Al Gomez

 

You’ll be more productive if you are going to challenge the status quo.

Al Gomez is the founder and head of operations of Dlinkers Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He founded this company back in 2008. Before, it only focuses in offering search engine optimization but now it offers all areas of digital marketing. Dlinkers’ existence in the digital marketing industry was mainly attributed to Al Gomez’s experience of becoming a webmaster and web developer. Founding his company was inspired by the job satisfaction he can get every time he helped a website owner. Pursuing the consultancy area was mainly credited to his in-depth knowledge and passion about advance Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and overall Digital Marketing consulting.

He oversees the whole operations and leads the team. He is also the head digital marketing consultant, although he was mainly known to be an SEO Specialist. Aside from leading the whole team, together with his wife, he also founded a start-up company which is an online shopping site unlideals.com. For about nine years of solid experience in the digital marketing industry, he always sees to it that providing value to every client’s is the top priority. And both parties must benefit.

Before founding his company, his experience in the service industry was not new. He worked in one of the biggest fast-food chain in the world. He also became a computer instructor. Those are some of the reasons why he understands how to value people. They are the most important gem when you are in this kind of industry. They can make or break a business. This is the reason why it’s essential to keep them motivated and empowered.

Where did the idea for Dlinkers Digital Marketing & Consultancy come from?

From the time I have learned about web development and maintaining a website, it was another turning point in my life. Although at the start it was a challenging job, but it was the most satisfying job I have met, especially each time I give valuable help with website owners. My passion for website development and search engine optimization (SEO) leads me in creating Dlinkers. At the start it specializes with just SEO but as time goes by, we see the need for digital marketing and now we cater relevant services about it.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My day always kick-off with a morning greeting for my wife and kids. I always make sure that I spent time for my family, since they give me inspiration and motivation throughout the day. Then, next in line is you can find me in front of my computer checking for the latest emails and updates in the industry. I make sure that I can give replies to my clients and also with my team. Aside from it you’ll find me doing some research for website improvements or in consulting sessions. Typically about seventy five percent (75%) of the day was spent for work. I see to it that I can give value to my client’s website.

I have my daily calendar to keep me on track and remind me of my daily priorities. Aside from it, I always challenge myself to push my limits and that’s how my day becomes productive. From my daily work, I have learned that it is not enough only to be optimistic, you need to focus and do smart work.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Bringing out of ideas always started by thinking out of the box and this is the first step every time we come up with a new strategy. Aside from that, I always believe in this: “your will, your way”. If you have the will to proceed from that idea, you can find your way to bring it to life. I also believe that an idea can work, if the whole team supports it, so I always make sure that I became a catalyst and make them motivated.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Change is the one thing that keeps my excitement alive. Being in the digital marketing industry is truly exciting. You can meet lots of changes, not just yearly, but you can have it daily, yet we’re excited for it. In this kind of this industry, you need to expect the unexpected. It’s vital that you have forecasted those changes. And I am lucky that I have young, intelligent, skillful and passionate team who is willing to adapt the current change.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Challenging myself is one thing that makes me more productive. This is all about pushing my limits. I have actually applied it also with my team. I believe that if you challenge the status quo, there are more opportunities that await you. And based on experience, it’s a fact, for example, in SEO, I don’t settle only to make a website rank, I need to give a value for that website and that is by helping them with conversion.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Change is one constant thing in this world. Don’t hesitate to take the risk and accept it. Always have a plan in your life. It’s one thing that can give you direction. Don’t be too hurry in deciding, always make sure that you know the consequences of your decisions, so think it over carefully.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?

There are always answers to every problem we have encountered. Some may quit searching since they couldn’t find it, but for me, I always believe that there is a fitted solution. And yes, it’s a fact.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Doing some research, experiments like A/B Testing, reading the latest trends and creating connections with industry members are the things that I can recommend. Gaining valuable information is essential, especially when you are in the digital marketing industry. It helps us forecast for reliable solutions.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.

Focus on core offer. For Dlinkers, this is all about providing quality service. For me, providing that kind of service and making our clients satisfied is one of the most rewarding jobs. Dlinkers continue to grow due to referrals and positive reviews due to the quality service that we give. And it is in our mission to consistently provide it.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Deciding rashly, sometimes I pursue an investment without thinking it twice and what would be the consequences like back in 2014, I have spent for affiliate websites which don’t work. It didn’t work because of the timing, since I am not so focused about it. Now, I always see in terms of investment, I always consulted my wife and always think it over a million times. I always make sure that I know the consequences if I’m going to fail. Sometimes, you truly need to fail to learn some lessons.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Before the year ends, we always make sure that we meet up to plan for the next year. We established what our goals are and the objectives that need to take for the next year. We encourage actually voluntarism in leading each activity wherein everyone has the chance to lead. Currently, we can see that we are half-way on our plan, like last year we plan to give back to the community, we did an outreach twice as to date. This year was truly exciting since our theme is empowerment. We have a lot of activities that can make the team motivated.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I have spent a $100 for an SEO tool. I found it worthy of investment since it is efficient to use. If you are in a digital marketing industry, it’s vital that you have tools to make you more productive and provide quality service.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

It’s Slack. It makes me connected easily with my clients and team. Collaboration is easy with this software. One thing that I find fun and helpful to use is the slackbot, you can teach him to remind me with my schedules or task for the day. It’s truly awesome and easy to use.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I think my all-time favorite when it comes to leadership is Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. It’s an ultimate survival kit for leaders. My favorite leadership advice from it is: “lead by example and not by force”. In reality, it’s effective to use, especially in the digital marketing industry, you need to collaborate and lead the whole team in the right direction.

What is your favorite quote?

“Focus and smart work lead to summit. “ In each plan that you take, you need to focus on it, and don’t allow the negative aspects to ruin your concentration. Use not hard work, but smart work in completing those goals and in the end you’ll find your way to the summit which is making your goals alive.

Key learnings:

• Focus on what your company is best at and it will yield positive results.
• Always take the risk to accept change.
• You’ll be more productive if you are going to challenge the status quo.