Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Bast.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Miami, which is loud, fast, diverse, and competitive by nature. You learn quickly how to read people, how to move, and how to hustle. That environment shaped me long before I ever touched marketing. I was always observant, creative, and good at figuring out why something worked or didn’t.
When I started my agency 13 years ago, I wasn’t trying to build an “agency.” I was trying to solve real problems for real businesses, many of them local, many of them underdogs. I saw small business owners being sold flashy promises with zero follow-through, and I knew there had to be a better way to do this. A more honest way. A more human way.
In the early days, I said yes to everything. I underpriced myself. I took on too much. I did way more than I was paid for because I wanted my clients to win. That part of my story matters, because it’s where I learned what actually moves the needle and what just sounds good in a sales pitch.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Early on, one of my biggest struggles was not valuing my own time or expertise. I said yes to too much and charged too little. I confused being helpful with being sustainable. I thought working harder would fix everything, when really I needed better boundaries. That period taught me a lot about burnout, about resentment, and about the quiet damage “sweetheart deals” can do to a business.
Another challenge was learning how to let go. When you build something from scratch, it’s very personal. For a long time, I tried to do everything myself because it felt safer. Delegating, trusting a team, and building systems instead of relying on hustle was a major growing pain. But it was also the only way Pulley Media could scale without breaking me in the process.
There were also moments of self-doubt, especially as a woman, a mom, and a business owner in an industry that can be loud, salesy, and ego-driven. I had to learn to be confident without becoming something I’m not. I don’t sell fear. I don’t chase trends for the sake of it. Standing firm in that, especially early on, wasn’t always easy.
And then there’s the emotional side no one talks about. When clients leave. When something you poured yourself into doesn’t work. When you realize that not every client relationship is meant to last. Those moments sting, but they also refine you. They teach you discernment.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But every struggle sharpened the business. It clarified who we serve, how we work, and what we’re willing to say no to. And that’s what allowed Pulley Media to become what it is today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pulley Media is a full-service digital marketing agency, but not in the way that term is usually thrown around.
What that really means for us is that we can do everything, but we don’t believe every client should do everything. Most of our clients combine two or three services that actually make sense for where they are in their business. That might be paid ads and landing pages. It might be SEO and content. It might be social, video, and brand cleanup. The strategy always comes first.
At our core, we specialize in digital marketing. That includes Google Ads, Meta ads, SEO, WordPress websites, social media strategy, content creation, and conversion-focused design. Most recently, our work has expanded into commercials and high-quality video production, which has been a natural evolution of the storytelling and performance work we’ve been doing for years.
We’re a small, tight team of five, and that’s very intentional. It’s me, a dedicated content creator, a graphic designer, and a videographer, supported by systems and partners that allow us to scale without losing quality or communication. Clients don’t get passed around or lost in a ticketing system. They get real people who know their business.
What sets Pulley Media apart is how grounded our work is in reality. We don’t sell hype, shortcuts, or one-size-fits-all packages. We care deeply about performance, but also about longevity. Many of our clients are local businesses, medical practices, service providers, and brands who want marketing that actually drives calls, foot traffic, bookings, and revenue, not just likes or impressions.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is our reputation. We’re known for being honest, for setting clear expectations, and for doing what we say we’re going to do. We’re also known for saying no when something isn’t the right fit, even when it would be easier to say yes.
What I want readers to know is this: Pulley Media isn’t about chasing trends or flashy marketing for the sake of it. We build smart, sustainable digital ecosystems that grow with a business. We meet clients where they are, guide them where they need to go, and stay invested in their success long after the first campaign goes live.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was pretty shy. I wasn’t the loudest person in the room or the one trying to be the center of attention. I was more of an observer. I liked watching how people interacted, listening to conversations, and quietly taking everything in.
I was also very creative and deeply curious. I was almost always reading or writing, usually with my nose in a book or a notebook close by. I loved stories, words, and ideas, and I was constantly trying to understand how things worked and why people did what they did. That curiosity showed up early and never really went away.
I think being shy made me more thoughtful. It gave me space to imagine, to question, and to build an inner world before I ever tried to express it outwardly. Over time, that creativity and curiosity became confidence, but it started as a quiet kind of drive.
Looking back, it makes a lot of sense that I ended up in a field where storytelling, strategy, and understanding people are at the center of everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pulleymedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulleymedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PulleyMedia/
