Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Hamm.
Liz, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
While attending Baylor University, I worked in the Sports Information Department helping coordinate the media with our athletes, conducting interviews, relaying stats for the players/teams and creating our Media Guides. After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles where I worked in the Marketing Dept for an international investment banking firm for over 13 years. In my spare time, I participated in triathlons and led the LA Tri Club for just over ten years. In these capacities, I gathered all kinds of marketing, branding, graphic design, communications and promotional experience for products, events and messaging. After marrying in 2009 and having our first baby, my husband and I decided to leave CA and eventually returned to TX where I found The N2 Company. N2 is a franchisor of niche publications and digital marketing services. Working for myself allowed me flexibility I hadn’t had before, and really put all the experience I’d had to-date to work — now, serving my local community in some really cool and unique ways. I’m able to help local businesses be seen in their community by their ideal clientele and deepen their existing relationships and spread word of mouth in welcome ways.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve launched and run six publications to-date and am currently working on my 7th – but I had to close one in Feb 2021, which was my first such failure. It was very hard to make the choice to put that publication to sleep. It has become a not uncommon story, but the failure was largely related to pandemic effects. Like many print publications, my business runs on advertising sales and through the last two years (and up to today), businesses have struggled to market themselves due to the effects of the pandemic on their own operations. It’s a hard conversation with a struggling business to discuss the need to market and brand themselves in the community, but they’re short on funds to properly communicate to their audiences. Today, I have more tools to offer than ever — so I can usually help identify solutions to help build awareness… but it’s certainly not been easy in the last many-months.
We’ve been impressed with BeLocal, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I help local businesses win! I’ve got a number of options for businesses to reach their desired audience effectively. For example, with BeLocal, we are a beautiful community guide that is not collecting dust on newsstands — but which is written by area locals, mailed to new homeowners, available online 24/7 to the community with a robust social media program. You can view our BeLocal offerings at BeLocalPub.com.
I also help businesses tackle their digital marketing needs. Our differentiators are our transparency, we’re a US-Based operation with over 20-years of experience, and we do not utilize AI or software bots.
We’re not a mom-and-pop shop — our programs run all over the country and we’ve been around since 2004.
Since 2016, The N2 Company has given over $15 million dollars to end human trafficking, which is a cause I’ve been so proud, alongside all of our local business partners, to support. Please read more about this at N2Gives.com.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve been fortunate to have many strong relationships in my professional life. My most influential teachers have been my readership, peers and business partners. A few on a long roster of go-getters who fuel me by example include:
Gina Nemo – She and I partnered to create a publication in Santa Monica / Pacific Palisades in 2004 called U Know Magazine. It was my first time creating a free publication and she was the mastermind behind it all. She’s a driver of new ideas and never fears to go boldly in the direction of her dreams.
Paul Hekimian – one of the creators of the LA Tri Club – my partner for many years, a true entrepreneur who has more great ideas in one season than most have in a lifetime. A fountain of energy and drive.
Tamera Ahner – A woman who runs her business with such integrity and grit… a true advocate for her partners in the community that she serves. When you think of someone who brings value to every exchange, this is Tamera.
Contact Info:
- Email: liz.hamm@belocalpub.com
- Website: www.belocalpub.com, www.HyportDigital.com
- Instagram: #belocal_richmond_sugarland
- Facebook: @BeLocalRichmondSugarLand
- Other: www.n2gives.com
Image Credits:
Lindsey Wilkins Photographer, Meeker Pictures, Bri Costello, Willow Three Photography
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