Online Marketing Mentor

Chuck Lasker teaches social media workshops around the island | Daniel Lane and Chuck Lasker photos

Tell us about your work and what you do. I am a certified inbound marketing consultant and educator. Inbound marketing is the opposite of traditional advertising because we attract customers instead of blasting advertisements. Inbound marketing can be an easy-to-find website, a Facebook page that attracts customers through interesting content, a well-worded Google ad that connects to good content, or even a short, entertaining video. Businesses hire me to help them create or optimize their websites and social media accounts, manage their social media campaigns, manage their online ad campaigns or train them to do it all themselves.

How did you get started in this business and how long has it been going? I was the vice president of marketing for a national health products company for 10 years. I developed the company website in 1997 and enjoyed the experience. I began doing websites and online marketing on the side, and became a full-time consultant in 2003. I started Social Kaua’i two years ago.

What is your specialty? My specialty is helping non-technical people understand the Internet. I create websites anyone can update, I train in a way anyone can understand and I filter the daily flood of articles about online marketing into just the information each client needs.

What is your educational background? I have a B.S. in electronics and computer engineering. I worked as an engineer for six years before I left to pursue marketing as a career. Having both technical and marketing experience is essential for effective online marketing.

What sets your work apart? If you’re my client, I want to help you become as self-reliant as you want to be and save you as much money as I can. Instead of making you pay me for every little update, I train you on how to manage your content and campaigns using simple, nontechnical tools, then you can decide at what level you want to use my services. Some say I’m crazy to lose work by helping clients do it themselves if they want to, but I’m much happier when clients want to hire me instead of having to hire me. I simply don’t understand companies charging a hundred bucks to change a phone number on a website.

What is your business philosophy/motto? My goal for my clients: more customers, spending more money more often. By doing this, my work is a profitable investment instead of an expense.

What is your business plan for the future? Kaua’i is not a place for plans, it’s a place to serve and accept what comes your way. So my only plans are to continue to stay on the cutting edge of marketing and to continue seeking opportunities to serve Kaua’i businesses and nonprofits.

What do you do in your spare time? My wife, Sharon, and I like to take our Shih Tzu Petey to the beach as often as possible. I volunteer with local nonprofits. I’m the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Kaua’i. I’m active in local, state and national politics. And I truly enjoy using social media, especially Facebook.

Where can people learn more? My website is socialkauai.com, my Facebook page is fb.com/SocialKauai, my email is chuck@socialkauai.com, or you can just type Chuck Lasker in Google and you’ll find me. I don’t answer the phone when I’m working online, so email works best.