Soul Arch Media & Marketing Video Production

www.soularchmedia.com

1. Tell us about your business

Soul Arch Media & Marketing is a video production and marketing company based on the Gold Coast of Australia. We specialize in creating online video commercials for small businesses to medium sized business, but we also offer the full range of video production services including event and conference coverage and DVD production.

2. When and why did you start your business?

My husband Dave and I started the business in 2008. Dave had been working as videographer for an international sports DVD producer, travelling around globe with the top surfers in the world. Fantastic job, but he was never home and we wanted to settle down and start a family. I had a background in journalism but had also found myself writing marketing copy for a large range of big clients, and noticed I was writing a lot of scripts for promotional online videos. It didnt take much to work out that with Daves videography skills and my script writing and online marketing experience that we should start an online video production service. At that time only large companies could afford to promote themselves with online video commercials, so there was a big market gap to help smaller businesses with tighter budgets.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with of your business?

We have had to learn the long and hard way how to run a business! Having always worked for a large company with the safety of a pay cheque at the end of the week, it was quite a challenge to get used to managing cash flow. But on the upside we get to run the business in a way that reflects our own beliefs - we do heavily discounted or pro bono work for not-for-profits, spend extra time assisting our clients, and make sure everything is done in an ethical and honest manner.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

When we started we were definitely geographically challenged - the Gold Coast wasnt even cabled for broadband yet so selling online video production services could be described as more crazy than visionary! But by offering all of the regular video production services like DVD authoring we managed to get by until the area caught up with the technology.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

Definitely using online video to promote our own online video service! That and putting effort into SEO and networking.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

Traditional mediums like a certain yellow phone book! People may still use phone directories to find regular businesses like their local butcher, baker or candlestick maker. But when it comes to any larger purchases or technical service the first thing people do is research online. That way they can access loads of information about a company, check reviews and even google them to check their reputation before spending their hard earned money.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

That we can really make a difference in raising the profile of small businesses. I also enjoy the flexible hours and the opportunity to be creative for a living.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

I really admire business people who achieve success while operating businesses that promote sustainable change... Too many to mention but companies like White Dog Cafe and Patagonia spring to mind.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

It would be great to grow larger locally and expand into other regions of Australia, but at the moment we really enjoy being very hands-on with clients.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

This is not really a business tip but it sure seems to apply to cash flow: dont count your chickens before they hatch!

Visit us at: www.soularchmedia.com