As part of our ongoing series of interview, Business News Wales had the chance to sit down with Sara Jones. Sara is the ‘Top Cat’ at AdWords Consultancy, One Eyed Cat.
- Tell us about your business?
I manage Google AdWords for SMEs and have a real passion for doing shopping ads, so I love to help ecommerce businesses with their online advertising.
- What are your plans for the next five years, and where do you see your challenges and opportunities?
At the moment I run the business on my own, but in the next five years I want to build an agency specialising in AdWords for ecommerce business. I’d love to help more businesses and by building a team around me I can do just that!
- What do you wish you had known when you started out in business?
I wish I’d known how isolating it can be, not necessarily in terms of not being around other people, but not being around the right people who understand the challenges you face as a business owner. I realise now how important that is and I’m working to build a support network of like-minded individuals.
- Looking back at your career, are there things you would have done differently?
I started qualifying as an accountant in my early 20s but my heart wasn’t in it, so I switched careers. Looking back, those qualifications would have helped me immensely when I first started out on my own.
- What do you think are the most important qualities for success in business?
Persistence. There have been so many times I could have given up but I didn’t – some would call it stubbornness, but you do need to be very resilient sometimes when things aren’t going so well! But you also need to balance that with knowing when IS the right time to give up and move on to something new – it’s a fine line.
- What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting a business?
Don’t talk about it with family and friends unless they run their own businesses. They’ll think they’re being helpful by pointing out all the reasons you shouldn’t be following your dream. Instead, find people who have done it, been there and succeeded. They’ll give you more honest feedback on your idea and will probably have very good advice on where to start and what to expect without bursting your bubble!
- What are your top three tips for success?
Firstly, as I mentioned, be persistent. Secondly, surround yourself with positive people – there’ll many tough times and you’ll need all the support you can get. Thirdly, go the extra mile. Customers will always remember when you do something you weren’t paid to do, or provide a service above and beyond what was agreed. It doesn’t have to be much, but it can go a long way to nurturing the relationship.
- What do you think Wales’ strengths and weaknesses are as a place to do business?
There is a wealth of talent in Wales and large pool of eager workers looking for a job. There’s plenty of Government support for both start-ups and growing businesses too. Does bridge toll influence whether a business would come here? Maybe….
- What can Wales do to attract more inward investment?
There are a lot of success stories here in Wales, so let’s shout about them more than we do and let the world know it’s a great place to do business!
