Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annick Bissainthe, founder and CEO of My Social Interests Digital, located in Montreal, QC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
MSI Digital is a Montreal-based SEO and marketing agency operating online from Vancouver and Seattle. Our vision is to help small startups and entrepreneurs grow their online businesses and convert their websites and visitors into clients through practical funnels without paying for ads.
Our core services include everything within Search Engine Optimization along with business growth consultancy, planning, and development of business growth strategies.
Our clients are small business owners who are struggling through their initial phase and also people who want to start their own business but don't know how to do it. We help them figure out everything from start to finish. Our core SEO services are:
- Technical SEO
- SEO audits
- On-page SEO
- Off-page SEO
- Keyword research strategy
- Content optimization
- Business growth consultancy and planning
Tell us about yourself
My name is Annick Bissainthe, and I am the founder and CEO of My Social Interests (MSI) Digital. I started My Social Interests as a blog in 2014 after my graduation. In 2016 I worked as an SEO specialist in a digital marketing agency. I have always been inspired by the power of proper strategies and how practical SEO knowledge can help people grow their small businesses even with fewer resources which also motivates me every day.
I always had a dream of being my own boss and working as an entrepreneur. When I set on the journey to being self-employed and setting up something I loved, I faced a lot of hurdles and difficulties, which also made me realize that I was not alone. A lot of people undergo the same, which got me to create programs to help people like me.
In 2021 I introduced MSI Digital as a full-stack SEO agency and also introduced several affordable and comprehensive SEO programs to help small online businesses, large enterprises, and people who want to become entrepreneurs.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, I enjoy my freedom. I can work freely and choose my working hours. This independence has brought great flexibility, which helps me decide things better and move things according to my pace. Also, I can help and support others around me. Not only can I support people, but also I can now guide them towards betterment and help them achieve what they are passionate about, which is something I love about being an entrepreneur and online business consultant.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing as a business owner can be staying up to date with industry trends. For example, with AI rapidly making its place in the market, things are changing, or rather evolving. The framework which we used five years ago is no longer operational, and the framework we are using right now could be obsolete next year. This is not just it. We even need to train our staff and familiarise them with the latest tools and environment, so they can deliver the best results to our clients and compete with the market. AI just being one thing. Every other thing in SEO is updating, like algorithms, tools, Google's policies, and more! Staying sharp is the hardest, but this is also what makes us better.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top 3 tips I can share from my experience for anyone looking to start as a business owner and not yet started:
- Start small, not big. You can grow your business later if you start. I have seen a lot of people want to start big, which stops them from starting at all. It is okay to start small and eventually grow it.
- Be patient. Do not run after short-term success, like running after paid promotion. It will give you a boost, but for the short term. I advise them to go for results that would last longer, even if the procedure takes time.
- Allow yourself to fail, but do not let it be the reason to quit. Every big business has suffered from several losses and ups and downs. The more you fail, the more you learn. And also, try to find yourself the best mentorship, so you can learn from their experience and avoid mistakes.
Thank you so much!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mysocialinterests.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysocialinterests_digital/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annick-bissainthe/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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