Dream Digital: Warren Hill

Name: Warren Hill
Company name: Dream Digital
Location: Brighton, UK
Date launched: 24 June, 2018
Website: www.dreamdigital.co.uk

The founder of Dream Digital, Warren Hill, shares the business journey of his more flexible approach to digital marketing…

Tell us what your business does:

Dream Digital offers a smarter and more flexible approach to digital marketing, with an enlightened workforce of digital freelancers. We are a Brighton based agency that provides SEO, CRO, and paid search to drive results.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

During a walking meeting along Brighton Pier, I realised that the digital market is moving so fast, and it’s very easy to become an outdated agency. With Brighton being the home of so many talented freelancers and organisations supporting the growth of the economy, I wanted to build a service around this and bring a more flexible approach in providing our digital services.

How did you know there was a market for it?

Being a freelancer for many years, I understood the struggles of client management and invoicing. Building an agency of freelancers, that can be part of a team, but with complete independence, seemed like a perfect business model.

What were you doing before starting up?

I was working with an e-learning company to help build, and maintain strong SEO visibility.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and made efforts during my 20s to have my own business, but I didn’t have the knowledge and experience that I do now.

How did you raise the money?

We haven’t had any start-up funding, but the beauty of this business is we don’t have monthly staff costs, or large office fees, and can pay per project.

Describe your business model and how you make money:

We work with clients on monthly retainers, and this is calculated on the amount of days each client needs. Freelancers are tasked with projects dependent on the skills needed for the project. This arrangement is managed by a project manager, with myself leading the client strategy and relationship.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?

Going into managing 16 freelancers was a big challenge, and how to bridge the communication with everyone as, being a start-up, this was all built on ideas, not revenue. Through great pieces of technology, and valid input from the team, we now have a solid process.

What was your first big breakthrough?

With the company just at one month in trading, we haven’t had what we would call our ‘big breakthrough’. But, seeing projects run so smoothly with a large team of freelancers, that have never met, was great to see.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

To coin an old phrase, my advice would be ‘work on your business and not in your business’. Be the person that directs and manages your team, and trust in them. Don’t micromanage and keep positive when times are hard.

Where do you want to be in five years’ time?

I want to be a well known, authoritative figure in the digital marketing industry. And for Dream Digital to be a household name, which branches out into US, Australia, and Europe.