About Me and My Experience

Ant Hodges shares his knowledge about Internet Marketing, social media and the life of an entrepreneur, here on his blog. Visit his Internet Marketing Coaching page or contact his at HodgesNet on +44(0)8432 894 402.

“The journey that I have been on in marketing, that brought me to being a internet marketing coach has been a turbulent one!”

College Drop Out!

After leaving college I started work in many varied and temporary retail and customer service positions. Working my way up to positions of supervisory roles and other positions of responsibility. As young person I was also keen to have fun, as well as learn – so I took a year out to work with my church as a Youth and Children’s worker for a period of one year where I also studied Christian theology.

On finishing this I was still looking to have a fun time in employment so joining the team at my local TGI Fridays as a waiter. Working evenings and waiting tables was great fun, particularly with my ventriloquist monkey Desmond (I can still do it a little). Not content at just waiting tables my stiff for excellence earned me the position of in-store trainer, where I led the training of new staff to ensure that the experience of all who came through the doors was the best that they would have had.

Go get a proper job

Eventually I had to grow up. Getting a ‘proper job’ was important with an upcoming wedding and responsibilities looming. I joined a lettings agent in the town where I took care of all the website updates, property portal advertising and some of the lettings negotiations.

After a period of time, an opportunity came along with an international charity to head up all web and graphics for them. This role was very varied. One day I was building and coding a custom content management system, the next I was designing book covers, leading an international re-brand, producing marketing videos, email marketing campaigns, magazine campaign supplements and much more!

Then came the biggest opportunity ever. The chance to go into business for myself, with a partner, to start our own branding and marketing agency. What a journey.

The birth of the Entrepreneur

We built up a team of six employees and had many retained clients. Working with small local businesses, international charities, huge software companies and divisions of the Ministry of Defence – we worked in many industries. Then came the credit crunch.

We lost all of our retained clients almost overnight. Budgets were slashed and everyone else had cut right back on marketing spend. We had huge overheads, a large salary bill to pay each month and couldn’t survive. The business closed.

With lots of lessons learned and an opportunistic mindset, I started back as a freelance almost immediately. Within six weeks, it looked like I may be back to being employed as I joined an online marketing agency as Business Development Director and a Social Media Consultant.

I trained, consulted, spoke at events, delivered design and campaign work where needed, working with many small enterprises, online retailers and national businesses.

Now… Self unemployed for LIFE!

Nothing is forever… other than the fact that I know that in my life I will always struggle to work for someone else. I am too much of a free-spirit and am always looking to forge ahead on my own accord.

I left the company I was working for in the Summer of 2011 because Internet Marketing was generating enough of an income for me and I knew that I could show others how to do it too.

I am in business first to help others.

Where they struggle and I have experience and knowledge that can help – I want to give it.

Where marketing strategies are non-existent – I want to help.

Where advertising, overheads and other costs are spiraling upwards uncontrollably without clear sight of a positive return – I want to help.

Internet Marketing can be used by every business on the planet – you just need to be shown how to use it. I hope I can help you.

If you think that I could help you or your business contact me on +44(0)8432 894 402 or use my online contact form to get in touch.