Why We Chose Donna Duffy
“Here’s my biggest secret: I’ve never actually met Donna Duffy. Crazy, right?! However, I know a heck of a lot about her because she’s a bit of a local legend when it comes to marketing. (Okay, I also stalk her on social media.) I hear her name on everyone’s lips — and always positive things. I know she’s a marketing guru who offers boutique, personal attention to her clients. She’s a huge resource to Delaware. I can’t wait to meet her. Read on.”
Jane Clark, Co-Founder of BrandSwan
Donna Duffy
3E Marketing Solutions | CEO & Founder | Visit Website
The Story
Tell us how it all started. Why? What’s the story?
Out of my desire to build community and help others develop business potential, I organized and facilitated a weekly marketing mastermind group of small business owners that met in my home, around my kitchen table. We discussed marketing strategies and tips, as well as how to cross-promote participating businesses through joint venture projects. Understanding the importance of strategy and marketing as well as its challenges, from these humble beginnings, 3E Marketing Solutions was born!
Biggest Success
What is your biggest success so far?
The most pivotal change for me, was taking the business from the kitchen table at home, into an office in the City of Wilmington in 2013.
Biggest Challenge
What is the biggest challenge in your industry? What are you doing to deal with that?
Staying cutting edge with the ever changing digital world, is by far one the biggest challenges for the marketing industry. I am a ferocious reader and follow many of the top thought leaders in digital and new media marketing. Key to my manifesto is RLDT—Read-Learn-Do-Teach. My outreach to the community via my monthly complimentary Boost Your business series, enables me to impart to others, all that I am learning and absorbing.
Advice
What advice would you give to a business owner starting out in your industry that you wish you would have known going in?
Business owners are not intended to wear all hats. It is essential even in the early stage, to begin to develop a resources community to draw from and outsource to, those responsibilities that don’t align with your natural strengths.
Surprise Tidbit
What don’t most people realize about you or your company?
We are not strictly a marketing company. We are a boutique agency whose primary asset is the strategic approach that we take with each individual client. We create a strategic alignment with our clients to assist them with their growth and development. Before we do anything, we want to understand the WHY behind the what, so that we know the best way to proceed on their behalf.
Stay tuned for day 3!
More 2016 Most Inspiring Women
Day 10: Jennifer McMillan — Inspiring Women 2016
[Jennifer] has made enormous leaps and bounds as a woman business owner. Just last month she was invited to Amazon headquarters in Seattle, WA by senior management. They chose several women-owned companies who have been successful on their site — and Jennifer was one of them. They also wanted to know more about the launch of her new brand, JennyGems. Wow! This girl knows how to market her products and I’m so thrilled and honored to be apart of the journey.
Day 9: Stefanie Roselle — Inspiring Women 2016
From her animal fostering, amazing new office design to the rockin’ women’s organization she co-founded along with Amber Shader, she motivates me to grow on both a personal and professional level. She has a killer team of fellow #ladybosses for her company Social Butterfly. On top of all of this, she’s amazing at what she does. I had the opportunity to sit with her on a social media panel… this girl knows her stuff! I love love love how she supports other local businesses — even competitors. Her collaborative and embracing real life and online persona makes her a joy to interact with.
Day 8: Angela Kovall — Inspiring Women 2016
Angela is a ray of sunshine. Always beaming, she makes it her mission to know and help the people she meets along the way. (Apparently we went to the same high school!) She is is the inspiration for changing how I approach marketing — think not what people can do for you but how you can people. She is an excellent teacher on spreading feelings of goodwill and increasing others self-esteem. Angela genuinely wants to see people succeed and I find that energy to be absolutely contagious. She is wonderful to have in your corner. I can’t say enough positive things about her. Simply, she makes you feel good.
Day 7: Anne Green — Inspiring Women 2016
What impresses me most about Anne is that she moved from Canada to Delaware and totally started what no one else has here in Newark: a very popular, resident-owned news page. With over 7,000 likes on Our Newark Delaware’s super active Facebook page, Anne has quickly become known for knowing what’s going on in our local hood. I first met her at a Wonder Women Tea event at the Blue Hen Bed and Breakfast, so we already had something in common. What I love most about her is that she builds people up. Always supportive of local businesses and meeting new people, she is a genuine joy to be around and I’m proud to know her. As a client, she is absolutely delightful to work with. Read on
Day 6: Vicki Lam — Inspiring Women 2016
[Vicki] is reliable, always professional, and present. Seriously, she is everywhere. Vicki is my go-to resource for new and awesome networking groups and events. I personally use Vicki for all my promotional products because she gives you awesome ideas and the best advice. She understands branding and so she is an awesome partner for me. I am also very proud to call her a friend.
Day 5: Nancy Dibert — Inspiring Women 2016
Everyone on #netde knew her and looked to her as an authority in the twitter universe. If you’re an entrepreneur in Delaware, you have most likely seen Nancy’s diligent social media outreach on Google Plus, Twitter and even Facebook. Every post is thoughtful, relevant —and for me, enlightening. Every day I learn something new, which in the marketing industry is basically a necessity… Nancy is a true gem. I was humbled that someone as successful as her was building me up and took notice.
Day 4: Robyn Odegaard — Inspiring Women 2016
Robyn is not only kind and caring, but she wears herself on her sleeve and has no problem sharing her amazing life stories. I highly recommend you get to know this super smart gal who I’ve had honor of meeting. Oh — and she’s really good at what she does.
Day 3: Mona Liza Hamlin — Inspiring Women 2016
[Mona] has a very calming and warm presence. Yet at the same time, she is a gal who knows her stuff. As a mother of 1 bulldog and 2 cats, I’m often in awe of moms who have it all: running their own business and raising their children! Not only is she a lactation consultant, but also a pediatric nurse. That alone makes her an authority in her industry and increases my adoration of her 10 fold. I love that she uses a real, holistic approach with her customers and in her life.
Day 1: Jessica Barnak — Inspiring Women 2016
[Jessica] is lovely, bubbly, inviting and always composed. She continued to impress and inspire me as managing director for the networking group Polka Dot Powerhouse. Her positive energy is absolutely contagious. The biggest reason Jessica is on my list — her brand is absolutely on point: the perfect amount of professional, modern, and as creative as her interior designs.