When I first started Aducate Digital in 2021, my mission was simple. I wanted to use design as a way to educate small business owners in advertising strategies. Very quickly, I noticed recurring themes among my clients. Feelings of isolation, imposter syndrome, and frustration over not knowing where to start with their marketing strategy. These limiting beliefs made it very difficult to accomplish our goal of designing an authentic brand and sustainable strategies for clients. I realized that I needed to step business owners back; they needed to first answer key questions about their mission and vision. As a result, the mission for my business transitioned away from a strictly design-agency and my new focus was to lean into my instructional design background to educate and empower. To that end, I could not be happier in introducing MarkED4 in this blog.
Necessity: The Mother of All Invention
In the early stages of my business, I provided one-on-one coaching sessions and assessments for my clients. These assessments articulate the psychographic profiles of the ideal target audience. And, how to turn that into a marketing message for effective positioning. The outcomes guided small business owners through the challenges of building a business with creative, practical strategies.
I ran into a challenge of my own though. While working through the assessments with clients, I realized I would inevitably hit the same capacity roadblocks. If I wanted to grow my business, I needed to find a scalable solution that didn’t depend on me giving dedicated one-on-one support. That’s when the idea for MarkED4 began to take shape.
MarkED4 is more than an eLearning course. It’s a Creative Business Development Platform designed to empower entrepreneurs with the tools they need to reflect, strategize, and grow. The name itself embodies its purpose:
- Mark represents marketing and the mark you leave on your industry.
- ED stands for education, underscoring our focus on teaching foundational business skills.
- The “4” hints at a larger series of tools, each addressing a critical pillar of entrepreneurial success, starting with strategy.
MarkED4 Strategy is the first step in this journey. A tool to help entrepreneurs discover, design, and drive their business forward.
Strategy: Observing Patterns to Make Informed Decisions
The inspiration for MarkED4 came from the patterns I observed in my work. Many small business owners launched their ventures fueled by passion and expertise but without a roadmap for growth. They didn’t have an MBA or formal training, and they often felt there was a secret formula they just hadn’t found yet.
In reality, success comes from self-awareness, persistence, and a willingness to try, fail, and try again. MarkED4 is designed to provide that roadmap. A blend of creative play and actionable strategy that helps business owners unlock their potential.
Where We Are Now with MarkED4
In December 2024, I hosted a workshop at Bounce Innovation Hub as part of the early development of MarkED4. The response was overwhelmingly positive:
- Attendees left inspired and eager to implement what they’d learned.
- Six participants requested follow-up conversations and additional materials, showing a clear demand for more structured support.
Building on this momentum, I applied for and received a grant from ArtsNOW, which will fund my training and certification in Adobe Captivate. This certification will allow me to build the first prototype of the eLearning course. A key milestone in bringing MarkED4 to life.
The initial course will focus on assessing core business skills. Such as creative thinking, adaptability, and leadership. We’ll do this through engaging, gamified exercises. Users will walk away with a clear understanding of their strengths and areas for growth, along with an actionable marketing strategy tailored to their goals.
What’s Next?
2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for MarkED4. With the ArtsNOW grant, I’ll create the prototype and test it with a focus group of small business owners. Their feedback will refine the user experience and ensure that MarkED4 delivers real value.
In parallel, I’ll continue hosting workshops in Akron, Cleveland, and Austin, using these sessions to raise awareness about MarkED4 and gather insights to enhance its features. By the end of the year, my goal is to have a validated prototype ready for broader development in 2026.
Join the Journey
MarkED4 is more than just a product; it’s a movement to redefine how small business owners approach growth. It’s about embracing creativity, building confidence, and taking control of your business’s story.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking for tools that inspire and empower, stay tuned for more updates. Better yet, reach out to join the testing phase or attend an upcoming workshop. Together, we can build something that transforms the way we do business.
Let’s learn, create, and elevate. One step at a time.
