Digital Marketer Jennifer McArdle of McArdle Media on improving small businesses’ digital footprint

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

I help small businesses increase their brand awareness with social media.

In 2018, I made the leap to start McArdle Media to serve small businesses and provide them with simple solutions to their social media and digital marketing needs. I now serve local and national clients, including clients in various industries such as therapy, real estate, home care, retail, HVAC, home inspection, cleaning service, chiropractic, credit union, yoga, wellness, and insurance, to execute their organic social media campaigns. Not only do I provide social media and digital marketing services, but I’ve also partnered with several other marketing professionals to provide various other marketing services for my clients.

Many of my clients worked with larger agencies before coming to me and were frustrated by the confusing industry jargon and lack of individualization. Marketing is not one size fits all. My clients appreciate the work I do because I provide a simple solution to their needs and every decision made in the social media marketing plan is based around the businesses’ goals. My clients are never handed off to an account manager or novice while working with me, but rather my clients are always working directly with me on the strategy. I like to see myself as an extension of my client’s internal team as I am often working very closely with the business.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I am excited to be amongst other like-minded business women.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I saw an opportunity to improve the way small businesses utilize social media. A simple Google search about social media marketing for small businesses can send you down the rabbit hole. I want to make it simple for small businesses to create and/or improve their digital footprint.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

With over 15 years of experience working in industries such as retail, health care, and education (K-12 and higher ed), I have become an expert at developing processes to improve efficiency and introduce simplicity to workflows. I use this experience and knowledge to make social media and digital marketing efficient and simple for my clients.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No. In fact I was terrified of the idea, but a life-disrupting health situation led to me having to leave my 9-5 job. I needed flexibility in my work which I wasn’t able to find in a traditional job, so I started my business.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

In the beginning I was marketing online. I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted and realized I wasn’t targeting the right audience in the right places. I was in my own head instead of the head of my audience. When I shifted my marketing message, I was able to reach clients online as well as through networking and referral building.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?

My biggest challenge is being a solopreneur. As a solopreneur, everything falls on me. I’ve learned that it’s time to bring in someone to help me, at least with the administrative side of the business.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

I am most proud of actually starting my business. I have always been risk averse, so starting a business was NEVER in my sights. Having started my business in 2018 and still being in business today in 2022, despite personal health issues and a global pandemic is something that I am very proud of.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

I believe in work life harmony. Work life balance seems to imply an equal balance between work and life. At times you need to spend more time on work or life, so I think it is about being in harmony. Having faced health obstacles over the last 5+ years, my best tip is to listen to your body and take care of yourself.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

I recently launched my free webinar series. Every month I host a live webinar on Zoom about a digital marketing topic. I’m happy to say that it has been successful so far and that it has helped many small business owners.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!