Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Hairston Jr.
Hi Derek, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
While I always had dreams of owning my own business, I did not plan to own a business this early in life. The reality is, I felt that I was left with no other choice. The year was 2018, I was 24 and I was exhausted, annoyed, and borderline defeated. I submitted one job application after another, only to receive in return one of those disingenuous rejection letters (the job market was obviously the opposite of the current one). Well, I was fed up, so I made a vow to myself, to commit twice the effort I’d been putting towards trying to join another person’s company into starting my own, and that’s just what I did.
So, I began my journey as a freelancer, and as my client base grew, I grew more passionate about providing online marketing strategy to small businesses. So, after much prayer and guidance from God, I founded Olam, LLC in March of 2018. Since then, I have managed hundreds of website projects, thousands of dollars in ad spend for clients, and collaborated with a team of incredibly talented designers, developers, and marketing specialists. I’ve enjoyed every accomplishment, challenge, and idle time in between. But more than anything, I’ve enjoyed the joy that we bring to clients when we help them achieve their dreams and aspirations.
It’s a blessing to be a blessing!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Name a business where the road is always smooth, and I’ll be the first to sign up for it. My journey into entrepreneurship certainly came with challenges and obstacles.
The first obstacle was not knowing where to start. I thought, “I have the business name, but what’s next?” I had never run a business myself before. All I had to rely on were my observations of my father, a small business owner. I spent a lot of time trying to determine what systems needed to be in place: accounting, taxes, business phone, etc. The big question being, how do I run a business?
Second obstacle: how to compete in a competitive environment? There were (and still are) a multitude of marketing agencies in the Atlanta-Metro area alone. I struggled with many questions. How do we stand out from the competition? Do we offer all marketing services or specialize in a few services? Even today, there is no concrete answer to those questions. It’s an ever-evolving concept.
Most important to the longevity of the agency has been the challenge of scalability. The question to myself being, “I have the business name, but how do I attract more business while effectively serving more business?” I worked hard to crack the code to the scalability formula, spending time and financial resources toward the objective.
I have learned that challenges are part of the process. Our team now embraces the challenges, knowing that it contributes to our growth as an agency
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Olam Sites?
At Olam Sites, we help small businesses improve their online presence with a professional, modern website so that they can be confident in a credible online appearance that attracts customers.
When thinking of Olam Sites, think of an agency that takes time to listen to your vision, then delivers a premiere quality website.
We are one of the leading Wix Partners in the U.S.
We offer the following services:
- Website Design & Redesign
- Website Development
- UX Improvement
- Mobile Optimization
- Branding & Logo Design
Why Choose Us?
VIEW OUR PORTFOLIO — https://www.olamsites.com/more-work
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was a balance of studious and athletic. I played practically every sport under the sun but was most fond of football. During my free time (like today), I spent most of my time participating in outdoor activities: building things, adventuring through the forest, fishing, and whatever else I could get my hands on.
I could be quiet and reserved one minute then performing for a crowd of people the next. I was quite a prankster growing up, it served me well having many younger siblings to prank.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.olamsites.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olamsites
