Remote Partner Based in San Diego, California | Tijuana, México
Mission:
Build the Foundation for a Seamless Customer Experience
Startups can be a wild ride, especially in the energy sector. Energie Fuel, aiming to make life easier for fleet owners with better fuel management, needed someone to handle both marketing and customer care. That's where I came in.
BACKGROUND
Energie Fuel kicked off in late 2017. Thanks to Chris Hammer, the CEO who knew the ins and outs of the industry and had some solid contacts, the company was off to a great start. Chris wasn't just about business; he wanted to make sure his clients felt valued, and that's where I stepped in.
I was handed the job of managing the company's online and offline communications. This meant writing blog posts, sending out newsletters, handling our social media, and even writing thank-you notes to our customers. Plus, I was the go-to person for customers who had questions about how everything worked.
THE JOURNEY WITH ENERGIE FUEL
Challenges
Honestly, the oil & gas world was new to me. I had to quickly get the hang of the industry, figure out how businesses in this field chatted with each other, identify the right places and events to get new leads, and get our online presence up to speed. And then there was the whole software thing – I had to know it inside and out to help our customers.
Solution
Apart from the daily customer support activities, I tapped into some cool digital tools to keep in touch with our clients. We got ourselves out there on Facebook and LinkedIn, kept the company blog buzzing, and sent out regular email updates.
And, a fun part of the job? Designing thank-you notes. Chris would add his personal touch to them, and we'd pop them in with the fuel cards we sent out to our customers.
Implementation
I had a game plan. I set up a calendar that mapped out when and how we'd communicate with our clients. This helped keep things organized and consistent. Plus, I pitched in by helping Chris create some snazzy materials for his sales meetings.
THE RESULTS
Everything seemed to be going well. People were reacting positively to our efforts. But, like with many startups, things took a turn. Just six months in, Energie Fuel joined forces with Lakeview Petroleum. With this big change, they didn't need our team anymore, as Lakeview had its setup.
Every stint with a startup is a learning curve. With Energie Fuel, I got to blend marketing with genuine customer interaction, laying a strong groundwork for what was a promising venture. The merger with Lakeview Petroleum just showed how much potential Energie Fuel had. However, this new alliance meant a fortified infrastructure, rendering a dedicated team superfluous.
I am pleased with the work done by Anna. In a challenging environment, with limited resources and a tight budget, she demonstrated creativity and adaptability. She helped setup our initial customer communications, structured and executed the customer journey, and devised a plan to enhance our digital presence. From email marketing and social media to our company blog, Anna’s bilingual skills and professional demeanor was appreciated by our Spanish-speaking clients."
