Founder x Founder: Mychelle Garrigan, Firelink Digital Marketing
Welcome to Founder x Founder, a new series where we’ll get to know some of the incredible entrepreneurs in our community through quick Q&A interviews.
In this series, we’ll have one founder — local writer and Startup Sioux Falls storyteller, Andrea Van Essen — asking the questions, and another founder sharing about their entrepreneurial journey. We’re kicking it off with Mychelle Garrigan, founder of Firelink Digital Marketing, LLC and one of our Startup Sioux Falls coworking members.
Check out the conversation below to learn more about Mychelle!
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Tell us about your business! When, how and why did you embark on this venture?
I started my business in 2016 when I was living in Las Vegas. At the time, I worked with nonprofits and clients in the pet care industry, but I now work with all types of small businesses. My goal was to create a small, boutique digital marketing agency that focused on personal service, excellent communication and support for my clients.
What has been the most challenging aspect of starting your business, and how have you overcome it?
Time management. As a solopreneur, it's always difficult to balance client work with important networking, marketing and administrative tasks. I continue to work on this issue through time-blocking my calendar and scheduling client vs. business time, as well as time for volunteering and relaxation. When you're passionate about your own business, it’s always difficult to turn it off and rest.
What has surprised you about entrepreneurship?
The power of networking. As a true introvert, I avoided the idea of running my own business for years because the idea of "sales" seemed unreachable. Through networking, I've discovered the power in meeting people where they’re at, learning about their businesses and providing assistance when you can. I try to attend as many networking opportunities as I can, which is not something I would have pictured myself doing even 10 years ago.
What’s something you wish more people understood about your business?
One of the things that is challenging about working in website design, SEO and digital marketing is the idea that it's easy and you should just DIY it or hire a teenager. While you certainly can build a good website on your own, there's so much that goes into creating an effective online presence, including the content and copywriting, the technical back end setup and more. There's a real benefit in hiring a professional to assist you, and it's an investment that is well worth the return.
What’s the #1 piece of advice you have to offer other founders?
Learn who your customers are, and don't be afraid to say no to those who don't fit your target audience.
What is your most useful hack or tech tool?
There are so many, but my top tech tools would be Dubsado for client and project management, Kiwi for email management and Airtable for data management.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I'm thrilled to be part of the Startup Squad, and I’m excited to see how we can help grow the entrepreneurial community in Sioux Falls!