Today we’d like to introduce you to Jensina Graydon.
Hi Jensina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I first had my spark for entrepreneurship when I was a child watching my father develop and grow his business. I always had it as a goal to own my own company, but a way through to realizing that goal never presented itself. Till Covid. Prior to establishing this company, I had over 22 years of marketing and sales experience, having worked with small business’s working my way up from doing graphic design work to leading the marketing and sales departments for ten years before working at Walt Disney World, holding various roles within the sales and marketing departments. I worked there for 13 years before Covid hit. In April of 2020, the majority of the company was put on furlough, including myself. It was challenging waiting for the callback, but I spent time with my family and kids. And being a lifelong learner, I used that time to dive into all aspects of digital marketing.
In December of 2020, I was one of 28,000 Cast that were laid off. I was disappointed, but I looked at this as an opportunity to realize that dream I had tucked away, of starting my own business. So out of this, Purple Ivy Digital Marketing was born.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Entrepreneurship is rarely ever a smooth road. Making sure that you have the tools, working with a limited budget or none, and getting used to working by yourself, especially after a pandemic, is challenging. But I think the most difficult part was getting used to not have a thought partner readily available, like you do in a corporate or team environment. When you work with a team, it is so easy to say, “Hey, can you take a look at this. What are your thoughts?” There isn’t someone higher than you to bounce things off of because you are the boss. That is where networking has come in so helpful. Not to get word out about my new company but also to talk to other entrepreneurs who have traveled a similar path and overcame similar challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We deliver winning digital strategies for busy small businesses, helping their brand grow with a holistic strategy. Let’s be honest, small business owners are juggling so much, it can be hard to do it all. I set up a roadmap for what a customized content strategy should look like for their business, what will resonate with their audience. and drive conversion. I look at everything and come up with a complete digital strategy that looks at the business’s unique value proposition, the brand of the business, the tone they should speak with, and expand on that in the organic and paid space, increasing their engagement with the brand’s ideal audience and execute that strategy.
Through my experience with small businesses, I intimately know the challenges they face. I bring the strategies I learned and mastered at Disney to the table when working with smaller businesses. I bring this all to the table when working with my clients.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The digital marketing space is always evolving. If you think of where it was just five years ago and where we are today, it is so different. In ten years, it will be completely different than what we see today. Recently, with the iOS update on privacy, we are looking at life will be like in the future, with less access to third party data. What that future looks like is shifting daily. On top of that Covid completely shifted companies marketing strategies. Consumer changed they way they engage with a brand and their comfort level with technology. These three things alone have caused complete shifts that are here to stay. The ripple effects will be felt and the outcome will be determined in the coming five years.
Looking ten years out, the amount of digital natives with purchasing power increase every day, as does desire for privacy from intrusive ads. Organic reach is declining faster and faster. Because of this, advertising will increasingly be about engaging with your target audience and demographics in a genuine way and gathering first party data (ie. email lists). The demographic shifts from Baby Boomers and Gen X towards Millennials and Gen Z in increasing numbers make it important for advertisers to understand how these audiences work best so they can tailor their marketing accordingly. Brands creating that intimate experience and building a relationship with their consumers will be of increasing importance. Marketing evolves as it always does, but it is always about getting that message in front of the right person at the right time.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@purpleivydigitalmarketing.com
- Website: www.purpleivydigitalmarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purpleivydigitalmarketing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purpleivydigitalmarketing
Image Credits
Kevin Meza Photography
