Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Half-Moon White.
Cody Half-Moon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before going out on my own with Half-Moon Media, I served as a consultant and writer in oil and gas, print magazines, biotech, commercial services, and real estate—which are all fairly common industries in Houston. I loved the challenge of working with such a variety of brands, and helping companies market to so many different audiences. Over time, I gathered enough clients and referral work that I was able to start my own marketing business full time. I want to take what I’ve learned in my career and help small businesses tell their stories. I have also used my experience in search engine optimization, user experience design, and graphic design to add website building to my portfolio; before I knew it, I was helping my clients through the full life cycle of their marketing efforts. I started my business in 2016, using my middle name “Half-Moon” as inspiration for the business name. I have been full-time with it now since 2018.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I was very nervous at first in taking my own business full time. I was working at the as the Marketing Director for a Houston brokerage and had a good relationship with the owner. Thanks to the support of my network, clients, and spouse, I was able to take the leap and put together my own home office. Since then, the biggest challenge has been managing the amount of work on my desk and adding “accountant,” “operations director,” “scheduler,” and “negotiator” to my list of growing titles. I went into the business knowing exactly how to help businesses tell their stories, but I had to learn along the way how to run a business on my own. I’ve looked a lot to other small business owners for guidance, support, and friendship — all of which has helped me so much along the way.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Half-Moon Media – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Half-Moon Media’s main objective is to help small businesses find their voice. I work with clients on a consultant basis to help them prioritize their time, marketing efforts, and budget to determine what would work best for them. I am very frank with my clients, and will gladly tell them when they don’t need to chase certain marketing fads. I then use research and competitive analysis to back up my advice. Once a strategy is in place, I am there to help them carry out that vision by creating logos, business cards, websites, social media plans, advertisements, search ads, brochures, and more.
I also work with a local photographer, Stills By Garcia, in a Creative Collaborative that includes discount packages for both photography and marketing. I have known this particular photographer for more than 15 years, and we both understand brand and concept photography. It’s always nice to get my clients a good deal on a service that so many of them need.
Current services include website content and design, search engine optimization, social media optimization, logo design, marketing strategy, event promotion, product marketing, wedding material design, and even small- to mid-sized marketing courses for corporations and private groups. My regular clients include restaurants, florists, authors, oil and gas executives, residential and commercial builders, HVAC, service companies, wellness coaches, brokerages, interior designers, and more.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I would love to practice remote work in a more efficient way to better reach small businesses in other parts of the country. There are already a few clients with whom I work remotely, and the experience has been interesting and just as fruitful as when my work is local.
Currently, there are no plans to grow a staff at my agency. I have a writer who I use for blogs and social media up-keep and often collaborate with my photographer on brand concepts and ideas. I am very comfortable with keeping my agency at its current size, as I am able to better cater to my clients on a personal level.
Pricing:
- Custom Logos – $450+
- Custom Websites (content, SEO, analytics included) – $3,500+
- Marketing Consultation – $95/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.halfmoon-media.com
- Phone: 832-875-7833
- Email: cody@halfmoon-media.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/halfmoon.media
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/codyhalfmoon
Image Credit:
Stills By Garcia
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