Claire Stevens is the founder of Crunchy Digital, a digital marketing agency dedicated to boosting business growth via effective digital strategies. With a background in marketing fostered through a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing), Claire sharpened her skills at some of Australia’s leading media publishers, including Channel 10, Foxtel, and Channel 7.
Recognising the growing demand for businesses needing to enhance their online visibility to drive leads and sales, Claire established Crunchy Digital. Since 2018, Claire has been on her entrepreneurial journey towards empowering business owners to utilise the opportunities that come with digital marketing and to execute effective campaigns.
Claire has helped numerous companies throughout Australia to leverage services such as search engine optimisation, Google Ads, Meta Ads, website development, and social media marketing. With a results-oriented approach aimed at fostering business growth, Claire and the team at Crunchy Digital strive to make marketing transparent, understandable and effective for all clients.
Claire creates collaborative, long-term business relationships with her clients, providing education on digital tactics while implementing the execution of their marketing strategies.
For more details, visit their website at crunchydigtial.com.au.
Here, we sit down with Claire to learn a bit more about her journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. Tell us a little more about your entrepreneurship – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Claire: My venture into entrepreneurship began when I started supporting friends and family with marketing their businesses on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Witnessing the impact of my guidance, I realised the potential to turn this into a service. Drawing upon my university studies and industry experience, I extended my support to local businesses and eventually created Crunchy Digital.
With over six years since I started Crunchy Digital, I now focus on client success, while managing my team to deliver effective digital and social media marketing strategies.
Q. What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive?
Claire: Central to my daily routine is time planning, aligning my top-priority tasks with my calendar commitments to fully plan out my day. This way, I can ensure my most pressing tasks get completed around my other fixed commitments. I use time-blocking to dedicate 30-minute periods to specific tasks, meaning I still have some flexibility when I need it.
Q. How do you stay organised with such a busy schedule?
Claire: Time-blocking remains a cornerstone of my time management strategy, complemented by the ongoing improvement of my business’s standard operating procedures and project management processes. In the past few years, I’ve begun using project management platforms like ClickUp, which streamlines my operations, while tools like Fathom and Better Proposals enhance efficiency in call recording and client communication.
Q. What is the most memorable thing you’ve done since you started your business?
Claire: Participating in the Stockbrokers and Investment Advisers Association Conference in 2023 stands as a significant highlight since starting my business. I was invited to join a panel discussion on digital marketing in the finance sector. I had the opportunity to share insights with fellow marketers, open a conversation about modern forms of social media marketing, including video production for Instagram, and contribute to the professional growth of over 200 attendees.
Q. If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it?
Claire: I would name it “Business with Byte: Claire Stevens’s Expert Tips For Accelerating Your Business’s Growth.”
Q. What motivates you?
Claire: Hearing the triumphs and challenges of fellow entrepreneurs serves as both inspiration and a call to action. The desire to support others in navigating marketing challenges and achieving success gives me motivation.
Q. What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?
Claire: Investing in talent has been instrumental in elevating my business. Whether in the form of hiring coaches, operational support, or consultants, surrounding myself with the right individuals has helped me grow exponentially.
Q. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs invest their time in?
Claire: Regular evaluations of your business’s website are critical. This ensures alignment with evolving customer expectations, industry standards, and your business’s changing offerings over time. By paying close attention to your customer’s online experience, you can develop further ways to engage and retain your audience in a competitive digital landscape.
Q. What is your ‘one-sentence’ advice you’d like to give someone who wants to become an entrepreneur or business owner?
Claire: Remember, nothing can happen until you make sales. Businesses need to prioritise revenue generation to fuel business growth and reinvest in their sustainability.
To keep up to date with Claire and her journey, connect with her on LinkedIn, and Instagram.