Did you know that WSI has franchisees in over 80 countries around the world? We’d like you to get to know our family and see the faces behind our digital marketing expertise. This month, we’d like to introduce you to Mariano Jimenez in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a family man as passionate about digital business as he is about his family and rugby!
Tell me a little about yourself, and where you are located?
I am 48 years old, married to Veronica, and I have 5 beautiful children (3 men from my first marriage and two girls with Veronica). I am passionate about what I do, I love teaching and speaking to audiences, and I am passionate about Rugby and friends. My priority is my family, and to live happily and simply.
Why did you want to become an Internet consultant?
I had already been working long hours in my previous work as a business consultant, but I saw great potential in the internet and in digital business, at a time when many of our local companies needed to make a resounding change. From the start, I could see that the potential of the internet to conduct business online is infinite.
What job/business were you in before you started your WSI business?
I worked for a long time with department store clients and retail, and it was there that I was able to combine the worlds of sales and marketing communication.
Tell us about anyone who helped influence you into starting your own business?
Carlos Pastrana from WSI Home Office was able to show me the potential of the WSI brand and its established consulting processes, which are a great added value when presenting quotes and winning clients. He was very important in helping me make the decision to join WSI.
How long have you been with WSI?
I have been in business for almost two years and have been able to achieve stable growth in that time, despite the instability of the Argentine economy. When you have a sustainable client portfolio, customers always want to do more, which has contributed to my success.
Describe your typical work week?
A typical week is very dynamic. First, it starts with a review of the projects in progress with each of my clients, verifying that their campaigns and projects are running normally. Then I look at what opportunities for improvement are available to continue their growth.
By mid-week, my focus shifts to lead generation tasks, such as going to networking events and running my own sales campaigns. I also like to do speaking engagements to attract prospects and clients. Typically, one day a week is also spent on engaging with customers to know their current needs and ensure they are being met.
What highlights have you experienced since being with WSI?
The main thing is the security provided by the WSI system and process, which makes it difficult to fail when you have a recipe to follow. As well, I enjoy the continuous learning required in this industry. It keeps me informed, plus it gives me the confidence and knowledge I need when I'm meeting with clients and prospects.
What are the biggest obstacles that you have faced in running your business?
The biggest obstacle was getting that first sale, which ultimately helped create the confidence that I was heading in the right direction. I find that when you're confident, it seeps into everything you do. And thankfully, WSI had the tools to help me make this happen.
What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your business?
Trusting that I had the ability to run a business and make money.
What goal do you have for yourself that you want to accomplish in the next year?
My objective is to have projects with higher budgets and size for this year, with more consulting hours built in. I also like to potentially partner with a school and become a lecturer in the field of Digital Marketing and Business. I really enjoy public speaking and sharing my knowledge with others.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
An in-demand speaker that gets to travel the world, talking about Digital Marketing and Business.
What advice would you give a new WSI Internet Consultant?
My advice would be to make sure they feel passion for what they do and that they don't give up after the first failure. There are businesses, prospects and opportunities everywhere - don't get discouraged if someone says 'no'.
What would be your personal motto?
"In my vocabulary, there is no word like 'failure' or 'flop'.”
If we went to happy hour, what would you order?
Honey beer :)
If you could be anywhere other than here talking to me - right this minute, where would you be?
Enjoying the warm weather and driving my motorcycle.
