Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Logan.
Ashley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was a creative person working in commercial real estate, with clients that ranged from Fortune 500 businesses to local startups. The common thread between all of those businesses was that they all seemed to struggle with communicating their services. I started working with nonprofit organizations to help them with vital information, such as defining their target audiences and writing in a voice and tone to reach them.
From there, I decided it was time for a complete career change. I simultaneously founded Yakkety Yak while leaving a successful real estate career. I enrolled in the Medill School of Journalism to earn a masters in journalism from Northwestern University. Their program is very much tailored to writing for an audience and using crisp writing to send a clear message.
I finished the program in 2013. The combination of journalism and my business background was perfect for growing a business in the content marketing space. We started off emphasizing website copy, custom blogs for businesses and social media marketing. From there, we have evolved greatly to include branding and inbound marketing—which includes higher-end lead generating tools, such as SEO, PPC and more.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We have been extremely lucky in that all of our clients have come to us by way of referral. Nothing is more important to us than helping our clients and partners achieve their goals. The climate for small businesses is not easy, so our biggest struggle has been to attract top talent, optimize our growth, and engage potential clients that align with our growth trajectory—all without the help of a bank or partner!
We continue to grow as a staff, and with that comes the constant evolution of our mission. Our values, however, are tried and true. It’s very important that we have team members and clients who align with our core values. We aren’t flexible on that!
On a personal level, I am a mother to a young daughter, with another baby on the way. As a woman and mother, I know I am not alone in the challenges of balancing home life and work, though running the business adds a whole additional layer of complexity. I am a huge supporter of women in the workplace and am highly committed to ensuring that we build a flexible work culture that empowers, encourages and engages the female workforce.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Yakkety Yak is a digital marketing agency with content at its core. We combine brand strategy and content development with best practices of inbound marketing so brands and businesses can reach their target audiences.
Our mission is to make it easier to reach ideal customers through creative and smart communication. We help our clients define their voice, develop a content strategy and implement successful campaigns to expand their reach and increase revenue. We are meticulous about our work, driven to excel and innovative with our ideas.
Whether we are working with a startup, microbusiness, or national brand, we take our client relationships extremely seriously—which is probably what we are best-known for. Each of our marketing strategies are completely customized to align with our clients’ business goals, designed to produce revenue-driven opportunities. Our approach allows us to serve as an extension of our clients’ marketing teams.
There are TONS of marketing, PR and SEO companies out there that say they can do what we do. Our knack for combining storytelling and content to drive revenue for businesses is second to none, truly.
But one element that sets us apart from other agencies is that we have a quarterly non-profit program that aligns with our internship program. Basically, we work together to revamp their website, help map out a communication plan and manage their social media accounts to give them a leg up in navigating their online presence. Most nonprofit organizations lack the budget and resources to do this on their own, so we put our heads together to make a difference for these organizations as a way to give back to our local community.
What were you like growing up?
A girl in a whirl! You could find me dangling from the branches of the tallest tree in our neighborhood, or running from house to house in our neighborhood with a trail of friends. Or, on quieter days, in my room, writing stories or making art. I was interested in music and writing but was also very social. I didn’t want anyone to tell me no, or that I was incapable. I always found a way to prove those people wrong… and I still do!
Contact Info:
- Address: 216 S. Jefferson St.
Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60525 - Website: www.yakketyyak.com
- Phone: 312-648-2925
- Email: info@yakketyyak.com
- Instagram: @yakketyyak312
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yakketyyakllc/
- Twitter: @yakketyyak312
Image Credit:
Rife Ponce Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
