Meet Madeleine Costa | Digital Marketer | Founder of Succeeding Small

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeleine Costa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeleine, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been drawn to the magnificence of the written language. The beauty and imagination it could create, the raw emotions it could evoke, the lessons it could teach.

I had been writing since before I could spell–telling stories is something that has long been a part of me. As I was receiving my Bachelor’s in English & Marketing, I specialized in a field called Rhetoric, which is the study of arguments and persuasion. With this, I found that I was able to blend this creative passion with strategy and intention, taking things like language, imagery, color, composition, and weaving them together to achieve a purpose. For me, being able to elevate the passion I already adored into a beautiful tool that I could wield and represent for others was such a powerful force, and that connection is what drew me to my career today.

Today, as a digital marketing agency owner, I get to carry on that adoration of purposeful creativity as I tell the stories of the small businesses that make up our community. Whether it is copywriting or web design, branding or social media, I am able to partner with owners to see their vision, hear their “why”, and bring their business to life in the digital world.

Of course, I get to bring in the technical with what I do with search engine optimization (SEO), and it is the merriment of the two that not only drives results online, but brings me ultimate joy and wonderment.

The pursuit of creativity has certainly led me to where I am today, and I believe that constant drive to elevate the written word, to lean on the visual, to stretch creative boundaries, is not only what separates my agency from others, but is the fuel of my life.

What should our readers know about your business?
Succeeding Small is a Colorado Springs based digital marketing agency, dedicated to helping small businesses get the visibility they deserve. We specialize in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), web design, social media, branding, paid advertising, copywriting, and more, providing integrity-filled marketing to the small business community.

Our greatest mission is to serve and partner with small businesses, giving them the resources and strategies to achieve their goals in business and in life. Coming from generations entrepreneurs, I know just how impactful and life-changing it is to keep the phones ringing, to make that sale, to hire an employee, and provide for your family. With our digital marketing, we can play one small piece in that journey, helping bridge the gap between their target audience and the online platforms that they are searching on.

This November, I will be entering my 5th year of business, and I am honored and humbled to have served hundreds of small businesses by building their online presence and identity. However, it is also with great pride that I say, I could not do it alone. I have an incredible team of 7 people as part of the Succeeding Small agency, that it has been my joy and pleasure to lead, mentor, and work alongside. Being able to support 7 additional families, create 7 additional jobs, all while serving small businesses has been the most rewarding–albeit challenging–aspect of what I have built over the years with this company.

I am also proud to offer Digital Marketing Internships as an official UCCS Community Partner. With my program, both students and community members can come learn the intricate field of digital marketing and help small businesses grow online. Education is such a core value of my agency, and it is something that I am proud to exercise and extend forward in any way that I can.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a Colorado native, there is nothing I appreciate more than this beautiful place I call home! I would start in Colorado Springs and explore Garden of the Gods and all of the small businesses around downtown and Old Colorado City. I’d love to take them to Buena Vista and enjoy the hot springs, make our way up the mountain range into Breckenridge, and back through Denver, all the while #ShoppingSmall and supporting as many locally owned restaurants, storefronts, and activities as we could.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe all that I am to the incredible family and community that surrounds me. I come from a long-line of entrepreneurs and small business owners in my family, and it was in the subtle moments–at the dinner table, stopping by the office, taking summer vacations–that I was empowered with the knowledge that I too, could own a business; that I could have the power to create the life I wanted; and that I could create a company that could benefit others just as much as it benefited my family. I started my first business at 16: Indulgence Boutique, an online women’s clothing store.

When I was first thinking about starting a digital marketing agency, I visited a community networking event, where I met the business owners that would change my life forever. Meeting different owners, hearing their stories, receiving their support, is something I will be forever indebted to. These relationships are such a large part of why I do what I do, and it is community that is the crux of my company.

Website: https://succeedingsmall.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/succeedingsmall/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/succeeding-small

Twitter: https://twitter.com/succeedingsmall?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/succeedingsmall

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/succeeding-small-falcon

Image Credits
HUGE thank you to Taryn Kimberly Photography for the Succeeding Small branding photos!