Q. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A. GMI Marketing is a technology-based marketing company helping businesses to grow in today’s digital world. We are based in Sydney Australia. We provide Software and services that handles all the online marketing aspect of a business.
Q. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A. My name is Siavash and I’m the owner of the GMI Marketing. I have a master’s degree in computer science, and I’ve been working in online marketing arena for the last 3 years, helping others understand the tech behind online marketing and getting them up and running their online businesses.
Q. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A. I have been in a tech world for more than a decade and seeing how many local businesses can benefit from technology and marketing inspired me to start GMI Marketing. In GMI, we fill the technology gap in your online marketing, something that is missing a lot in most of the other marketing companies. We know how the tech works and we know how to utilize that for the best outcome.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
A. Be patient, consistent and resourceful.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. I think mindset is way more important that skills. You can always learn a new skill if needed, but having the right mindset is the main difference between making it or not.
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
A. Not very much, we have everything streamlined and automated and the team I have built is very good. So on average anywhere between 3-5hrs.
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
A. consistency. Doing what is needed to be done day in and day out.
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A. Since we are a digital marketing company, so we do use the products and services that we prescribe for our clients. I love organic lead generation via SEO; however, we always boost that with some paid advertisements.
Q. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A. I started the business as a side hustle when I was employed and gradually grow it to what it is today. So my funding was my time, lot of extra hours.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A. Be patient. Get a coach or mentor if you can. Stick with the plan and see it through. Don’t get distracted with the next shiny object. And also, if you love what you are doing, you’ll be successful.
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
A. Growing internationally and helping more businesses around the world to growth their businesses using the power of technology and marketing.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A. Apple, I love how they market their products and how innovative they are.
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
A. extremely important. Employees that take ownership of the project and go above and beyond to deliver the best outcome for our clients
Q. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
A. Until I see it through and make sure it’s not worth pursuing it anymore.
Q. What motivates you?
A. Over delivering to our clients and getting big wins for them.
Q. How do you generate new ideas?
A. Brainstorming with my team and business partner. Following another successful Entrepreneur in my field.
Q. How do you define success?
A. Waking up every day super excited to go and do what I love and deliver results to my client and help them grow their business.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
A. Not working for someone else and being to help more people and have a deeper impact.
Q. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
A. Freedom, sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in life.
Q. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
A. Exciting.