Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing solutions but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katie Scalf, Founder of Apostrophe Communications, LLC, located in Greencastle, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We offer marketing services to Christian small-business owners who want to form real connections with their clients and increase sales in an ethical way. Using social media, web design, SEO, brand photography, print ads, and other methods, I help owners market their businesses without gimmicks!
Tell us about yourself
After finishing my master's degree in Communication Studies, I wanted a job that was flexible, creative, and people-focused. My love for writing and design led me to start my own marketing company, which worked out perfectly since my adorable small town is brimming with kind and driven business owners I've really enjoyed meeting and serving.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Launching a business in 2020 (during COVID) that is still open and profitable over two years later!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Doing everything yourself until you can afford to outsource it—all the administrative-type stuff that isn't fun, exciting, or billable. It takes discipline to set aside time, sit down, and do things like to reconcile your business bank account, calculate your hours, mail client cards, etc., but those things keep your business running and give you the opportunity to do the fun stuff!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Track all your time. It seems minor and mundane, but tracking all the time you spend on your business will help you calculate how much to charge for your products or services, which ones are making money or losing money, and whether your business is viable as more than just a hobby. Start tracking early to give yourself the most data.
- Network like crazy. As long as you're not slimy about it, friends, family, and industry contacts are usually happy to hear from you and connect you with potential clients.
- Set boundaries. It's easy to let your business bleed into your personal life and consume everything you do. Give yourself set work hours if possible, or at least specific hours off to disconnect from your planning, researching, and messaging. It will pay off by protecting your sanity and preventing burnout!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://apostrophepa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apostrophepa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostrophe_pa/
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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