Passage - Fortibus Marketing

An Agency Story

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Company: Fortibus Marketing
Owners: Michael Paul
Year Started: 2005
Employees: 1-10 (Emerging)

In this episode of "An Agency Story," we're joined by Michael Paul, the dynamic co-founder of Fortibus Marketing, based in Charleston, South Carolina.
Michael takes us on a riveting journey from his unexpected departure from college and subsequent military service to his serendipitous leap into the world of digital marketing. Discover how a deployment overseas and a fortuitous offer transformed his career path, leading to the birth of a unique agency that thrives on deep partnerships and strategic pivots—especially during the tumultuous times of COVID-19, which saw Fortibus lose 93% of its revenue in six weeks.
Tune in to learn how resilience and adaptability can redefine success in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.
Enjoy the story.
Show Notes Insights
Defining Roles Within the Partnership: The dynamic between Michael and his wife, especially in how they navigated their roles within the agency, provides a vital lesson on the importance of clear role definition in a partnership. By assigning leadership and distinct responsibilities, they minimized conflict and enhanced their operational efficiency. This insight is crucial for any business, particularly when partners are also life partners, as clear boundaries and expectations can prevent personal issues from affecting business operations.
Building and Managing a Safety Net: The conversation emphasized the significance of having a financial safety net, which allowed Michael’s business the runway needed to pivot and weather economic storms. This proactive approach to financial planning is crucial for agency owners, ensuring that they have enough reserves to support the business through unexpected challenges and allowing them the space to innovate and adapt without immediate financial pressure.