Nine years.

It still feels surreal to say that.

When Nick and I first started Marketing Maiden, we had no idea how much this journey would change us — or how much the world around us would change, too.

We didn’t start with big ambitions. We started with a simple mission: help good businesses grow through honest, effective marketing.

We had both seen too many small businesses taken advantage of by agencies that cared more about retainers than results.

We knew we could do better.

And nine years later, I’m so proud to say — we have.

What I’m Most Proud Of

Looking back, what I’m most proud of isn’t a revenue number or a campaign we crushed (though there have been plenty of those).

It’s the work itself.

It’s how much we’ve helped small businesses grow — not just online, but in their communities, in their confidence, and in their ability to serve their customers well.

It’s the way we’ve continued to show up, year after year, constantly learning, evolving, and improving.

Because the truth is, a lot of businesses get stuck after a few years. They stop growing. They stop learning.

But not us.

We’ve always stayed curious. Always cared deeply. Always put our clients first — even when it’s hard, even when no one’s watching.

That’s something I’ll never stop being proud of.

What Surprised Me the Most

If you told me back in 2016 how much grit this would take, I might not have believed you.

Running a business is hard. Running one through a pandemic, economic recessions, and an AI revolution? Even harder.

These past few years have tested every ounce of perseverance we have.

But showing up anyway — for our clients, for our team, and for ourselves — has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life.

Every challenge we’ve faced has reminded me:
Resilience isn’t built during easy seasons.
It’s built when you keep going, even when everything feels uncertain.

And we’ve kept going.

Three Lessons I’ll Never Forget

If I could sum up nine years of entrepreneurship, it would come down to a few key lessons that continue to guide how we show up:

1. Never stop learning.

The marketing world moves fast — new platforms, new strategies, new trends every month. But what’s kept us strong is our commitment to learning. We’re always improving because we’re never done growing.

2. Some things never change.

While tools and trends evolve, the fundamentals of marketing stay the same.
Know who you are.
Know who you serve.
Know what you do better than anyone else.
Then say it — clearly and consistently.

3. Integrity is everything.

Do the right thing. Always. Even when it’s hard, inconvenient, or unprofitable.
That’s how you build trust that lasts — and clients who stay with you for years.

How Our Mission Has Evolved

When we started, our mission was simple: protect small businesses from bad marketing.

Today, that mission has grown.

We still fight that same fight — but now it’s about more than just protecting small businesses. It’s about helping them thrive in a world that’s more competitive, more digital, and more complex than ever before.

We help our clients use marketing systems that create clarity, confidence, and real results.

Because when small businesses grow, communities grow.

And that’s something worth building a career around.

Gratitude — Then and Now

This year, more than anything, I’m grateful for freedom.

Freedom to choose who we work with.
Freedom to do work that matters.
Freedom to keep showing up for our clients, our community, and ourselves.

It hasn’t always been easy — but it’s always been worth it.

And as I look back on nine years, I’m reminded that success isn’t built on luck or shortcuts. It’s built on care. On consistency. On doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching.

That’s how we’ve lasted this long — and why I know we’ll keep growing.

To Every Client, Partner, and Cheerleader Along the Way

If you’ve worked with us, referred us, shared our name, or cheered us on in any way — thank you.

You are the reason we’re still here.
You’re the reason we love what we do.

Here’s to nine years of learning, growing, and doing good work with good people.
And here’s to the next nine — even better, stronger, and more intentional than before.

With so much gratitude,
Meredith & Nick
Marketing Maiden