Where some workplaces might have a brainstorm to come up with new business ideas or creative solutions, the team at 97 Display has a hurricane. Affectionately nicknamed a ‘Houston Hurricane,’ this frequent occurrence happens when 97 Display CEO Houston Goodwin enthusiastically brings fresh ideas to the table for how he and his team can help their business owner clients succeed.
The direct result of a passion he can hardly contain, Houston’s hurricane comes from his driving focus to make the world a better place through business. Rooted in his Christian faith, Goodwin leads with humility, believing that every single person has value. It’s what led him to develop a hard working, people-first business approach which has guided 97 Display to become the top internet marketing and lead-generation company for the martial arts and fitness industries.
“Every martial arts school and fitness studio begins with a business owner’s passion. That deserves to be shared, but unfortunately the smaller guys get drowned out by the big box gyms,” he said of the clientele he and his team diligently serve. “I want to help them get their names out there. If you have a fitness business, I can promise that people are looking for you, and we will help them find you.”
Stepping Into Their Shoes
While 97 Display continues to expand its reach globally and evolve its array of lead-generation and conversion tools, the company began with a much more singular focus on the martial arts industry alone. With no prior knowledge of the industry, Goodwin purchased his own martial arts studio in order to step into the shoes of his clients. He credits his three-year stint owning the business as an invaluable experience that helped him understand the many challenges his clients face.
“The type of business owners we work with help change lives, teach discipline, and impact their community,” he explained. “I want to help lift some of the burden that comes with running a business and getting people in their doors so they can focus on doing what they love.”
It is that burden that 97 Display is uniquely designed to take on with its industry-leading website platform, which builds upon years of data to optimize websites so they rank high with search engines.
Through this platform the company has helped thousands of fitness and martial arts businesses get more leads and convert them into loyal customers. Under Goodwin’s steadfast vision of assisting others, 97 Display continues to innovate new ways to solve the issues facing their clients, partnering with them on solutions that help them thrive.
Working for a Life
Goodwin’s passion for seeing clients succeed is matched only by his motivation to take care of his employees. He wants to ensure the team members of 97 Display find fulfillment in what they do, while also making a good living for their families and having fun along the way.
“If you aren’t getting paid enough, or you aren’t getting the enjoyment that comes from feeling like your job is worthwhile, you can’t be the great mother, daughter, father, son, wife, or husband that you ought to be,” he says about the company’s employee-focused environment. “We work for a life, we don’t live to work.”
This mindset led the company to raise starting salaries by 50 percent across the board during the Covid pandemic, despite the uncertainty of the global climate. They have also focused on creating community-building initiatives for employees like free Wednesday lunches, and have even aided some employees in paying off student debt.
Goodwin believes these initiatives result in a shared passion for the work he and his team do together, creating an exceptional client experience. For a vision cast in a Hurricane, 97 Display seems to be leaving a track record of growth and success for Goodwin’s employees and clients in its wake.
About 97 Display
97 Display, led by CEO Houston Goodwin, connects local businesses with their communities through their proprietary lead-generating website platform and suite of tools and resources for lead conversion. Having worked primarily in the martial arts and fitness industries for its entire 12-year history, the company’s exponential knowledge for generating growth has helped thousands of businesses own the space in their local markets. For more information, please visit https://www.97display.com/
