Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Baker.
Five years ago, Vanessa was a busy advertising manager for a national digital news site. Her territory covered the northern Illinois suburbs, which required her to spend considerable time in her car traveling to meet clients and co-workers.
The time and distance took her away from the people and things she loved the most: her husband, two young daughters, and community. That national news site was struggling – having expanded too quickly – but Vanessa still managed to earn a good income and quickly rose as the leading producer of her regional sales team.
In her heart, she yearned for a change. In her mind, she worried about losing all she had gained.
Finally, with a little inspiration, she decided to strike out on her own and submitted her resignation. Drawing on 14 years of digital advertising experience, Vanessa founded Fast Forward Marketing, a firm providing online marketing, advertising, and promotional services. She launched her business in December 2012.
“I had so many feelings – a mixture of fear and belief,” she recounts. “But, I believed in me. I am a hard worker and I knew if I worked hard for my clients, I would succeed.”
She started FFM with three small clients, managing their social media accounts. With more time on her hand – off the road and working from a home office – she quickly built a large clientele base and acquired a city contract to oversee its Shop Local campaign. She established relationships via the local business chamber and expanded her base regionally.
Within six months of striking out on her own, Vanessa was earning the same income she left behind. She had more time to spend with her family, the ability to attend her children’s afterschool events, and even time for herself.
Starting a new business hasn’t just changed her personal life, it’s shaped her professional outlook, as well.
“I’ve gained a sense of independence, freedom,” she said. “I don’t have any limits on my capacity to learn more and make more money. I have the ability to pivot and adapt to business changes and demands when necessary. I have more confidence and more respect for myself. Everything I have is within my control.”
“We provide real, measurable benefits for my clients because with digital marketing everything is trackable,” she said. “The impact on our customers is they have a local resource they can trust who can fill a need they have.”
Vanessa received the “Best Under 40 Award” from Shaw Media Business Journal in 2014, recognizing her accomplishments and community service. She received the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Presidential Award of Excellence in April 2014, honoring her commitment to the chamber.
On May 1st, 2018 Vanessa created a coworking space called Cowork Crystal Lake in conjunction with entrepreneurs and virtual employees she had met over years as a Meetup organizer to solve the loneliness and isolation people who work from home face.
Members of the space enjoy the warm, inviting loft atmosphere with an event space with private entrance.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Struggles have included:
Losing our biggest client a few years ago, and regaining the income within the year with a number of smaller clients and projects.
Learning to do bookkeeping.
Loneliness and isolation of being an entrepreneur, that we solved from creating a coworking space.
To provide value for clients, we are consistently investing in learning.
Please tell us about Fast Forward Marketing and Cowork Crystal Lake.
Fast Forward Marketing provides best in class digital marketing services to small business clients. We take care of Social Media Management and Advertising, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), Website Design, Content Development, Video Production, Photography, Google Adwords Management and Public Relations.
We are most proud of how we help small business grow, and the wonderful relationships we have with our clients.
Cowork Crystal Lake is a group of kind, collaborative and exceptional professionals and we are most proud of how quickly we have grown.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have had better time management and planning skills.
Pricing:
- Full Membership for Cowork Crystal Lake $225/month
- Social Media Management $600/month
Contact Info:
- Address: 135 Beardsley Street
- Website: http://fastforwardcl.com/
- Phone: 815-451-5230
- Email: vanessa@fastforwardcl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coworkcrystallake/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FastForwardCL/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaBFast
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