Y4 Marketing

This weeks Featured Friday winner is Y4 Motorsports Marketing.I had an interview with the owner Jeremy Dickman. A little bit about Jeremy is friends call him Jake, hes 39 years old and from Mt. Pleasant, he has a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University in 1999. Mr. Dickman has a huge passion for dirt track racing, which he received from his late grandfather Carl McCrumb, who raced the # Y4 at Mt. Pleasant Speedway in 1950s-1960s. He has been attending races at Mt. Pleasant since he was 8-years-old and after college he started the first website for Mt. Pleasant Speedway and has expanded his role to doing press releases and other media relations for the track. Jeremy currently works full-time as the News Editor at the Morning Sun newspaper in Mt. Pleasant, where he has been for 9 years. I decided to ask Jeremy 10 questions about his business.

1.) What is your company and what does the company do?

My company is called “Y4 Motorsports Marketing.” The objective of the business is to market the racecar drivers around the state in any way possible from creation of driver resumes, websites, sponsorship opportunities, whatever the driver wants.

2.) When did you start the business?

January 2012

3.) What made you go into business for yourself?

I felt there was a need for this type of business and I wanted to use the journalistic skills I have developed over the years to help our local racecar drivers get more publicity.

4.) What type of work do you do and when and how did you become interested in the this type of work?

I offer several options for my clients including driver resumes, monthly or weekly press releases sent to local media, sponsors, friends and family, driver/team websites with a partnership through Imagine Design Now, driver, team and family photographs through partnership with Debbie A. Dickman Photography.

A big thanks to my assistant Chris Ryan for all his hard work and support. Chris and his wife Jessica and their 3 daughters are big racing fans and Chris is making his debut this season in the No. 27R Modified Mini Stock at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway.

5.) What do you find most enjoyable about your type of work?

Helping drivers succeed.

6.) Who are some of the clients you have done work for?

Current Y4 MM clients include drivers Andy Galgoci, Alvie Haynes, Richie Haynes, Dale Kaake Jr., and Eric Watz.

7.) As a owner of a business, how do you promote your business?

Facebook, word of mouth, our website at www.y4marketing.com, and flyers at a variety of events.

8.) What is the next step you would like to take with your business?

As a new business my goal is to get a firm client base and steadily increase that size, eventually making Y4 MM the leader in racing communications.

9.) How long does it take you to do a press release, take us through the steps involved?

A standard 1-2 page press release would take on average 1-2 hours from start to finish. I would begin by getting information on where the driver raced over that month, how many races competed in, victories, best finishes, etc and include where the driver is expected to be at the following month.

10.) Are there any specials people can get with your company? If so, what are they?

Yes Y4 Motorsports Marketing is offering clients who sign up with us by April 30 a $50 discount if they choose our package that includes a website. This special would be as follows:

• One-time fee of $150 (if signed by April 30, otherwise $200); Plus website maintenance fee of $40 per month if Y4 MM updates site or $30 per month if driver updates site. Plus a monthly fee of $25 to receive Y4 services of the press releases and resume for total of $65/month for 12 months or $55 if driver does own website updating. As long as driver’s account stays in good standing they are eligible to receive sponsorships from Y4′s business clients.

Jeremy can be contacted by email at jdickman@y4marketing.com, through the Y4 Motorsports Marketing Facebook page or by phone at 989-330-3170.