The reading level for this article is Novice

CameronJohnson

Cameron Johnson Inc | www.cameronjohnson.com | CEO | 9/13/2002 | Small Business Owner
Cameron Johnson, 17, is the CEO and President of Cameron Johnson Inc.


Cameron Johnson##comma## 17##comma## is the CEO and President of EmazingSites.com##comma## Inc. a web development firm based in Roanoke##comma## Virginia


What kind of training or education did you acquire before your venture?
I started my first business when I was 9 years old after receiving my first computer and printer from my parents as a Christmas gift. I##aps##m now 17 years old and I##aps##ve been an advisory board member to several Fortune 500 Companies and have been featured in Newsweek##comma## BusinessWeek##comma## etc.

What services or products does your organization offer?
We##aps##re an internet incubator – we build websites##comma## market them and grow them and then ultimately sell them to larger corporations or individuals to maintain. We##aps##re located in Roanoke##comma## Virginia.

What type of business or organization do you operate?
We##aps##re an S-Class Corporation which removes a lot of the individual responsibility and allows us to have multiple shareholders.

How many employees do you currently have?
3

How did you originally discover the idea for your organization?
The business model was thought of and put into action by myself and my partner several years ago

How did you originally fund your organization?
Personal funds

Are you the founder of your organization?
Yes

Do you believe there is any distinct culture within your organization? If so, please describe it.
I wouldn##aps##t imagine so

What obstacles or challenges have you faced in your organization?
Certainly expenses! Doing business isn##aps##t cheap and increasing your business while maintaining profitablility isn##aps##t easy these days. Fortunately##comma## we##aps##ve been able to manage our funds successfully and utilize everything we##aps##ve had available to us.

Did you accept any advice along the way? Do you believe new organizations should be open to such advice?
Advice is always appreciated and it##aps##s definitely something I##aps##d recommend to seek before starting a business or if you have any doubts.

Did you receive any help along the way from other businesses or organizations? If so, how and from whom?
Not particularly

What have been the keys to success in your business? What do you believe are the keys to success?
Time##comma## Effort##comma## Money

What kind of relationship do you establish with your customers or clients?
Well we##aps##ve got insight that many companies don##aps##t have and would kill for and we think that has helped us grow our business.

What types of marketing do you employ?
Advertising our websites amongst our company##aps##s other websites and thus reducing our advertising expenses and helping everything grow together.

Do you employ any web or online marketing?
Note: Question not yet added at time of interview.

What role does trust play in business or in your organization?
Everyone makes mistakes. I##aps##m no exception but I##aps##d prefer not to provide a list of them here. 😉

Did you struggle with starting your own organization or venture? Why did you decide to begin on your own?
Note: Question not yet added at time of interview.

What books or resources would you recommend for individuals starting off now?
Any business or marketing book. Amazon.com has a great selection of them available with reader##aps##s comments.

Do you notice any trends in the marketplace? If so, what are they?
Note: Question not yet added at time of interview.

Do you believe networking and contacts are important? If so, how?
Networking helps businesses grow – I see no reason not to network with everyone possible. It##aps##s not about what you know##comma## but who you know.

What do you think about contracts and other legal obligations? Are they important in your business?
Note: Question not yet added at time of interview.

If there is one thing that would sum up your advice to new entrepreneurs, what would it be?
I don##aps##t think I can pin it down to just one thing but definitely customer satisfaction is something to always##comma## always be concerned about if you##aps##re in a product or service oriented business.

What, if any, final advice do you have for new entrepreneurs?
Take risks and remember##comma## you have to spend money to make money. That initial investment may seem like a lot but hopefully you##aps##ll be able to triple it in a minimum amount of time.


This addedinterviews article was written by Cameron Johnson on 3/9/2005