Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jackie Murphy, founder of Queen Bee Jackie Creative, located in Columbus, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I help brands and businesses connect with their audiences and intentionally engage with their community. I provide marketing consulting and full social media strategy/management for small to medium-size companies and social media coaching for small businesses and personal brands.
I am not an agency nor wish to be one. Up until five months ago, I was the sole person creating and managing client content. It was just me. Since then, I have contracted with a social media manager who helps with some of my client's social media management. I am still creating 90-95% of my client content though. I also have a virtual assistant who helps me administratively and manages my calendar and meetings.
Tell us about yourself
I have always been creative, making cards and creating my first logo when I was a teenager. I liked making money selling my art and knew I wanted to have my own business one day. I also liked helping others and volunteering in my free time. Early in my career, I worked in the nonprofit world, wearing many hats as a graphic designer, volunteer coordinator, and events manager.
After I became a mom, I started The Queen Bee Paper Company, a personalized paper goods company. The company took off, and it quickly got to a point where I knew I couldn't run it out of my home anymore. I learned quickly that getting help from others is what makes things work. I hired other stay-at-home moms who could help sell, package, and run the business. During this time, I found myself starting to help other entrepreneurs start their businesses and design the assets needed for their social media.
I closed the doors on my paper company after 12 years. It wasn't a big leap to see that my knowledge of social media, event planning, and graphic design, pulled together with my decades of experience as an entrepreneur and creative, could really help businesses.
I started freelancing in social media management and graphic design and worked locally via word-of-mouth. It gradually evolved into my business today. I work with some clients on a retainer for full-service marketing where I AM their marketing department. With some clients, I am their social media strategist and manager. And then, I have my coaching clients, teaching and empowering them to manage their own marketing effectively themselves.
It motivates me to see that I make a difference in a business. I invest myself with each client as their partner to help their business grow. I am considered part of the team and not just a vendor. A win for them is a win for me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
This is hard. I cannot say I have won awards or been recognized publicly for doing what I do. I am very proud of the fact that with my business, who I work with, and the services I provide are because of ME. I have thirteen retainer clients, with my oldest engagement at six years old, most being 2+ years, and my newest clients four months old. I form a relationship with all my clients that becomes a friendship of different levels. Some may say this is not a good thing, but I enjoy it and feel very invested in the business. My sales have steadily increased over the past three years, with 2021 seeing the largest growth in sales by 24%.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Have decisions rest on my shoulders only, small or large decisions, I have to make them all, and most of the time without someone to brainstorm or talk things through. Also, no one is going to care about my business as much as I do. What I put into it is what I get out of it. If I want to take a breather or slow down, it could have an impact on revenue down the road.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- When you can, hire professionals to take care of things either you are not good at or you find you are spending too much time on. For me, hiring an accountant and bookkeeper to manage the finances and keep me on track properly was a huge step in freeing my time and being financially responsible.
- Set realistic goals and go at your own pace. I believe in setting yourself up for success. Make small goals and larger goals. Look to past history/experience or conduct research to know your baseline and where you want to be in ___ amount of time or after ___ happens. Also, review those goals quarterly so you can make decisions moving forward.
- Do not compare yourself to other business owners or businesses. Everyone's journey is going to be different. Your knowledge, skills, passion, personality, network, and support system are all unique to you. Therefore, they are not going to be the same as someone else's.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Investing in a coach has made a significant impact on my business. My first coach was social media related to helping me jumpstart my own social. (I was always prioritizing my clients' social media over my own.) That was game changer #1 for me, which also translated for my clients.
My second coach, who I continue to work with, is related to my specific business. I felt it was time to create systems and processes in my business to work more effectively, provide a better client experience and manage my time better. It is game changer #2 and the reason why I now have social media support and a virtual assistant.
I can work on my own business more now with a plan and with someone to talk to who understands my business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.queenbeejackie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queenbeepaper
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenbeejackie/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/queenbeejackie/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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