40 Under 40 winner of the day: Robyn Koldej
South Australian entrepreneur Robyn Koldej runs a specialist online marketing firm to help her clients promote themselves on Google.
Koldej is the founder and CEO of The Online Director – an agency that helps clients get the most of their Google Ads.
Rather than provide general online marketing advice, Koldej founded the company five-and-a-half years ago with the aim of minimising spending and maximising profits within the niche market.
The Online Director is the largest Google Ads agency in South Australia and has more than 300 active clients on retainer. These clients range from small to medium-sized businesses.
The Online Director is also a Google Certified Premiere Partner, meaning the company’s campaigns adhere to the standards of the search engine.
Before The Online Director, Koldej was an account executive for the online marketing firm Sensis for four-and-a-half years.
Prior to that, she was an account manager at Rentokil Initial and business development manager of EFTPOS Merchant Services.
In May, The Online Director was included in BDO’s Fast Movers SA program, clocking-in at 13th out of 25 companies.
In June, Koldej was named in InDaily’s 40 Under 40, which recognises the best and brightest young business people in South Australia.
What is the single most important lesson you have learnt in your business career so far?
Know your numbers. Turnover is vanity and profit is sanity.
What do you believe are the strengths of doing business in South Australia?
My business exists online so I can run it anywhere in the world – but I choose to run it in South Australia. Adelaide has the perfect combination of country values and city living. South Australia’s population also means that everyone knows everyone so only the top quality ethical businesses succeed.
I travel up to 15 weeks a year to learn new trends and stay ahead of the curve, but Adelaide’s airport is the one I like landing in the most.
What do you believe are the weak points of conducting business in South Australia?
For me to keep my technical skills up to speed, I often travel. There is a Charles Darwin saying that “those that don’t adapt will become extinct” so to stay ahead of the curve I have to seek information outside of the state. Even the resources that Google provides us as a premier partner can only be accessed in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Do you see your future in South Australia?
Adelaide will always be my home. You can’t fault our weather, our culture and the fact that it is a 30-minute-city. At the end of the day, we are only a plane trip away from everything else.
To see the full list of 40 winners go here.
InDaily is profiling each of the winners – go here to read more.
