What was she thinking?
Since launching my Virtual Marketing business, I’ve been asked a lot about how I got to the point to have the courage to do it. To be honest it’s not super courageous to go to Kmart and buy some stationery and other random stuff, set up a desk at home, purchase a website subscription, and a logo, get a second hand laptop from RemarkIT and a next to useless brand new bright red chair from Warehouse Stationery.
Yes they're the future of NZ right there - chins and all:)
Then What Made You Do It?
I started to really consider my life in 10 years when my daughters have grown up and don’t have time for me. I was finding the juggle of working 4 days a week and being a part of their lives brought with it too many compromises.
I had also built up the right amount of digital marketing skills and contacts so was pretty ready to give it a try.
I’m now focused on building a lifestyle for my family, and giving my clients the best of me professionally because I have the balance in my life to thrive.
When the word courage has come up I feel a bit icky, because it wasn’t courage that made me go out into the virtual world of marketing. It was necessity. I needed more growth and scope from the work I was doing, and I wanted to spend time enjoying seeing my girls grow up.
I had a firm belief that this was possible in today's working age - and have discovered it is. Phew:)
I have about 20 years of working my way up/sideways/through media and marketing roles behind me. Having firmly established that money doesn't really grow on trees, my lucky husband Aaron, who is my main supporter, will ensure the bills will be paid if I don't make ends meet. So I have the benefit of it not all being on my shoulders. I'm pretty sure my two daughters really like having me around more - I’m still at the ‘cool Mum’ stage which won’t last forever (although my mother would beg to differ I'm sure).
100% of my clients have families and have no queries at all about working in this style and having me as their Virtual CMO which is fantastic.
Top knots and multiple screens make me look really clever don't you think?
How did I get started?
I was extremely lucky to have a friend, Casey Taylor owner of the Click Collective, who introduced me to my first 2 clients. I had been planning to work for myself for about 6 months and it was by no way shape or form a rash decision. I like a plan and feel displaced without one. It was great timing to catch up with Casey for a coffee one day to discover we were both making a big transition professionally - I am so grateful for Casey’s encouragement!
Who else was supportive?
My family, goes without saying I’m lucky enough to have a great family who help me out all the time, and did before I went into business for myself. I also have a wonderful group of professional and personal friends who always encourage me to do what feels right - as do I them. Some go as far as telling me I’m awesome, even when I’m singing Dancing Queen dancing like I’m 21 again. Those are the friends to surround yourself with when you make changes in your life - you know the ones.
How did I approach it?
I made a planned and open exit from Trade Me. I worked towards my leaving date from my Marketing role there ensuring I had delivered all of the requirements to ensure they were in safe hands once I'd left. I was reporting to no 'BS' and hilarious Jaime Monaghan (who to this day I can’t pronounce her last name) so I just call her Jaime M or my BFF, who provided encouragement and support each step of the way.
For those who have known me for one minute or more, you’ll know I’m transparent. There was no way it was going to come as a surprise to my amazing former employer Trade Me. In fact they’ve kindly contracted me back for a Trade Me Jobs project for a bit - love those guys!
And it began
With my end date looming, I developed a website and brand. I’ve kept both extremely simple, I’m very much an ‘is what is is’ marketer and don’t believe in adding extra information where it’s not required. It’s a cost effective and super easy to use template site, why not!
What now?
The rest is history. I have been very lucky to work with some seriously open minded, fun and driven business owners, shareholders and entrepreneurs already. They all know digital marketing and platforms have a place in their business. I wouldn’t work any other way for now. It's cemented my view that for any senior digital marketer, it’s really important to be sitting at the decision making table, or within ear shot, to learn as much as you can. I also know businesses need this too.
My week is a mix of spending time onsite with clients (depending on their needs), and working from home or cafes. I also spend time at my daughters dance competitions, practices, cross countries, helping on the school fundraising committee (feel free to donate to our school btw) and reconnecting with friends I'd lost touch with.
Who are you working with?
Over the next few months I’ll introduce you to my awesome clients, when the time is right for them and we’re launching their new products and initiatives. We’re working on a lot at the moment, and it’s all new, rapidly evolving and innovative. Heck I'll even throw the term 'disruptive' in there for good measure. Love it!
Your team is growing - bit flash isn't it?
Thank goodness for that! I now have Martina and Liam working with me with our clients, and it’s so nice to have them on board. I also have a crew of really cool Marketers who work within the businesses I work with who bring such colour and creativity to our projects.
Let me know if you have any skills you fancy 'virtualising' (is that actually a word?) as who knows, we might just end up working together some day soon:)