Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Swearingen.
Hi Chase, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised on a wildlife refuge in the tiny community of Jewell, Oregon, a town nestled within the Coast Range of the Pacific Northwest. At least 45 minutes from anywhere, my closest neighbors were approximately 200 Roosevelt Elk.
In the summer of 2022, as restrictions from COVID-19 lockdowns were getting lifted, I was finishing up my associate’s degree at Clatsop Community College and taking part in their Clatsop WORKS internship program, where I was working with the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce as a social media and marketing assistant. It was then that I knew what I wanted to do with my career-and possibly my own business one day, digital marketing.
Fast forward to February 2025. After graduating Western Oregon University with a B.S. in Business and completing a social media manager internship with the Hydrocephalus Association, I was struggling with my job search given lack of relevant experience. Upon meeting with a career counselor, it was suggested that perhaps I freelance the services I know how to perform well: social media management and website design. This wasn’t a new idea to me, as all my life I’ve dreamed of being my own boss (my mom recalls me as a child saying that I wanted to start my own Stanley Steamer business), but I didn’t expect it to come so soon.
So I met with the local Small Business Development Center to help me work out the nitty-gritty details, decided on the business name Saddle Mountain Digital Marketing Services, registered as a Single-Member LLC, built a website, social media channels, etc.
A few months later, and after heavy social media marketing efforts, I landed my first client: a local pest control specialist who had an existing website but wanted to make it more professional-looking. I essentially kept the same material that was already there, but gave it a complete makeover. The client was very pleased and gave me a stunning review. Since then, and given this is primarily a side hustle while I have a permanent job and continue to grow my skills, I’ve completed a new website for a food truck/gift shop, and am currently working with a third, and soon possibly fourth, client.
Today, I am living in Monmouth, Oregon, working at the local WinCo while continuing to grow my business. I’m currently preparing to start up a promotional campaign within Monmouth, Independence, and other communities within the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Fortunately I had the help and support of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) from the start to guide me down the right track and away from potential hiccups. That’s not to say it’s all been smooth sailing though-I have met several challenges along the way. One of the biggest struggles, and one that I’m still facing today, is getting my business recognized and gaining qualified leads.
An easy way in this digital age to overcome this is through advertising on social media. However, since my ideal client are those who either don’t have a social media presence/website, or use them ineffectively, this approach has proven somewhat ineffective, as my leads this far have more or less been from word-of-mouth. That’s primarily why I’m rewriting my sales pitch and am going to start stepping up my networking efforts in the near future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Saddle Mountain Digital Marketing Services was formed in 2025 out of the recognition that effective digital marketing is just as important (if not more) for small-to medium-sized businesses as it is for large corporations.
Running a business takes a lot of effort, and keeping a website and social media presence up-to-date can sometimes not feel like a priority, which is where outsourcing these tasks becomes a possibility, but could also pose itself as a significant financial hurdle.
This is what sets us apart form the competition. With the same quality of service but at a lower price point, our mission is “to help small and medium-sized businesses thrive online by delivering high-quality, affordable digital solutions that build visibility, credibility, and growth.” Think of it like this: while most web developers would charge more than $2,000 for a new four-page website, we currently charge only $1,000 (hosting fees excluded).
Since the business is still young, we currently only offer two primary services: social media management, and website design (which is split into new website design, and existing website redesign and maintenance),
However, we envision expansion as our business continues to grow.
One of our biggest accomplishments came in December of last year when my first client (the pest control specialist) stopped by my house to bring me some holiday cookies, and reported that in the three months after rebuilding his website, he noticed an “average of 65% customer interaction with my website and 47% increase in call volume.” Those words meant a lot.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
For those who may be curious and not familiar with the geography of the Pacific Northwest, inspiration for our name was drawn upon from Saddle Mountain, a 3,288 saddle-shaped peak in the Oregon Coast Range, and overlooks the property where I was living when the business was formed (the photo at the end of the article was taken from my backyard).
One more thing: I like to give recognition to the Small Business Development Centers whenever possible, as they’ve been an integral part of my business’s success. So, if you’re a small business owner or looking to start one and need some assistance, whether that be advising, securing funding, marketing, or anything else, reach out to your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and they surely can help you, as they’ve helped me.
Finally, there are a few people I’d like to give a big shout out to:
-Meyer Freeman and the Clatsop Small Business Development Center
-Alec Shelby and B&S Pest Management
-Angela Fruehling and Ship Out Inc.
-Sarah Whitney and the Chemeketa Small Business Development Center
Pricing:
- Social Media Management: $350-1,175/Month
- New Website: $350-1,200/Project
- Website Maintenance: $35-50/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saddlemountaindigital.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saddlemountaindigitalmarketing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saddlemountaindigitalmarketing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saddle-mountain-digital-marketing-services
- Other: https://chaseswearingen.com/
