Featured Clients

This month, we spoke with Debbie McGrady of McGrady Insurance Group, who has been a tenant of our Southwest Orlando office for nearly six years. We talked with Debbie about why she made the move to being an independent insurance agent and the challenges she faces running her own business.

Bazooka Digital is a one-stop shop for all things in the digital and marketing realm.

Our goal is to provide clients with a forward-thinking digital marketing plan that includes web design, inbound marketing, database building, content creation, media buying, social media management and more. We believe that our clients should be able to take control of their online properties and never feel tied down, held hostage or restricted by lack of knowledge. In doing so, we make sure to educate our clients as we work with them so they understand what steps are being taken and why they are important.

We understand that our clients might not have the resources to hire a full digital staff, so we utilize our specialists to complement their current team.

Bazooka Digital has worked with a variety of clientele—national, local, large and small.

When did you originally start your company?

I started Bazooka Digital in 2011. I had been freelancing for quite some time and decided that it was now or never and incorporated.

Where did you come up with name for Bazooka Digital? Does the Bazooka have any special meaning?

I’m always asked this, but I don’t really have a connection for the Bazooka part of my business name. I thought it was different and just honestly liked the way it sounded. My logo, however, does have a back-story. My “mascot” is a blue bunny, holding a bazooka. The bunny itself came from my past at BunnyWithFangs.com. The logo for that site was a snarky, grinning bunny with fangs. I always really liked him, so I wanted to tie that into Bazooka Digital. The Bazooka bunny is named Barnum, after Phineas Taylor Barnum (PT Barnum). I’ve always admired the likes of Barnum, Houdini, Disney and Robert Ripley because of their ability to market themselves in a time when marketing wasn’t really an art yet, you either knew what you were doing, or you didn’t.

What were you doing before you decided to start your own business?

I spent a number of years working in radio. I started in the promotions department, running market-wide events for the West Palm and Treasure Coast Clear Channel markets.

How did you make the jump from radio to web services? What got you interested in web services to begin with?

When I graduated college, I started working for Clear Channel Radio in the promotions department. After a short time there, I began to self teach various design programs and took on the responsibility of updating the websites for various promotions and events we were having. Shortly after that, I was asked to start writing a gossip website for the company, which turning into a blog, Bunny With Fangs. The site began to gain populartiy and for 3 years I ran and wrote the website as one of my primary responsibilities. Interviewing artists backstage and reviewing popular TV shows were my wheelhouse and I was able to make a name for myself in the blog world, even writing for a short time for MTV.com.

During that time, I was promoted and moved full time into the web department, where my knowledge of websites, content and design grew over the next few years. With all the connections I had made working in the media, I often was asked to create graphics or logos on the side, which led to my freelancing. From there, it just took some courage and a deep breath to jump into my own business.

What made you decide to start your own business?

I realized that I work better when I self-manage. I enjoy working directly with my clients and creating a long-term relationship with them, so starting Bazooka Digital just came naturally.

What’s the best part about being your own boss?

I would have to say that the best part about being my own boss is that I am in total control. Sometime, that can be a little scary, and everyday I find myself learning something new and expanding my scope of services.

What’s the biggest challenge you face running your own business?

The unknown. It’s very easy for someone working in the corporate world to have a five-year plan and follow it closely. When you start your own business from scratch there is a huge learning curve, and trying to plan every moment and every step along the way can not only limit your growth potential, but it can also be detrimental to the bigger picture of your business. It’s better to have a plan, but always trust your instincts, go with the flow and not be afraid to take a few risks along the way.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

I like to hang out with my friends and family as much as possible. I have a rather large saltwater aquarium with all sorts of creatures that I enjoy as well.

What quote or saying do you live by?

Keep moving forward.