During his decade-long tenure with an advertising agency, Max DiNatale recognized an emerging trend—and an opportunity. Though this firm offered both traditional and digital media buying services, an increasing number of clients wanted to bolster their online presence.

Beginning with family and friends, Max slowly began building a clientele on the side. He eventually won so many accounts that he started his own company, Max DiNatale Digital Marketing, in 2017. Max enjoys serving as creative director for local brands who need his expertise in social media management, digital advertising and content creation to extend their reach.

Since founding his company, Max and his team have experienced exponential growth across the Southeast, largely thanks to Facebook and Instagram. They use the platforms almost exclusively to market local businesses in retail, food and beverage, hospitality and more. Max said that Instagram is particularly influential in driving brand awareness and increasing clicks on product images that convert to sales.

“Facebook and Instagram are the primary social channels I use for my clients’ organic content, and paid ad campaigns also play a huge role in client satisfaction,” Max said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be in business without Meta apps—I owe most of my revenue to these platforms.”