Inspiring Conversations with Evan Dechtman of HEARD Digital Marketing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Dechtman.

Hi Evan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I didn’t begin in marketing, I began in music.

At 23, I took a leap and renovated the old Bluebord Theater in Denver with a partner. Our dream was to bring live music and film back to our community. We had the talent, the space, and the passion. But night after night, the seats stayed empty.

That’s when I had my first real business lesson:
It doesn’t matter how great your product or service is, if no one knows you exist, it doesn’t matter.

So I did what I had to do. I taught myself how to build a website, learned early SEO before it was mainstream, and figured out how to get the word out online. That experience didn’t just fill the theater. It lit a fire in me.

As I started a family, I realized I wanted to create a different kind of business, one that gave me freedom and flexibility, but still allowed me to help others get found and grow. That’s what led me to start HEARD Digital Marketing.

Today, I help service-based businesses, restaurants, barbershops, real estate pros, and more, build sustainable growth through local SEO, review systems, lead generation, and smart automation. My team and I don’t just make people look good online we help them show up, get booked, and grow without burning money on ads.

Looking back, that empty theater was the best thing that ever happened to me. It taught me how to be seen and now I help others do the same.

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?
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

Definitely not a smooth road and honestly, I wouldn’t trust anyone who says it has been.

When I started out, I was a creative. I knew how to build, perform, and serve, but I didn’t know how to sell. I had to learn everything the hard way: how to get visible, how to market ethically, and how to turn interest into revenue.

The early days of digital marketing were wild. There were no real guides, and I made a ton of mistakes, spending money on the wrong tools, chasing the wrong metrics, and undercharging for the value I brought.

One of the hardest transitions was stepping away from the theater business. I loved it, but it was late nights, unpredictable revenue, and not sustainable for the kind of life I wanted to build with my family. That pivot—into web design and then full-scale digital strategy, wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

Even now, the struggle is in balancing rapid change with real client needs. AI, SEO, automation, it all moves fast. But small business owners don’t need more noise. They need clarity and consistency. So my challenge is always to stay ahead without leaving my clients behind.

At the end of the day, the bumps in the road are where I learned the most. And that’s the perspective I bring to every client: I’ve been in your shoes, and I’ve built the systems to help them move forward.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
HEARD Digital Marketing helps small, service-based businesses get found online, generate leads, and grow using sustainable digital strategies. Our focus is on organic visibility, not just paid advertising.

We specialize in local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, automated review systems, and lead generation strategies that are built for real-world businesses. Our goal is to make marketing simple, effective, and results-driven.

Our clients include barbershops, restaurants, real estate professionals, wellness providers, and other local businesses that are amazing at what they do but often feel overlooked online. We help them show up in the right places, earn trust, and turn visibility into growth.

What sets you apart from others?

Most marketing agencies focus on running ads or delivering flashy results that don’t last. We focus on building strong systems that help businesses show up consistently and convert that attention into booked jobs or new customers.

What makes us different is our commitment to relationships. We genuinely care. We stay involved. We don’t disappear after launching a campaign. Many of our clients have worked with us for years because they trust us to guide their growth.

What are you most proud of, brand-wise?

I’m proud that we live up to our name. HEARD is more than a brand, it’s a promise. Our clients come to us because they feel like they’re doing everything right but still aren’t getting noticed. We help them finally get seen, trusted, and chosen.

I’m also proud that we built a business that supports both personal and professional goals. HEARD was created with the intention to grow something meaningful while still having time for family and life outside of work. That same intention is reflected in how we serve our clients.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, or services?

If you run a service-based business and your online presence isn’t helping you grow—or worse, is holding you back—we can help. We offer free strategy sessions, simple visibility audits, and step-by-step solutions to help you increase reviews, improve search rankings, and convert more leads.

We don’t use buzzwords. We don’t lock you into confusing retainers. We build real systems that create real results.

Your business deserves to be seen. And we’re here to make sure it is HEARD.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes. If you’re a small business owner, I just want you to know this: you’re not invisible. You might feel like you’re doing all the right things and still not seeing results, but that doesn’t mean your work isn’t valuable. It means your visibility system needs support.

You don’t need to chase every trend, burn cash on ads, or become a full-time marketer to grow. You just need a clear path, the right tools, and someone in your corner who gets it.

That’s why I do what I do. I’ve been in your shoes, and I’ve built a business that exists to help people like you get found, get trusted, and get booked.

If you’re ready to be seen, I’d love to connect.

Let’s make sure your business gets HEARD.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heardmarketing.io
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedbackheard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dechtman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heardmarketing/

Image Credits
Anthony Camera