Interview with Michael
I’m kicking back in the cozy
New York style studio of LA Black Biz.com with CEO Michael
Belcher taking a sneak preview of his new publication that’s
about to take Los Angeles by storm. This spiral bound masterpiece
is filled with full color ads from your local restaurant to businesses
with revenue over millionaires of dollars. The combination of LA
Black Business Directory print publication and the website is the
most effective power play for this young entrepreneur. Michael’s
strategic approach targets the African American consumers with tremendous
buying power will put his advertisers in premium position to grow
their businesses. Let’s go behind the scene to see how Michael makes
Millionaires and he will give us the inside scoop on who are his
next millionaire clients for 2008.
What made you want to get into Marketing?
I was six years old sitting on my mothers lap while she was reading
the newspaper and I was fascinated at the illustrations and ad designs.
Coming from a family of artist, I told my mother that morning that
I would see my art in the newspaper one day. She humored me
by laughing but she tells me today that something told her that I
would. I've always been a good artist but I also wanted to make money
at it, I liked helping other people and I was also attracted to business.
Putting it all together suggests a career in Marketing and Advertising.
Are you from Los Angeles?
No, I'm from a small town - Toledo, Ohio. I left home at 18 years
old to join the Army. I did four years in the Army serving as a Media
Specialist to put myself through college. Back then the first Apple
Macintosh computers were being Beta Tested and I was one of the first
designers to use them. So I've been working with Apple and Adobe software
for quite some time. After the Army I worked in youth development
with Washington State University while putting myself through college.
I developed a program setting up computer labs for at-risk youth in
the Seattle area. I was teaching teens and their parents how to build
websites using HTML coding. Soon after I began working for the Tacoma
News Tribune in Tacoma, WA as their Senior Marketing Designer in the
Marketing Department I helped create. So the promise I made to my
mother at six years old became true at about 27. I was up for a Senior
Management position that I didn't get and thought the world was coming
to an end. At the same time I was starting Dezine
Group Marketing and Advertising and my first client soon
to be mentor was Andreta Armstrong of One Group Vision. Andreta explained
to me that I was very gifted and a big fish in a very small pond and
that i should pray on what God really had planned for me. Well, I
followed my mentors instructions and only weeks later I found myself
working for Primedia, the largest Magazine Publishing Company in the
U.S. As an Art Director working on 5 National Publications I quickly
learned what it took to project peoples visions, develop those visions
into products that work and finally train the entrepreneur on how
to make those life long dreams become reality. I'm proud to say that
we've designed work for businesses Locally, Nationally (The
Beauty Industry Connector) as
well as donating work for International efforts in Africa (Iaaaacame).
Tell us about the first client
you made a Millionaire?
I'm not sure exactly who came first or at what particular time, there
are quite a few from the time I arrived to the LA area at the end
of the year 2000. Some of my first clients that are still with me
are Doris F. Mosely from Spectrum International Beauty Expo, Charles
Harkey of Inglewood Tickets and South Bay Entertainment Group, Candace
Cole-Kelly of Cole Publishing and Lisa
Millon and Ethan Roberts of Garden of Eating (G.O.E) Catering who I now refer to as Lisa
MILLON (lol). Lisa was referred to me about three years ago. She
wanted a new logo, new menus and overall new energy for her already
successful catering company. Well we got started, and what a fun
ride it's been. From that logo came a fabulous website, beautiful
menus and an overall larger than life branding image that screams
quality food and service which is only a reflection of Lisa and
Ethan's personalities. So it was a few months ago when Lisa told
me how her profits had grown so much in such a short amount of time
due to Dezine Group's marketing collateral and strategies. I was
so blown away that I asked my other clients how their profits were
doing and they shared similar stories.
How did you go from building your clients
brand to making them Millionaires?
Well Marketing is a numbers game. If a client can trust to play the
numbers and take some risk they will over time see an increase in
profits considering the product is good. It's funny how most of us
have no problem playing the Lotto or running to Vegas to take risk
but don't want to spend on Logo Design. Personally I don't work with
clients if I don't believe they have quality products and practices.
I won't leave them out in the cold but I'll give them a different
conversation on product development before marketing strategies. In
order to have a great client they need to have good business practices.
Who are your future Millionaires clients for
2008?
Well, I have to be careful of whos business I put into the street
but I'll be bold enough to use my new venture as a model. This project
LABlackBiz.com is smart, well thought out, beautiful, affordable and
necessary. Most of the things I look for in a quality product. More
importantly it will help others and be a catalyst for new and good
business here in L.A. Let's just say keep an eye out for "The
Waffle Factory." We did a phenominal job on this logo and
the brothers Rob and Cassie are sharp and hard working.
How will you make Millionaires with LA
Black Biz?
Advertising! Advertising! Advertising! I've first painted a picture
of how your business should be represented with this beautiful website
and no matter what level you're on with your business, it can live
here and thrive! If you have a quality product to sell and don't have
a store front or website then advertise it here! If you are a starving
artist with great work to sell, then sell it here and let L.A. know
how to find you. If you are a Hair Stylist or have a Janitorial Service
you can start here and by next year you may very well be in the position
to have your own salon or building. We will follow our own marketing
formulas and advertising strategies to make sure everyone knows you
are here. We have professionals listed that are experts at making
small business big business! Everything you need to be a millionaire
you can find here. We're developing a database of professionals that
market, network and shop here. We've developed the most amazing interactive
Email Blast Campaigns along with streaming video and commercials to
deliver direct to this market. We will deliver major networking events.
I have big plans for L.A. in 2008. Last but not least our printed
LA Black Business Directory is Full Color with only Full Color Ads
that will be in every Church, Office, Limo, and Business.
How do you know everyone will use your directory?
Because this book is FREE! Yes, FREE! If you want to make something
number one with no competition, you must be prepared to give it
away. The book itself is already worth over $3,000 in Advertisers
discounts and services and it hasn't even been printed yet. Oh yes, final
ad closing date is December 1st. Books will be Gift Wrapped and
delivered by Christmas (warm smile).
Their's no doubt you're the master creator
of taking a business to the next level,
how do you take your clients above the game?
For me it's like a marriage when any of us make the decision to spend
money together and be responsible for the outcomes. I make sure the
brand that we develop for our clients has no competition. Whatever
you decide to do must be delivered with aggressive Ad Campaigns within
your budget. Your first impression maybe your logo or business card.
Your last impression but be as strong as your first. Last but not
least quality customer service and follow up. We're showcasing new
and creative Businesses like "My
Rent My Credit", "Black
Barbershop Health and Outreach Program" and "Four
Seasons Realty & Management." These
are a few of my favorites for next year. These projects will uplift
you financially and medically. Not to mention my pet project of the
new "ThatGirl
Magazine" website. These are perfect examples
of what I consider Next Level Business. They make money and uplift
the community at the same time.
The first response from most people when they
see your work is WOW,
what do you think the response will be when poeple see LA Black
Biz.com?
I pray they see themselves because that is what LABlackBiz.com is
all about. Sure it looks like it might be about us but that's only
because this first week is our introduction to our audience. After
this week it will be about every entrepreneur that's doing big things
here in L.A. So please place your listings, Advertise your business,
and make your Millions this year!
- Sonya Grey, ThatGirl
Magazine.com, Publisher
Client Testimonials
