Meet Mariya Bentz... Marketing Specialist & Top-Rated Podcast Host
Nov 26, 2019
This week I'm so excited to present my interview with the incredibly talented Mariya Bentz!
ABOUT MARIYA:
Mariya is the founder of MBM Agency, a digital marketing company that helps service-based businesses grow their revenue through profitable websites. Mariya also hosts the top-rated Marketing Mindset Podcast. Mariya's work has been recognized by iTunes (Top 200 Business Podcasts), Voyage ATL, Fit Small Business, Content Marketing Institute, and more. She is now on a mission to help B2B businesses get creative with their own marketing strategies.
THE FOLLOWING IS OUR INTERVIEW, MY QUESTIONS IN BOLD AND HER ANSWERS FOLLOW.
What kind of work do you do?
I help service-based business create profitable websites. What makes a website profitable is making sure that it is found on Google when someone searches for their services, and then when their potential customer clicks onto their website-- their message actually resonates with the customer.
What inspired you to get started as an entrepreneur?
I feel like I have always had the “entrepreneurial bug” growing up. Especially in the digital space. When I was in third or fourth grade, email became a “thing” with all of my girlfriends. I would send my friends email newsletters every few weeks which were essentially like a mini-online magazine. Then in middle school, when MySpace was big-- I taught myself HTML, and began to design my own MySpace layouts. I even had my own MySpace layout website where other users would use my layouts, and various HTML codes that I had provided to them on their MySpace profiles. I grew that account to a couple thousand followers- which was a lot back in the day! I would get so excited every time I would see someone using my layouts.
But fast forward to my twenties...I always had a drive to eventually work for myself. When I was a Marketing Manager for an event technology company, many of my friends (and family friends) had (or were starting) their own businesses. They started to come to me and ask me for my advice on what they should do in their marketing campaigns. It was then that I realized that I could do this for more than just one company, so I started freelancing on the side. Eventually it grew to being able to work for myself full-time with an amazing team by my side!
What was your biggest struggle to get things going for your online business?
In the beginning, my biggest struggle was finding new clients, and signing contracts at a premium rate.
I think the thing that helped me the most is when I started to be intentional with my social media. I started to interact with accounts that were business owners, I started to post various FREE marketing tips and tricks, and I started to showcase the projects that I was working on. Little by little I started to get more inquiries for my services.
What have you learned since beginning?
Being a freelancer and then running a business as an entrepreneur are two different things. As I started hiring, I still ran my business in a freelance style and quickly realized that if I want to scale to 7 figures, I had to change my structure.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
DON’T GIVE UP. I know that sounds simple but SERIOUSLY...consistency is key. Have a long-term outlook on your business. Make realistic goals within a 1-2 year timeline. Don’t give up until you complete that timeline. I’ll bet you’ll see amazing results.
What’s the professional win you’re most proud of?
I’m very proud for our podcast topping multiple Apple charts! Our first month we were on iTunes New & Noteworthy. Then later we hit iTunes Top 200 Business Podcasts, and iTunes Top 100 Entrepreneurial Podcasts!
Is there a book you’d recommend to help with success and personal development?
Ahhh there is SO MANY. But one that helped me shift my money mindset (which was a HUGE factor in my success) was “You Are A Badass At Making Money” by Jen Sincero.
Do you have a routine that you attest to your success? If yes, what is it?
So in the beginning of growing my business, I worked A LOT. I was really motivated to speed up the growth process. I don’t regret it because I don’t think I would be as far as I am now...but I did burnout quite a bit. Burnout is not fun: I felt like I lost a lot of my creativity, and tasks were taking me way longer to complete than normal!
After I snapped out of it, I wanted to make sure to never burnout again like that. So now these are a few non-negotiables: take weekends off, daily morning quiet time, and schedule a time for self-care a few times a month!
How has social media played a factor in your success?
Yes. Showing up consistently on Instagram providing tips for my audience and showcase our results have brought in soooo many leads over time!
What are the biggest social media mistakes you see commonly made?
When people don’t provide enough valuable content. Your social media should be a reflection of what it would look like for people to work with you. Give them free advice that they could easily follow. If it brings them the results you promise-- they will begin to trust you. And trust is the #1 thing you need to make a sale!
What is the business tool that’s been most helpful?
ASANA. It’s a project management tool that I use every single day. Whenever we get a new project, I input it into Asana right away. I assign each task in order, assign it to a team member who would be responsible for it, and assign a due date for each task. This allows us to keep track of multiple projects, making sure that they get done on time!
Is there something you wish everyone knew?
How important web design ACTUALLY is. You always hear from marketers how important a website actually is. But they never say WHY. So a business owner goes out and hires a web designer, and they get so excited to launch their website. But when the website goes live...all they hear is crickets.
And the truth is...it just wasn’t done right.
The reason why a website should be the first thing you focus on in your business is because it should set you up for success. When someone searches for your services into Google, essentially your website would be the first one to pop up. And when your potential client actually views your website, your message really need to resonate so they are urged to contact you. Once you have this set up, you can send any potential leads you get off of social to your website as a mini brochure of your business!
What’s coming up for you in the next few months?
I am so excited to announce that in 2020 we are adding new packages to our website design services! We are adding websites that are able to have a payment portal, and an eCommerce package. I am so excited to help more clients in all sorts of businesses!
What has being successful taught you?
That you really can do anything that you put your mind too-- what you focus on expands. If you have an idea just go for it and be consistent. And you’ll see results.
Connect with Mariya
https://www.instagram.com/mariyabentz
*Some clickable media, usually the book recommendations, are affiliate links, and should you choose to buy through using those links then The Infinite Power of You Inc. may earn an affiliate payout commission. This is at no additional expense to you, and helps keep this blog going.
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