NEX Marketing Inc.
Young Entrepreneur Elevates Marketing Strategies into Digital Arena
Joshua Avila is bringing big brand content creation and strategy to Chicagoland small businesses through NEX Marketing, a full-service marketing agency.
“We specialize in social media management, professional photo and video production, paid advertising, website development, and lead generation,” Joshua said. “Our main focus is helping businesses grow their online presence, attract new customers, and ultimately increase revenue.”
In 2023, Joshua launched NEX at the age of 19 after being exposed to the outdated marketing content and techniques he saw small businesses utilizing while working in car sales.
“My journey into business ownership started with an interest in social media, content creation, and entrepreneurship. I saw how much opportunity businesses were missing by not taking advantage of digital marketing, so I decided to build something that could help bridge that gap,” he said. “What started small eventually grew into NEX Marketing, where I’ve been able to build a team, work with businesses across different industries, and continue expanding our services.”
Today, Nex works with 45 small businesses in the Region, from restaurants to car dealerships, offering social media management, video content production, paid advertising management, website development and deliverables, such as menus, flyers and pitch decks. There are four full-time employees and four contracted team members.
“What I enjoy most is seeing the actual impact our work has on the businesses we partner with. Whether it’s helping a dealership sell more vehicles, bringing new customers into a restaurant, or helping a small business grow its brand, it’s rewarding knowing we’re making a difference,” Joshua said. “I also love the creative side of marketing, building relationships with other business owners, and having the opportunity to lead a team. Every day is different, and there’s always something new to learn or improve on.”
Joshua and his team first focus on targeted digital ads and short-form videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels and beyond as a way to launch client campaigns with script writing, shooting and edits all done in-house.
“In the future, I want to keep scaling Nex. That means bringing on more clients, getting the team into a real office in Northwest Indiana, and building systems so the business can grow without everything depending on me,” he said. “I also want to add new services that bring clients more ROI and keep expanding my other businesses alongside the agency.”
Joshua said young entrepreneurs need to understand the sales side of any business.
“Learn to sell, because every business comes down to sales, whether you’re selling a product, an idea, or yourself. Start before you feel ready. I started at 19 without having it all figured out,” he said. “Focus on getting results for people and your reputation will do the marketing for you. Surround yourself with a team that’s better than you at the things you’re weak in.
“And stay consistent. Most people quit right before it starts working.”