The Power of Local

Story by Cindy Reid  |  Photography by Leidy Lester

Local. Passionate. With You Every Step of the Way. This isn’t just a motto for Dr. Jan Southern and her team at J DelSUR Marketing Group—it’s the foundation of how they approach every client relationship and marketing challenge.

CEO and publisher Dr. Jan Southern started J DelSUR Marketing to help small businesses reduce wasteful spending on marketing that isn’t right for their businesses.

“There are so many people selling one or two marketing tactics without looking at their clients holistically,” she explains. “Every marketing tactic won’t work for every business. We tailor a plan for each business’s specific goals.”

The Power of Local Understanding

We’re your neighbors. We live here. We work here. We know your market. With over 30 years of marketing experience, Jan understands that choosing the right marketing partner can make all the difference. Her journey began as a graphic designer in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her passion for marketing took root.

“When the agency I worked for went into full-service marketing, I learned everything I could on my own and realized this was my passion. I eventually got my MBA and a doctorate degree while working in higher education marketing for 16 years.”

Her entrepreneurial spirit and love for publishing led her to create BocaDog Magazine, a regional magazine in Florida while pursuing her MBA. “I was told it was a ‘great idea you’ll never do,’ so I took that challenge and actually did it!” The magazine’s success, carried by major chains like Barnes & Noble and Borders, laid the groundwork for her current publishing ventures.

Empowering Women in Business

As a successful female entrepreneur, Jan is passionate about empowering other women to pursue their ambitions.

“Women often doubt their own abilities. They don’t think they should want to be successful or at the top of their game, fearing they might neglect other parts of their lives. This isn’t true,” she emphasizes. “You can have it all as long as ‘all’ doesn’t make you lose yourself in the process.”

Her advice to women in business is refreshingly straightforward: “Stay true to what you value most. For me, it’s being the best version of myself–the one that God wants me to be–and sharing what I’ve learned along the way with as many people as possible.”

Strategic Approach to Client Success

Jan’s approach starts with fundamental questions: What would a successful year look like for your business? What does your best customer look like? Through careful consultation and research, she develops marketing plans that provide her clients with a foundation for efforts that will lead to growth and success–whatever that particular client wants to achieve and, most importantly, what fits their budget.

Supporting Businesses of All Sizes

While J DelSUR Marketing Group is a full-service agency, Jan is particularly passionate about helping local businesses with small budgets.

“We can recommend everything a small or new business can do themselves, and we will steer that client to the most effective actions that bring rapid results,” she says.

Jan cautions against using unfamiliar marketing services that over-promise and under-deliver. “Clients have been burned by these situations. Business owners often come to us after they have wasted money with a faceless company in another state or country. It is really frustrating to watch”

Jan emphasizes that marketing is a core business function and shouldn’t be delegated to an intern or someone who hasn’t earned your trust.

Breaking Through the Noise

In today’s crowded social media environment, Jan emphasizes the importance of meaningful messaging. “The only way through the noise is to make a message that your potential customer will care about,” she advises. “You can spend a million dollars on advertising, but if your message doesn’t resonate with your core audience, you’ve wasted your money.” She adds, “Converting viewers into loyal customers is the ultimate goal. The rest is just noise.”

Building Success Together

The one thing that Jan is most proud of is that she is surrounded by a team of professionals who share her philosophy.

Christie Wilson, Director of Advertising, understands the challenges a small business owner may face. She brings valuable perspective as a former small business owner herself. After joining J DelSUR Marketing Group part-time in advertising sales in 2021, she quickly transitioned to full-time in 2022, earning her certification in Digital Marketing from the University of South Florida. Christie is as driven about her own success as she is about her clients’ success

“Jan has been an incredible mentor and leader not only to me but in our industry,” says Christie.

Since founding J DelSUR Marketing Group in 2019, Jan has assembled talented professionals who share her passion for client success. “The right people came along at the right time,” she reflects. “We get so excited for our clients’ success, and we love seeing their growth.”

J. DelSUR Marketing is also committed to giving back to the communities they serve. They sponsor numerous local nonprofits as well as give portions of the proceeds of their community sponsor program and Readers’ Choice Awards to local charities including Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County, as well as offer free advertising to select organizations. Jan Southern is on the board of directors of the West Chatham YMCA.

Today, when she’s not helping clients achieve their marketing goals, Jan enjoys the beautiful weather of South Georgia and being near the beach. She’s returning to her artistic roots, trying to draw every day, and finds peace relaxing with her husband on their back porch. Her philosophy remains steadfast: “I really believe if you live right and try to do your best for others, it all works out.”

Looking Forward

As J DelSUR Marketing Group continues to grow, their commitment to local businesses remains front and center. Their combination of deep local knowledge, marketing expertise, and genuine passion for client success has created a unique agency model that truly delivers on their promise: 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥. 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲.