Meet Rose Tring | Owner of AZ Media Maven, and Find it in Laveen

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rose Tring and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rose, every day, we know how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In 2008, the Arizona housing marketing plummeted, taking down most of the rest of the economy with it. My long-time career as a journalist, including nearly a decade at The Arizona Republic, came to an end with massive layoffs in the local media market. With an upside-down mortgage, leaving to work elsewhere in journalism wasn’t a viable option and we had two young children. For the next few years, I used my master’s degree in psychology to work in behavioral health and early child intervention while I regrouped from losing a career that I had chosen at age 8.

My identity was tied up in being a journalist. It was not an easy period in my life. I spent a lot of time on social media commiserating with friends who also were losing their jobs in print journalism. I was on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, almost from their inceptions. In February 2012, a close friend came over and talked about how she was managing social media as a freelancer. I listened, saw what she was doing, and realized my core skills of communication, writing, and grammar would translate easily into this world. I launched AZ Media Maven that same weekend and rounded up a couple of friends who needed someone to manage their Facebook business pages. Now 11 years later, AZ Media Maven provides social media management and marketing, public relations, editing, writing, blogging, SEO, and website development to small business owners both locally and around the country.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

AZ Media Maven is a boutique public relations and social media company in Laveen, AZ. My goal in establishing the company in 2012 was to provide affordable PR and marketing for mom-and-pop businesses. Because I am a small business owner myself, I understand and empathize with all that goes into keeping a business profitable and operating.

One in five small businesses fail in their first year of operation. That number rises to 30 percent failing in the first two years, and by five years, 50 percent have closed their doors. Those numbers are reflected in my secondary business, Find it in Laveen. I operate it under the AZ Media Maven banner. It’s a local website devoted to supporting small business owners in Laveen, Arizona, where I have lived since 2005. Hundreds of businesses sign up for the free online directory, and then they just disappear in a year or so.

After more than a decade, I can almost predict which will succeed and which will struggle. No matter how brilliant the product is or how great your customer service is, a small business won’t succeed if no one knows about you. It comes down to knowing your market, knowing your target customer or client, and making sure you’re getting your brand in front of the right people to get those quality customers.

That’s where companies like AZ Media Maven can have the biggest impact – helping business owners get the word out about what they offer and why it’s special. My biggest challenge over the years has been persuading business owners of the value and necessity of having a strong plan for getting their companies noticed. I use data-driven strategies that show the difference effective public relations and marketing can have, even for small businesses.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

When friends and family come to Arizona for an extended stay, we try to organize a trip that encompasses a visit to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Painted Desert, Flagstaff, Sunset Crater, and the Anasazi Ruins. While here in town, we incorporate a Cactus League game during spring training or a Diamondbacks game if it’s MLB season.

Our favorite activities, though, are hiking in the numerous places of beauty throughout Arizona, and right here in our backyard. We live in the shadow of South Mountain Preserve in Laveen, just minutes away from multiple local trails. Our family’s Thanksgiving Day tradition is a morning hike before stuffing ourselves with turkey dinner. We encourage our visitors to spend time admiring the breath-taking beauty all around us here in Arizona.

If they insist on shopping and dining, we recommend Old Town Scottsdale and Westgate, and for tourist attractions our very favorite is the Musical Instrument Museum. MIM is excellent no matter the age.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

My shoutout goes to my husband, Andy, who was willing to shoulder our family’s financial responsibilities so I could develop and grow the business. He’s always been 100 percent supportive of my career, first when I was a journalist and worked crazy hours and had to rush at the drop of the hat to cover a news story, and then as I spent hours creating the AZ Media Maven brand and recruiting clients.

I also want to thank Lisa P., John C. and Miguel C. for taking a chance on me when I first started out and becoming my first clients. They shared vital information about running a small business, as well, that helped me get established.

Lastly, I want to thank all my clients over the years for their faith and trust in me to tell their company’s story, whether in the media or online. None of it could happen without my team at AZ Media Maven. It started with Nicole M. five years ago when she became my first team member. I now have a group of a half dozen amazing writers, graphic designers and content creators who support my mission to help small business owners tell their stories.

Website: www.azmediamaven.com and www.finditinlaveen.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azmediamaven/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/az-media-maven-llc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AZMediaMaven

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AZMediaMavenLLC/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/az-media-maven-laveen-village

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Ds5xO2KIb9on75HupphSA

Other: Find it in Laveen handles: https://www.instagram.com/finditinlaveen/ https://www.facebook.com/finditinlaveen/ https://twitter.com/finditinlaveen

Image Credits
All photos are by AZ Media Maven