- What was your education and professional experience? Were they helpful to starting your business?
Lisa Wehr
Prior to Oneupweb, I attended college with a focus on commercial advertising photography, worked as a forensic photographer, a mounted policewoman in Florida, and was a pretty serious musher with my own sled-dog team in Alaska. When I stopped racing competitively, I started a guided tour business. People would visit Alaska to learn how to mush dogs, and I would act as their guide. In 1996, I wanted to bring in more business, so I went to Wal-Mart, bought a computer and taught myself how to use it. Word spread that I knew how to design websites, and the customers started pouring in. But they wanted their websites seen by more people, so I methodically went about figuring out how to make that happen. The result was Oneupweb, a search marketing company. A few years ago the company moved to Traverse City, and just last year we moved into our new 23,000 square foot global headquarters on Grand Traverse Bay.
- When did you establish your businesses?
1996.
- How did you spot the opportunity to start Oneupweb?
At the time I was designing websites, and I knew that I wanted to continue to work with the internet. My website design customers wanted their sites to be seen by more people, so it was really a natural progression.
- Did you want to have partners or do it solo? Why?
I wanted to do the business on my own. I’m really a take-charge kind of person, and I’m comfortable making split-second decisions, so the solo format worked well for me. But I’ve had a lot of great help from my employees along the way.
- Tell us about your business.
Oneupweb has been an innovator in digital marketing for more than a decade, creating integrated online marketing plans that incorporate natural search engine optimization (SEO), paid search marketing (PPC), conversion improvement and analytics, podcast production, social media marketing, online media planning and placement and search marketing consultation for in-house marketing teams. Heralded by an independent research firm for their leadership team, Midwestern work ethic and solid experience in optimizing complicated sites, Oneupweb has been named a Top 20 Search Marketing Agency by Advertising Age for three consecutive years, and CEO Lisa Wehr is recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The company publishes an award-winning blog entitled StraightUpSearch. Oneupweb is a privately held company located in Traverse City, Michigan.
- What were the most difficult challenges you faced as you began to grow?
Just making sure that we were growing the right way – continuing to offer our clients the same level of service they expected before the growth. Also, I work in an industry that is constantly changing, and my challenge is for my company to continue to change with it – staying ahead of trends and offering the latest in services and technology to our clients.
- What do you find most rewarding as an entrepreneur?
The freedom to do what I feel is important when I’m ready to do it. It’s a wonderful luxury to answer to no one and come to work everyday with a fantastic group of smart, innovative people that trust my leadership. I feel a huge sense of responsibility towards them and our continued success.
- What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?
Be sincere, honest, loyal and truly apply yourself. Direct communication styles and a solid work ethic will get you far.
- This issue of WomenandBiz.com’s theme is “Back to Basics”. Would you like to share with our readers, what do you consider the basics that no business can grow without?
Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it, and do it to the best of your ability.
- What are your plans for the future?
To continue to evolve our areas of service and expertise that will benefit our clients.For more information about Lisa Wehr and Oneupweb, please visit Oneupweb.com.