In a world where short-form video content is booming, a young entrepreneur from southern Brazil is making a big impact. At just 18 years old, Erick Ulrich co-founded a successful video editing agency called Conect Digital. Turning his tough experiences as an underpaid employee into motivation, Erick and his partner Gustavo have built a business that now brings in an impressive $12,000 every month.
This article shares the story of Erick's journey from an underpaid employee to a thriving entrepreneur, highlighting the challenges he faced, the strategies he used, and the innovative services that make Conect stand out in the competitive video editing industry.
Erick Ulrich
The beginnings
Erick's entrepreneurial journey began in 2021 when he started working as a video editor for an agency. Despite his skills and dedication, Erick found himself in a toxic work environment. The boss made unrealistic promises to clients and exploited his employees.
Erick and his colleague Gustavo, who was the Head of Sales at the time, endured long hours and poor working conditions. However, their shared experience forged a strong bond between them.
As Erick climbed the ranks within the company, eventually becoming the Chief Operating Officer (COO), he witnessed firsthand the mistreatment of employees and the deceptive practices employed by his boss. Erick tried to improve the situation, including advocating for higher salaries, but his concerns were ignored.
The final straw came when Gustavo was abruptly fired without receiving his due compensation, leaving him in a financial bind. This unjust treatment of his colleague was the catalyst that drove Erick to take action and start his own business.
The Turning Point
Frustrated with the toxic work environment and determined to create a better future for themselves, Erick and Gustavo decided to take matters into their own hands. In December 2022, they began laying the groundwork for their own video editing agency, Conect.
Erick leveraged his mother's unused company name and domain, paying just $5 a year for the website. With a misspelled name and a cringeworthy slogan, Conect was born.
Erick and Gustavo wasted no time in reaching out to clients who had previously dropped their former boss's agency. Through cold DMs on Instagram, they managed to secure two clients and generate $500 in revenue by the end of December. This initial success fueled their determination to grow their business and provide a superior service to their clients.
Leaving the toxic work environment behind, Erick and Gustavo were now embarking on their entrepreneurial journey, driven by their shared goal of creating a better future for themselves and their clients.
Building momentum
In January 2023, Erick and Gustavo continued their aggressive outreach strategy, sending cold DMs on Instagram and investing in design and video content to establish their brand. Their efforts paid off, as they generated $2,800 in revenue that month, despite the initial costs of setting up the business.
As they refined their approach, Erick and Gustavo identified several effective marketing strategies, including cold DMs, referrals, and Google ads. These methods helped them grow their client base from zero to 20 active clients within just three months, resulting in an impressive $16,000 in revenue during that period.
Scaling up
With a solid foundation in place, Erick and Gustavo focused on scaling their operations. They increased their cold DM outreach to 500 per day, leveraging automation to streamline the process. This aggressive approach allowed them to expand their client base to 35, with half of them being active at any given time.
Erick also recognized the importance of delivering a high-quality product to their clients. He invested time and effort into developing the perfect video edits, utilizing scientific principles to maximize viewer engagement and results. This commitment to excellence set Conect apart from its competitors and helped them maintain a steady revenue stream of $10,000 to $15,000 per month.
By scaling their outreach and focusing on quality, Erick and Gustavo were able to significantly grow their client base and generate a consistent monthly revenue. Their willingness to invest in automation and the development of their craft demonstrated their dedication to the success of their business.
This scaling phase allowed Erick and Gustavo to build momentum and establish Conect as a reputable video editing agency, positioning them for further growth and diversification in the future.
Diversifying services
In addition to video editing, Erick and Gustavo introduced new services to diversify their offerings and attract a wider range of clients. They launched viral scripts, which are tested and proven templates designed to create potentially viral videos for clients at any level. This new service aimed to help content creators multiply their views, particularly on Instagram, and build their brands more effectively.
Another successful offering was AI-voice cloning, where Conect would clone the client's voice and use viral scripts to create engaging videos without requiring any additional effort from the client. This innovative service quickly gained traction, with two clients signing up for the $30 per video package, which included 30 monthly credits.
By expanding their service portfolio, Erick and Gustavo were able to cater to a broader range of clients and diversify their revenue streams. The viral scripts and AI-voice cloning services complemented their core video editing offerings, providing clients with a more comprehensive suite of solutions to amplify their digital content and marketing efforts.
This diversification strategy allowed Conect to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging trends in the video content creation and marketing industry, further solidifying their position as a leading provider of innovative digital solutions.
Overcoming challenges
Despite their impressive growth, Erick and Gustavo encountered a setback in September 2023, when their revenue dropped to $3,000. Unsure of the exact cause, Erick sought the guidance of a mentor to help them navigate this challenging period.
They focused on scaling their cold DM outreach to 500 per day and exploring other forms of advertising, such as paid ads and improved content marketing. Erick also recognized the importance of nurturing relationships with existing clients and leveraging referrals to generate new business.
By going back to old clients and focusing on delivering exceptional results, Erick aimed to weather the storm and continue growing Conect. Though faced with a temporary revenue dip, Erick and Gustavo remained determined to overcome this challenge and keep their business moving forward.
Leveraging their mentor's advice and doubling down on their marketing efforts, Erick and Gustavo were able to regain momentum and return to their previous revenue levels, demonstrating their resilience and adaptability as entrepreneurs.
The road ahead
As Erick looks to the future, he has set an ambitious goal of reaching $100,000 in monthly revenue before April 2024. While he acknowledges that this target may be unrealistic, it demonstrates his unwavering commitment to growth and success.
To achieve this goal, Erick and Gustavo are focusing on refining their services and increasing their prices as they deliver more value to their clients. By providing video scripts that generate tangible results, they aim to increase their package prices from $750 for 30 videos to $1,600 for the same number of videos. This strategy allows them to grow their revenue without necessarily increasing their workload.
Erick's journey also highlights the potential for aspiring entrepreneurs to emulate his success in the video editing industry. With the increasing demand for short-form video content, particularly among bloggers and content creators, there is a significant opportunity for those with video editing skills to start their own agencies. By leveraging affordable tools and software, such as those available on AppSumo, entrepreneurs can minimize their initial costs and focus on delivering high-quality services to their clients.
As Erick and Gustavo continue to refine their business model, expand their service offerings, and explore new avenues for growth, their story serves as an inspiration for other aspiring entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the thriving video editing industry.
Conclusion
Starting from a tough job where he was underpaid and poorly treated, Erick went on to co-found a successful video editing company. He proved that age doesn't matter when it comes to starting a business. With hard work, smart marketing, and a focus on great results, Erick and his partner Gustavo turned Conect into a company that makes $12,000 every month.
As the demand for short-form video content continues to grow, Erick's story shows that anyone can succeed in this business. By offering top-notch services, building good relationships with clients, and keeping up with trends, new entrepreneurs can create profitable video editing companies that truly help their clients.
