Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Karszes.
Hi Hannah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story is fairly unconventional. Most teens start their first job at the local ice cream shop or grocery store (or Chick-Fil-A if you live in the South). I, on the other hand, landed my first job at 15 as a marketing intern for a medium-sized procurement company. It was very much a 15-going-on-30 position with my own cubicle, business casual wardrobe, and a summer dedicated to figuring out how to use social media to market small-to-medium sized businesses when nobody knew how.
Why does this matter? Well, this unknowingly kicked off a journey to self-discovery at a very young age. This position taught me three things: 1.) Marketing (specifically social media marketing) was kind of fun; 2.) Business is more interesting than I realized; and 3.) I will NEVER work in a cubicle again.
My summer internship turned into a part-time position which carried me through the remainder of high school. Then, as every recent high school graduate does, I nannied. This was followed by serving as a realtor’s assistant, then sales associate at Teavana, before winding back to marketing at the Chamblee Chamber of Commerce.
The internship at the Chamblee Chamber of Commerce was the true turning point for me. I learned the power of networking and cultivating relationships which I was able to explore first-hand through an introduction to a mentor who changed my entire life’s trajectory.
It all began with one question: “Have you ever thought about doing social media for companies on your own?” My mentor’s empowerment and encouragement helped me launch my own consulting business at the age of 19. This ultimately grew into managing the social media and digital marketing efforts of multiple clients along the east coast.
Even with a roster of clients and years of experience under my belt, I still never expected to start “a real company.” I saw my consulting business as a side gig that was helping me pay my way through college, all the while expecting that come graduation, I would begin a corporate job like my peers.
During this time, I reflected back on my first-ever internship and realized I would rather do anything rather than go back to a life of business-casual in a cubicle with set hours. This is where Zero Mile Marketing (ZMM) was born.
Just a few months into starting ZMM, an opportunity arose for me to utilize my consulting skills to help conduct content marketing workshops for IBM’s premier business partners in the European market. Prior to the pandemic, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel all over Europe, conducting workshops with different tech companies and was exposed to different business cultures, all while learning how digital marketing works from a global perspective.
Fast forward to 2023, ZMM just celebrated its 5th anniversary. As every entrepreneur can attest, the first five years of a business are some of the most incredible but most challenging years of your life.
I have learned that to grow, you have to embrace change and continue to learn and elevate your skillset. That can be overwhelming, but the risk of boredom motivates me. I never want to be complacent and I love taking that approach to Zero Mile’s work with our clients. I’m excited to see what the future has in store for Zero Mile Marketing!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The last five years have been filled with so much growth—setbacks at the worst times, triumphs when I needed them the most, and a constant battle with imposter syndrome. Through it all, my work still continues to push and inspire me.
I’ve learned the value of nurturing relationships and being a partner vs. being “just another agency.” I’ve watched clients come and go, but am so grateful for the clients that have been with me since day one and are still with me today.
As a young female entrepreneur, I’ve faced challenges inherent in the male-dominated world of business and our society. I continue to find guidance, strength, and confidence through some of my very first clients: female CEOs and businesswomen who never underestimated my worth.
While Zero Mile Marketing has been my biggest challenge in life so far, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Zero Mile Marketing is a boutique digital marketing agency that specializes in taking social media strategies to the next level. We are skilled in delivering high-quality and effective solutions to help businesses of all sizes increase their online presence and grow their customer base.
We pride ourselves on having many long-standing clients who we view as partners. Unlike many agencies, we focus on building and nurturing relationships with our clients. Our goal is to foster partnerships with our clients to help them navigate the ever-changing digital marketing landscape. We simplify the digital marketing process so that our clients can do what they do best, run their business.
Services we offer:
Strategy Development
Content Creation
Social Media Management
Team Training Sessions
One-on-One Consultations
Contact Info:
- Website: zeromilemarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeromilemarketing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-karszes-982b9035/
