Zinc Marketing turns three

Generally speaking, about 40% of new businesses fail in the first three years. Having reached the three-year mark, that doesn’t surprise me. Owning and running a small business is not an easy road. Ups and downs come each and every week. But I’m happy to say that on the whole it’s been an extremely rewarding experience so far. I wanted to take the opportunity with this blog to reflect on that experience and celebrate Zinc Marketing’s three-year mark.

Looking back

When Zinc Marketing launched, I wrote a blog about how starting my own business had been a dream of mine for a very long time. I knew I made the right choice when my son said, “I’m so proud of you, Daddy, for following your dream.” Those words continue to drive me to this day.

I knew I made the right choice when my son said, “I’m so proud of you, Daddy, for following your dream.” Those words continue to drive me to this day.

I wanted to start an agency despite the risks associated with being my own boss. I wanted to be in control of my destiny and for my hard work to benefit my family. I also wanted to have more time to spend with them, blog more here, write a book, start a podcast, build an online course, and so much more. 

When I look back, I’m shocked at how close to reality it has become. I’m proud to say I can check off almost all of those items except the book, and maybe I still don’t spend as much time with my family as I would like. But I’m proud of what Zinc Marketing has become. A successful agency act that helps B2B tech companies scale their marketing efforts for better results.

Where we’ve come in three years

Zinc Marketing existed in previous forms, but the current incarnation really began when I left Nokia to help startups build and execute marketing strategies that would actually get results. That’s been a significant part of our work, but in talking to prospects I quickly realized how much marketing support is needed even by established B2B technology companies.

To date, Zinc Marketing has helped more than 25 companies with everything from demand generation to content creation while offering strategic advice and helping optimize their plans for better results. The revenue has grown in step and 2025 will be the best year yet by a long shot.

Somewhere in this madness, I was also able to launch my first marketing course (B2B Messaging Bootcamp) and a podcast (B2B Marketing Pint) that allow me to share some of my experience and tips for better marketing with a much broader audience. I still plan to write that book — someday. 

Through all of this I’ve assembled a truly top-notch marketing team of eight employees and freelancers who impress me every day with the creativity and quality of their work. And I continue to look for promising marketing talents who can bring even more skills and scale to what we offer. 

Through all of this I’ve assembled a truly top-notch marketing team… who impress me every day with the creativity and quality of their work.

It’s been a wild ride and I can’t wait for more of it.

What’s ahead

Growth of course also comes with its own challenges or the need to made key decisions along the way, so I hired a business coach this past year to help guide me. As much as I think I know, I realize each and every day there is more to learn and growing a business is one of the many areas I plan to invest in. 

We have been meeting weekly over the past couple of months and he’s brought a great process we are working through to see how Zinc Marketing can better deliver on its brand promise and continue to achieve success. I don’t want to say too much too early but this exercise has opened my eyes and I’ll have more exciting things to say about the future of Zinc Marketing in the coming months. 

A final thank you 

The other key lesson I’ve learned along the way is that starting and running an agency is not a one-person show even if it starts that way. There are a lot of friends, colleagues, clients and family that have helped and supported me along the way. I could not have done it without them.

I’m not going to name them all here as I would likely forget someone and this blog is already long enough but I do want to call out the Zinc Marketing team for everything you do, our clients who make us feel like we are part of their organization, and my family for their support and being there to pick me up when I’m having a bad day or helping me celebrate the wins.

Thank you everyone who has contributed to Zinc Marketing’s success and here’s to three more years and hopefully many more. 

Thank you everyone who has contributed to Zinc Marketing’s success…