Samantha DeSoto and Sierra Delta Marketing

It’s not often that I can say that using the photos from someone that I’m interviewing will actually help the design of my own website. That bold color and that professional contemporary style permeate everything from Sierra Digital Marketing. If you are in need of someone who can give your online marketing a lift, you need to read what Samantha shares below… and then you should definitely reach out!

Yes, the colors are bold, but in this business it’s important to stand out (photo from the Sierra Delta Marketing website)

Samantha, can you describe what your business does?

We are a full-stack digital marketing company that works with small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits. We offer services at a much lower price point to give smaller businesses a chance to fight against big corporations and private equity.

So, where did the idea come from?

I have a decade of experience working in corporate America, helping to pad the bottom line of big corporations. I have seen firsthand how private equity is buying up all the small businesses and the ways it destroys the quality of services, hurts the employees, and undercuts other small businesses. I'm passionate about building a community where we can build one another up.

Can you describe your typical work day?

My business partner and I work out of our home office, and we have several contractors who also work remotely. We are a fully digital company, so it makes the most sense for us to remain a fully remote company. By not forcing people into an office, we can access the best talent across the nation. It goes without saying that I spend the day behind the computer screen handling client-facing communication, reporting, business development, client onboarding, project management, and even web design and campaign strategy.

What is your best-selling service?

The best-selling service is our Organic SEO package for websites. 10 years ago, you would be ahead of the game if you implemented SEO on your site, but in 2025, you are far behind if you aren't. We offer different package levels depending on your website's size and technical needs. Our pricing starts at $500 per month.

What sets you apart from other businesses?

We do not work with large companies or those that are involved with private equity. We are focused on helping companies that are family-owned, or employee-owned, or just a small collective that is trying to feed their family. When you shop at a business we work with, you are helping someone pay their bills, pay for their medication, and give back to the community. You aren't giving money so a CEO can buy a boat or invest in the stock market. We turn clients away for morals, not money! That's not something I've ever seen an agency do.

How is social media important to your business?

Social media is not important for our business. While we do run social media ads for a select few businesses, that's not our focus. Organic social media posts are always best done by the business itself, as they are in the shop or handling their product growth personally, and are able to highlight the cool things they have going on. And with the way that social media platforms have become so siloed, social ads aren't reaching the target audience in ways they were in the past.

We don't want to waste anyone's money. This is why we are focused on what performs well. We run Google SEM ads, display ads, digital billboards, and other online and offline ads that will reach a broader audience.

Navigating the Google Ad system can be complicated, but with someone who knows the ins & outs, it becomes a reality for anyone (photo by Stephen Phillips / Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash)

What are your thoughts on technology today?

Technology is always a fun conversation for me. We use so much of it in our business that I could talk about this for hours. To answer your first question, I have switched over from Apple. While they worked great for me for years, the quality is simply no longer high enough to keep up with my demands, but that's a different conversation.

I think it's more important to focus on the software I use. Since we are a full-stack agency with many channels, we have bundles of subscriptions to keep up with the workload. We build all of our websites on WordPress. Over half of the internet is built on WordPress, and there are many reasons for this. They are an open-source powerhouse that offers an endless array of plugins so you can fully customize it for your needs. Because it is so widely used, any real professional will be able to work on it, and that's incredibly important to us. I want to establish systems that can be continued, even if a client is no longer working with us.

I've seen many web developers who insist on building custom code websites that only they can work on, so that the client can never leave. Not here! We want to set you up for success, no matter how you proceed in the future. We are big on education, so if you need us to show you how to do basic maintenance on your site because you cannot afford to continue services, that's what we're going to do.

The same goes for our metrics tracking. We utilize Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google Tag Manager, and give you full ownership access so you can always see how your website is performing. We use so many different software applications, I don't want to bore you with the specifics.

Regarding all the work that the business requires, do you hire contractors, or does your family participate?

The business is run by my business partner and me. I oversee all the creative and advertising work, while he oversees the SEO and content side of the business. We do work with independent contractors, but we have full oversight on everything! We review every piece of work before it goes out to the client. At the end of the day, we are responsible for the work our business puts out, and we want to have that personal accountability.

For finding new customers, doing outreach, and marketing, how do you manage this?

We do occasionally attend a convention to reach out to business owners and managers, and we have several salespeople that send clients our way, but most of our business comes from word of mouth. We take pride in the work that we do, and it shines through to our clients. They are the ones who refer their family and friends to us, because they know that when they do, we will take care of them.

Practically speaking, how do you balance work, growth, and personal time?

That's the real question. I'll tell you it's hard, especially in our industry. With everything being digital and working from home, it's hard to pull yourself away from the computer. There is always more to do. But the number one thing I tell everyone who starts in digital marketing is, "You're not saving lives!" It's incredibly important to me that everyone involved in the business establishes working hours and boundaries.

For example, we do not use Slack or other DM software, and we don't text each other about work-related stuff. We rely on emails for communication. When you send a DM or a text, it implies you are looking for an immediate response. Nothing in digital marketing should require an immediate response. I want my people and myself to take breaks and have a fully fleshed-out daily/weekly/monthly schedule.

Yes, things come up that require shifts, but when you are constantly shifting gears, you end up spinning your wheels. We try to mitigate this as much as possible. We also found that when you allow your people time to relax, they are happier and able to be more creative. This is the backbone of a productive company.

We also encourage training opportunities and send out emails to our contractors with updates and algorithm changes as they come up. We want to make sure that everyone is always utilizing best practices when performing work for a client.

Regarding the environment, social issues, and being a partner to the community, do you have any specific things your business focuses on?

Yes, building a community is the main focus and mission statement of our company. Everything we do is rooted in this effort. One of our projects is building a directory for progressive businesses in Arizona. We want to encourage people to spend their money with companies that are helping, not hurting, the world around them.

The bold esthetic of the Sierra Delta Marketing website.

What do you see as the outlook for the future of your business?

Our industry is ever-evolving. We are seeing a rise of AI, and no matter what anyone says, we don't know what that is going to look like in 5 or 10 years. We are constantly reading articles about new AI technology, the updates they are performing, looking out for possible legal changes around AI, and talking to other experts in the industry. The benefit of being a small company is that we can shift our efforts as these changes come through. To me, the adaptability of our business is how I define its success.

Do you have a final thought for the readers?

Take time for yourself. I know in the world in which we live, it's easy to always be thinking about how to be productive. The best thing you can do for yourself and those around you is to be authentically you. We all have our own strengths and our flaws. We need to use our strengths to build each other up so that we have the energy to work on our flaws. We don't have to fit into a box just because someone says we do. The world is a better place when we show just how different we all are. Diverse people come up with diverse solutions.

You can reach Samantha and Sierra Delta Marketing through:

Email: info@sierradeltadigital.com

Website: sierradeltadigital.com

LinkedIn: /sierra-delta-marketing-llc