a bulk of it was due to my commitment to providing real results for my clients and giving them the most value. I have maintained this approach to this day, where I continue to offer quality services at affordable prices so growing businesses can actually obtain professional marketing services that will produce results. The best part is, my clients get to actually talk to the guy doing the work and get a completely transparent experience. No project managers running off of notes about the various intricacies of the project. Just straight-forward marketing services designed to generate more leads.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a marketing business can be a pretty bumpy road and it’s a common joke in the industry that when it rains, it pours, and then it stops. When I decided to quit my job at the agency and go full-time freelance, I had all my ducks in a row. I had established client relationships, monthly recurring revenue, and a handful of projects in the pipeline that I was sure I was going to land. Then two weeks after my last day, one of my best clients had all of his equipment stolen (landscaping company) and had to cancel all marketing efforts. My other client had fallen on hard times and was closing up shop. Then I started to see all of my “promising” leads drop off or take a new direction. This was a gut punch to say the least, but I took it in stride and started doing everything I could to drum up some new business. Then I got injured playing lacrosse (I was in this mens beer league), then somehow got further injured by a chiropractor who was probably a little too confident in his approach, which led to me spending 6 or so months trying to find the right specialist to help me recover. I eventually found Jim Olson and the team at Motioncare in Shoreview who were able to help me recover 100%. Once I was back in good health, the leads started coming in. I am a strong Christian believer and I can’t help but to look back at the entire thing and see how I needed a good reminder to stay humble. I was too confident in my own abilities and personal drive where I lost sight of what is really important. Once I truly put my faith in the Lord, my health improved, my business did a complete 180, and my family life improved tremendously. It’s been a rocky road, but it’s been a wonderful journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Jared Berg Creative?
I am a freelance marketing expert, skilled in search engine optimization (SEO), website design, video production, and photography. I also work closely with Henry Bell at Bellringer Marketing who provides Pay-Per Click (PPC) services (SEO and PPC often work hand in hand).
While I am not super niched, I like work with craftsmen, home services, and other blue-collar businesses. I have also worked with a handful of law firms and software companies.
A few things that set me apart is honesty and my commitment to transparency. I am a straight shooter and don’t sugar coat anything. Sometimes a SEO campaign takes longer than expected and I need to explain to the client why. There are many variables at play and it can be easy to cover up performance with some vanity metrics, but I focus on leads and new business. It doesn’t matter how many clicks you have if you don’t have new customers calling. Sometimes, SEO isn’t the right direction for a business and as much as I don’t like to turn away new business, sometimes it’s the right the to do.
Aside from that, I proudly don’t offer an agency experience. Instead, I offer a personalized, hands-on approach based on custom strategies designed specifically for each client. I am the one doing a vast majority of the work and I make myself readily available to my clients for clear communication throughout the entire process. This also helps for quick pivots and strategy changes that occur all the time with growing businesses.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Good question! While I am a computer guy, I also love working with my hands and I make furniture on the side. It’s a nice break from looking at a screen all day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaredbergcreative.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-berg/
