Alex Morris - No Frills Marketing
What's your 30-second elevator speech?
Hi, I’m Alex and I’m a digital marketer…meaning I help small businesses get customers using the
internet. I’m good at all the technical stuff that can really slow people down, and I’ve spent over 5
years learning how to make creative, effective and very slick marketing campaigns that can give your
business the online presence it needs in this new world!
Who inspires you the most to be the best you can be as a person?
I’ve always said if I can provide a life for my family like my dad did for us, I’d be a happy man. He was
always so hard working, but still made plenty of time for us…his business allowed us to do some
really cool things like travel a lot as a family, and that’s what I want to be able to do for my new
family too!
Congratulations on welcoming Olivia and Ava into the world! How has your life changed? And how
has it changed running your business?
Thank you! My life has absolutely been turned upside down in the best way possible. As I’m writing
this, I have one baby balancing on my lap and have been up since 4 am while my wife gets some
sleep. We’re up against it with newborn twins but I’m just so stoked on how much joy we’re finding,
and so proud of my wife Ally!
For business, it’s been two-fold. To some extent, my ambitions around work and success have taken
second place to just wanting to spend more time with the girls…but I also know I want to give them
a really cool life with lots of choices. So I’ll have to see how that balance progresses! For now, I’m
super happy that I can work from home and really choose my own workload…that’s the beauty of
being in online business right now.
When did you start your business, and where do you find your passion to help small businesses
with their Marketing?
I’ve been running small online businesses in the health and fitness space for the past 5 years, and it
taught me a whole lot about the world of digital marketing, and I got way better at the back end of
things than I probably did at actually growing my own business.
When I heard about the twins on the way, I saw this as a great solution that would allow me to use
those marketing skills to help out people who don’t enjoy that side of things. It’s been a great
transition, because it can be so overwhelming wearing all the hats in a small business, so when I can
help people hand over their marketing, and to help them get good results, I know what a huge win
that can be in the stressful world of small business.
What was your biggest hurdle during COVID-19? I’d love to hear your insight on what you think
the most significant challenges business are facing in this pandemic are? And what they should be
doing to push through, and grow?
For me, I was lucky that online business took an upturn during the past few months…but as a chef of
12 years, it was very tough to see some of my mates in hospitality suffer so much. It’s often such fine
margins in the restaurant world and 2 bad weeks can shut a place down. I don’t have all the
answers, but I saw some great creative idea for people to adapt to the new climate, such as
simplifying their menus and offering them as DIY meal services at home. I’m really glad that the industry
is starting to get back on it’s feet again in most of the country and I hope that Victoria will be getting
there soon!
Can you tell me about one of your client success stories?
My best results were with an old friend of mine, who was going pretty well in his relationship
coaching business, but was spending lots of time sifting through and cold calling LOTS of low quality
leads. Over a couple of months of working together, with his patience and trust in the process, I was
able to leave him with a 1-2 prospects booking themselves into his calendar every day and he had
his biggest cash-received months ever, without having to spend his evenings pounding the phones.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Motive Coworking?
Aside from the obvious peace and quiet away from the twins? (I even feel guilty typing that, but it
really helps to get a solid 6 hours of no-distraction work, so I can get back and really be present with
the family when I’m home). But also, it’s gotta be the lads, J-Bone and Daddy Pez. You guys are
never too busy to come and say hello, always so enthusiastic and ready to help out. Love you lads!
What does life look like outside your business profile? What do you like doing for fun?
At the moment, it involved being up every 2 hours to change nappies and bottle feed, but I am a
huge fan of getting outdoors, staying fit and hopping in the ocean pool whenever I get the chance. I
also am at my most relaxed when I can crack a beer and cook a nice meal for family and friends.
Is there anything you would like to share? Or anything you’d like to offer help with?
I reckon I’d like to help out with a Motive BBQ day when summer hits, to meet some more of the
family! I’m pretty handy with a pair of tongs and it’s just close enough to my house for me to get a
bit sauced up and walk home afterwards.
Bonus Question: If you were a sandwich, what sort of sandwich would you be?
I’d be a Two Hungry Bears double beef ’n’ bacon with extra jalapeños. Just a little bit too much, but
pretty great to spend 7 minutes with.