This past weekend we rang in the anniversary of GOAT Social with a goat party! Seriously, we had four goats stop by in honor of four years in business. They were the sweetest and most friendly goats. It adds a new meaning to "goal social."
It takes four years to complete high school, and it typically takes four years to earn a Bachelor's degree. Therefore, it feels like a significant milestone for me to reach four years of business. On September 28, 2017, I filed my LLC with the state of Florida, not knowing where this would take me. I have been reflecting greatly on my journey this past month.
I began GOAT Social in 2017 with one client and had four clients within a quarter of being in business. At that moment, I felt I could continue to grow as is or further my education while working on the clients I currently have. I scaled my business at my own pace and earned my Master of Arts in Mass Communications with a focus in social media from the University of Florida.
Once I finished my degree in December 2019, I decided to ramp up business and take on more clients. I felt educated, ready, and motivated. In just a few short months, in March 2020, the world shut down. Clients that I had for years paused or canceled their contracts. As the world was trying to find a new normal in the age of COVID, many businesses realized they needed to shift to the digital world to reach their customers and stay relevant. GOAT Social was ready to meet the needs of local businesses, e-Commerce clients, and B2B brands. It's been an incredible ride ever since.
Four years in business has introduced me to so many incredible people, and I have learned a lot about myself and how to be an entrepreneur. In honor of four years, I am sharing my four tips for a young entrepreneur:
Build your network for support. This is crucial! Being a busy entrepreneur can sometimes feel lonely because many entrepreneurs work in a non-traditional office setting. Having an outside opinion and point of view is essential because it can help you see things differently. If you can find a mentor or someone you look up to that you can include in this network, it can be a game-changer.
Stick with your niche. Frequently, people will be thrilled with your work and will ask for more, and it's hard to say no when starting, but sticking to your niche will help you be successful in the long run. For example, clients have asked me to build websites in the past, and I have done it, but I do not find the same joy in web designing as I do in social media. Sticking to what you love and your strengths can get you further than distractions. There are only so many hours in a day, and you want to avoid burnout.
Make lists. Don't be a hero! You are not Wonder Woman or Superman. It's impossible to remember everything. Entrepreneurs constantly have thoughts floating in their heads. It's easy to forget a note, when a meeting is, or what you had planned for tomorrow. When you write it down, it's a sure-fire way to make sure it gets done! I love using the Notes feature on my iCloud because it syncs and updates automatically on all of my devices.
Invest in yourself. The marketing industry is constantly changing. You have to stay on top of it. Whether it be in-person or virtual, workshops, conventions, and seminars are critical. Technology moves at a quick pace, and so should you. Recently I attended Pubcon, and it was one of the best decisions I made this summer. You can read about my experience here.
No matter where this next year takes GOAT Social, I can proudly say my experience these past few years has shaped me to think and go bigger! Whether you're a client, a friend, or a supporter, we thank you for being part of GOAT's success.
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