Featured in Blacksburg Living Magazine: Swift Sites’ Journey

Swift Sites:

Jared Swift is Defining His Own Path

By Holly McFall

At just 18 years old, Jared Swift has already built the kind of momentum most people spend their twenties chasing. The founder of Swift-Sites.com, a growing web design and digital marketing company, Jared combines the confidence of a seasoned professional with the energy and curiosity of youth. While most of his peers are still navigating college classes and dorm life, Jared is out in the workforce—building websites, managing Google Business Profiles, and helping small businesses grow their online presence.

Starting Young

Jared’s story began long before graduation. He finished high school early—at just 16—and launched his business during his junior year, when he was only 15. “I couldn’t drive yet,” he laughs, “but I knew I wanted to start something of my own.” While other teens were scrolling social media, Jared was searching YouTube for tutorials on web design. That curiosity led him to purchase an online course about digital marketing—an investment that became the foundation for Swift-Sites.com. That first course he bought with money he saved up from working with his father during the summer and a pressure washing business with a friend who could drive. He bought the course in April 2023 and by June he had his first client. By October he used his profit to invest in a course on outsourcing and selling, and continued to run his business loan-free. His first client, Ramiro from Fresh Start Painting Professionals, became both a project and a lesson. “It taught me how important it is to listen, to really understand what a small business needs.” Now, Jared’s roster includes clients from across Virginia and throughout the country.

Helping Small Businesses

Through the first course, he learned not just how to build beautiful, functional websites, but also how to help businesses show up online. Today, he offers website design, SEO (search engine optimization), Google Ads, and Google Business Profile management, working primarily with small businesses, realtors, service-based companies, and non-profits. His mission is simple: “Get my clients more clients.”

Born Into Business

Entrepreneurship runs deep in the Swift family. Jared’s father runs his own business, his older brother launched a lawn care company at 13 that now maintains 70 yards a week, and his younger sister manages social media for local companies. “The joke in our family,” Jared says, “is that when we’re together, all we talk about is business.” His mom, Amanda, recently started her own small venture—buying a local food truck, Spoons Shaved Ice. There are plenty of small business mentors around their dinner table and family dinners happen at least three times a week, something his mom insists on.

Hard Work and High Standards

Jared’s philosophy is straightforward: If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it right. It’s a mindset he credits to his grandfather, who instilled in him the value of doing every job with care and integrity. He’s carried that lesson into business, approaching each project with high standards, structure, and discipline. He credits that discipline to his parents as well, who taught him early that discipline is a choice. “I force myself to stay disciplined and not get comfortable,” he says. Being young in business comes with challenges. Convincing a business owner to let a teenager manage their online presence isn’t always easy. “Sometimes people hesitate,” Jared admits. “But once they meet me face-to-face, they understand I’m serious about what I do.”

He believes his age can also be an advantage. He grew up online. Jared understands how digital spaces work, how people search, how they engage. His approach is personal—he meets clients in person whenever possible. “That’s one of the biggest differences with Swift Sites. You’re working directly with me. My team and I manage the optimization and day-to-day online presence, while I oversee every project and handle client communication personally.”

A Relentless Learner

Jared’s curiosity has always been the key to his success. Before finding his niche, he experimented with dropshipping, selling shoes, and even reselling books on Amazon. Each venture taught him something new about business, risk, and persistence. By the time he found digital marketing, he already had the mindset of a serial entrepreneur.

Now, he’s exploring how AI will integrate into marketing and web design—a field he’s excited to grow alongside.

More Than Business

Despite his fast-paced schedule, Jared still makes time to enjoy life—and to invest in things that matter beyond business. A former athlete, he played basketball, baseball, track, and wrestled in high school and remains active today, playing pickleball, racquetball, and spikeball whenever he can. Beyond sports, he also manages his own investments, including both traditional and cryptocurrency portfolios—another reflection of his forward-thinking mindset and long-term vision.



He’s also passionate about snowboarding, often heading to Snowshoe, Winter Place, or even out west for bigger runs. During warmer months, you’ll find him biking around Pandapas Pond or out on the lake wakeboarding and boating. His favorite vacations take him to Florida or the Outer Banks, where he can kiteboard and unwind with family.

A regular at North Star Church, Jared stays grounded in his faith and community. This past summer, he spent two weeks on a mission trip to Africa—a life-changing experience that reminded him to keep service and purpose at the center of his priorities.

Looking Ahead

For Jared, the next step is growth. He hopes to expand Swift Sites beyond the New River Valley and Virginia, hiring a full-time salesperson and continuing to reach clients nationwide. “I love helping local businesses,” he says, “but there’s no reason I can’t take this further.”

For him, growth means more than just scaling revenue—it’s about staying faithful to his principles, continually learning, and using his gifts to make an impact. His reflection of faith and his discipline drive him to build something that helps others, not just himself.

Words of Advice

When asked what guidance he’d give to others thinking about starting their own venture, Jared doesn’t hesitate. “Be driven and stay disciplined,” he says. “Set goals around things you can actually achieve—not around things you can’t control. And absolutely invest in yourself.” He credits much of his confidence to the support of his parents, who have always encouraged independence. “I always talked to them about what I wanted to do,” he says. “They never pushed me one way or the other—they just supported me. They let me make my own choice, and that made all the difference.”

At 18, Jared Swift is already living proof that ambition and discipline can replace the traditional path. College wasn’t for him—but building something meaningful was. “I’ve always known I’d work for myself,” he says. “I like the challenge, the responsibility, and the freedom of it.” He’s not afraid of burnout; in fact, he sees himself exploring many entrepreneurial endeavors throughout his career.

As Swift-Sites.com continues to grow, one thing is clear: Jared’s not just designing websites—he’s designing his future.