Meet Dakota Kalbacher | CEO & Founder of Kota Marketing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dakota Kalbacher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dakota, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my company, Kota Marketing, while I was still in college, during my last semester at Long Island University in New York. There was no planning whatsoever. In fact, it all kind of fell into place. The pandemic hit and, for those who aren’t aware, New York was a different world during Covid, especially where I was living in the Hamptons. Businesses were shutting down left and right and I saw a need amongst local businesses- the need to modernize and have an online presence, whether that be through social media or by having an awesome website. Restaurants and boutique stores in the Hamptons needed to make a shift towards technology, and I was there to help them. Not only did we help them survive, we helped them thrive by reinventing their brands for the modern world.

What should our readers know about your business?
Kota Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency… which means we do it ALL. From social media that slays to websites that stand out with their sleek, sexy designs. We’re a one-stop marketing shop. We work with clients of all shapes and sizes, and the best part about all of us at Kota is that we all love what we do. Every staff member brings something different to the table, whether that be a knack for growing social media presences or creating kick a** graphics. Our passion and perfectionism, combined with our New York work ethic makes us unstoppable here in Miami.

The possibilities and potential for Kota Marketing here in Miami are infinite, and that’s what I’m most excited about. I see so many marketing companies here in South Florida, with no grasp on what they’re doing. Our work speaks for itself. We’re VERY good at what we do and we enjoy every minute of it. At Kota Marketing, our clients’ success is our success. We pride ourselves on our hustle and the results we bring to each client. We’re here to make scrolls stop and jaws drop, and we won’t stop until our clients are happy.

Getting Kota Marketing to where it is now wasn’t easy… at all. I had to take so many risks, including the risk of failure in Miami. Moving down here from the Hamptons was challenging, to say the least. It was like starting over from scratch. Building brand awareness took longer than I anticipated and at one point, we even had to lower all of our rates just to be able to show our Miami clients what we could do for them. I’m grateful and proud to say that, ultimately, we succeeded in making Kota Marketing the go-to marketing company in both the Hamptons AND Miami. The best part is that we’re just getting started… there’s more in the works.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Bars & Restaurants:
– Casadonna in Edgewater. I love the atmosphere, the cocktails and the food.
– Cantina Beach Restaurant at the Ritz in Key Biscayne: Three words- best. nachos. EVER!
– Versailles: My go-to for Cuban cuisine.
– Drinks at Dante’s Hi-Fi or Miami Sound Bar: both have excellent drinks and a quasi-New York feel.
– Rusty Pelican: Perfect for a Sunday Brunch.
– Seaspice Miami: a must on Sunday afternoons.

Activities:
– Time for a yacht charter! I love Boat Miami Rental’s choice of boats, especially their 52′ Catamaran. Their customer service is top-notch, it’s always a great vibe and you can book directly on their website, so it’s easy. Tell Angel that Dakota sent you. (miamioceancharter.com)
– Lucky Strike: Bowling alley and arcade that recently opened downtown.
– Let’s Fly Exhibit at the Balloon Museum. Such a cool experience.
– Peach Museum: X-rated selfie studio in Miami Beach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Kota Marketing was born because I saw a need that had to be filled; however, we wouldn’t be where we are today, in Miami, if it hadn’t been for my family. My mom, who still lives in New York, and my sister, Jade Kalbacher, who lives a few streets down from me in Miami, were my cheerleaders. They helped me keep my eyes on the prize and successfully expand Kota to Miami. My sister, Jade, inspires me on a daily basis. She’s the best real estate agent in South Florida and she works harder than anyone I’ve ever met… If it hadn’t been for the two of them, I don’t know if Kota Marketing would be where we are now. The love and emotional support from my mom and sister kept me going, especially when I decided to expand to Miami. It was really difficult to establish Kota Marketing’s presence here for the first 6 months, but they believed in my vision and success… Now, here we are.

Website: https://kotamarketing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kota.marketing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kotamarketingllc