Hidden Gems: Meet Dana Fluegge of Noble Fox Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Fluegge

Hi Dana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up with hardworking parents who spent most of their time pushing past the struggles of owning their own business in a small town. Even though much of our family time looked like “work,” I didn’t know anything different and honestly loved my childhood. Learning the ins and outs of business second-hand through watching and working with my parents laid a foundation for my future that I never expected.

I had both a natural creative bend and a trained strategic mind on how to think like a business owner. I struggled with how to marry the two sides of who I was. I’ve had purely creative roles that made me feel like I wasn’t able to help at a larger scale, and I’ve had operational roles that quite honestly were incredibly boring.

Although I’ve done aspects of marketing within my different roles since I was 18, I didn’t fully jump into it as a career until I was 27. It started when I wanted to work remotely more often when my daughter was born. I took stock of my skills, and it was like a train hit me, “Why on earth am I not offering these skills to help small businesses?” I felt like a decade of hands-on experiences led me to that moment. That’s when I started my marketing agency, Noble Fox Media.

I still remember my first client. I built an e-commerce website, designed a brand and logo, trained the client on social media marketing, designed product labels for 15+ products, and took professional brand and product photos multiple times. It was such a life-giving experience that didn’t feel like work. So much so that when it came to sending them an invoice, I only charged $900 for everything AND I felt bad about it. I look back at that time so fondly because I was able to be creative and work with the business owner on how to strategically grow – and it was so much fun. I love seeing how far I’ve come from that.

Since then, my business has looked very different at different times. I’ve had seasons of growth and seasons where I stepped back. That’s the joy of having your own business; you can change it to fit whatever needs you have at the time. At one point, I went down to doing my business on the side while I took a Marketing Director role for a large non-profit in the Tampa Bay Area.

My husband and I wanted to be closer to family, so we moved from Florida back to our hometown in Michigan in March of 2024, and we’ve committed full-time back into our businesses. I have my marketing agency and my husband owns a tech support firm. We’re happy where this entire journey has led us.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Throughout my personal journey, I’ve faced the challenge of finding a way to contribute meaningfully to society, enjoy my work, and earn a living. It took me a decade to become confident in who I was and to develop skills in both creative and business fields. I’ve explored various industries in search of the right fit, but none brought me lasting happiness.

At times, I regret not choosing a career in marketing earlier, thinking it could have spared me confusion and pain in my early 20s. However, I now believe that everything unfolds for a reason. Had I not gone through those experiences, I wouldn’t have developed the character needed to effectively serve clients. Now at 31, I’m content with how my journey has unfolded this far and I am excited for what’s to come.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Noble Fox Media is a marketing agency that partners with small businesses and nonprofits to assist them in building credibility, community, and revenue. We are a full-service marketing agency, which means we manage all print, digital, and community-based marketing strategies under one team. We can act as your entire marketing team or work with your current marketing team to provide guidance, support, and relief.

Coming from a family of small business owners, I have a passion for witnessing every business grow and succeed. We are honest about identifying obstacles that hold our clients back because we are dedicated to providing genuine help. I am particularly proud of the personal approach we build with our clients. I understand that it may sound cliché, but I cherish the small-town feel of my hometown and strive to bring that into Noble Fox Media.

We provide both ongoing services and one-time projects, tailored to meet our clients’ needs at any scale.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When it comes to networking, my advice is to attend as many community events as possible. Word of mouth is still the best way to get clients. For example, a few months ago, my husband and I went to a local charity event and made a point to sit by people we didn’t know. We started to get to know the couple across the table, and those conversations led to us bringing on two new clients. This has happened more times than I can count. Get out of your comfort zone and go to a few more local events than usual; you won’t regret it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://noblefoxmedia.com