Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Ruben.
Ruben Digital Media was started in June of 2014. Nate started this company by filing for an LLC and registering a domain name. Nate Ruben started this business because he was tired of working retail and wanted to start being paid for his mind. Nate knew how to build websites, as well as how to manage social media profiles, so he set off to make money doing those things.
Today, Ruben Digital (since dropped the “Media”) offers a full range of digital marketing services.
Their top offerings are:
• Web Design & Hosting
• Mobile App Development
• Social Media Management
• Videography & Photography
• E-Commerce Solutions
• Brand Development
Some of the major decisions have been:
1. Expanding the core service offerings
2. Starting an internship program that led to hiring 4 employees
3. Keeping the office at home and investing in technology to make the team more organized and mobile ready
Some of the biggest drivers of growth have been:
1. Joining the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce.
2. Becoming actively involved in the Rotary Club of Northbrook.
3. Giving back to alma mater high school district 214.
4. Becoming an active networker and meeting with people with the goal to learn.
Company Mission: Delivering thoughtful marketing experiences focused on growing sales and brand recognition.
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?
Not entirely. Although it has been a constant uptick for growth, there have been many challenges along the way:
1. Having a hard time recruiting and retaining dedicated interns
2. Taking the initiative to continue to raise prices until finally getting to fair market value.
3. Pushing back against “competition” seems to be more interested in being standoffish than getting to know and help each other
4. Carving out enough time to continue learning and growing in relevance to the market.
5. Dealing with mental health and anxiety while trying to build a business working 60+ hours per week.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our Core offerings:
• Web Design & Hosting
• Mobile App Development
• Social Media Management
• Videography & Photography
• E-Commerce Solutions
• Brand Development
– Search Engine Optimization and Management (SEO/SEM)
– Pay Per Click Advertising
– Email Marketing
We stand apart because we are able to serve as a one-stop shop for marketing, handling nearly every service in-house. Many of our competitors claim they can handle all a company’s digital needs, but really they are only specialise in one or two areas. We have done everything we offer in-house at some point, or have at least hired someone to manage it who has. Further, we are able to balance organic growth through creative branding with paid growth through effective advertising.
Finally, we are a company dedicated to community service. Above all of our technical prowess, people like us because they trust us and know we genuinely care.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, it was obvious I was an entrepreneur. I used to sell toys and gifts I no longer wanted, and I was always coming up with a good scheme. In high school, I was more interested in selling products that would get banned, such as controversial t-shirts and sweatshirts.
I was also the kind of student that got their work done quickly so he could talk with others and play games. I had severe ADHD and needed a distraction to get me through the day.
I always had a diverse set of interests, and I valued the opportunity to work on “real things”. Instead of taking all AP classes my senior year, I took college accounting, entrepreneurship, media tech, manufacturing, architecture, and engineering. Because I have such diverse tastes, I could never focus on one particular occupation. Business fascinates me because I get to learn every day and always explore new opportunities. Marketing specifically is just learning about other businesses and then helping tell other people. Fun stuff!
Pricing:
- Websites range from $3,000 – 15,000 depending on size and functionality needed
- Our comprehensive marketing plans start at $1,500/mo and can grow in relation to companies needs.
- We offer app development between $7,500 – 100,000 depending on size and functionality needed
- Our SEO/SEM packages start at $2,000/mo and can grow in relation to companies needs.
Contact Info:
- Address: Ruben Digital
217 Selwyn Ln
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 - Website: https://rubendigital.com
- Phone: (847) 773-1807
- Email: michelle@rubendigital.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubendigitalchi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RubenDigitalChi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rubendigitalchi
- Yelp: https://www.pinterest.com/rubendigitalchi/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rubendigitalchi/
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.
