Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Ure.
Laura, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got my start in the marketing industry at the age of 18 doing marketing for construction companies in Miami. Eventually, I began working at an ad agency in Boca Raton that represented luxury home builders, developers, and country clubs. After working there for five years, I began to notice some issues with the traditional ad agency model. Specifically, I felt that the services being offered to clients were lacking, and I wanted to change that. So, I made the decision to leave and start my own full-service agency that offered clients a higher level of service. Being pregnant with my second child at the time, there were some obvious obstacles to overcome, but I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
I opened Keenability in 2014, and slowly but surely grew our client base. The past three years have been a whirlwind of working with a wide array of great clients, ranging from real estate brokerages and agents to law firms and even national catering companies. Little by little, we’ve grown our team to include the talented members we have today. It’s a team that is dedicated to producing the highest quality of work possible, treating clients like partners, and telling great stories on behalf of those partners. We offer a full range of marketing services, including overall strategy, branding, design, digital marketing, public relations, web development, social media management, and everything in between. Whatever our clients need, whether it’s a full band, a website, or overall marketing management, our team can always come through.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think any entrepreneur truly enjoys smooth sailing. There are always going to struggle, but overcoming them is part of the excitement that comes with owning a business. The first year was insane, and yet it was over in the blink of an eye. Keenability grew faster than I had ever anticipated, and when a leading Florida real estate agent called to set a meeting to discuss representation, we realized we’d need to get an office quickly. Ironically, after getting the office space to impress this potential client, we opted not to take her business and signed another major real estate agent instead. Still pregnant, this client’s lengthy list of needs was a lot for me, but I persevered with the help of my team. By the end of the year, I had welcomed my new baby and Keenability had more than doubled in size, in terms of clients and staff. Along the way, there were more challenges to overcome, but I’ve learned that adversity is no match for perseverance and the support of a strong team.
Please tell us about Keenability.
Keenability is a boutique marketing agency located in Boca Raton, but serving clients on a local, regional, national, and even international level. Our specialty lies in marketing the luxury real estate sector, though we also work with many clients in the legal and education sectors. What really sets us apart is our approach to marketing. We function as an extension of every client’s company, and that means we’re just as committed to their success as they are. Plus, we’re not the kind of agency that spends its time installing ping pong tables in the office our leaving early for happy hour. You might even call us nerds, but we don’t mind. Our office isn’t the most lively place to hang out, but it’s because we’re dedicated to giving our clients amazing work and that takes our full focus. That work is what I’m most proud of, because it’s what helps our clients achieve their goals.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
There aren’t many things I would change about the journey, but two do come to mind. First, I would have established a skilled team before the clients started flooding in. Keenability grew extremely fast, and I had to rush to fill our team. Ultimately, that resulted in a hiring process focused solely on candidates’ skill sets. While important, I would have rather invested time into individuals who were committed to growing with the company. I also would have developed a strong relationship with a business attorney from the beginning. Entrepreneurs, take note: explicit contracts are important, and having them will save you countless headaches.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4181 NW 1st Ave, Suite 8, Boca Raton, FL 33431
- Website: keenability.com
- Phone: (561) 756-9720
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenability/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Keenability
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/keenability
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