Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Holly Christie, founder of This Demanding Life, located in Richmond upon Thames, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I build high-quality websites for small businesses that are growing and looking to have more than just an online presence. Websites that capture peoples’ attention, convert visitors to customers, and most importantly, websites that feel like a true representation of the business they’re built for. My customers are small businesses (from 1 to 25 people) who are scaling up their business.
Tell us about yourself
I have a background in marketing, particularly online and digital marketing strategy, I have always loved websites, from when the internet first came around - all the colours, and fonts, everything available at the click of a button, I knew I wanted to work in designing sites.
In 2014 I learned how to build websites in WordPress. This Demanding Life was my very first site - it looked a lot different from how it does today!
In 2017, a divorce and a career change led me to change This Demanding Life from a chatty, blog site to my full-time job. I built websites and worked on digital marketing strategies for parent-led start-ups.
Five years later This Demanding Life and my parent-led start-ups are growing and I now focus solely on building lead-generating, customer converting websites for businesses who are looking to grow.
I have 3 children, including a toddler and a teenager so life is pretty interesting at times and always loud! I love setting the example to my children of working in a job I love, that attention to detail means only having to do something once and getting more done. And that being a single parent doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your goals, you just have to be very, very organized!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Helping many businesses launch into the online world with confidence and clarity. Supporting people from having an idea to building and running a successful business is a joy. A little like watching children grow up. And to be able to do it all whilst watching my children grow up!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being the person who is responsible for everything. I’m not just a website designer, I’m also:
An Administrator
A Bookkeeper
A Marketer
A Sales Consultant
An Account manager
I have to use a lot of different systems and technologies for different aspects of running my business. It took me a long time to work out I needed to build time into my week to focus on these tasks specifically.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Accept support and if possible, find a mentor. Whatever industry you’re in, there’s enough room for everyone in the market. Find someone who has been in business longer than you and ask if they will mentor you. Their experience will really help you navigate the bumps which can come in the first year or two.
Invest - you can set up a business on a shoe-string (I did it) but it’s so much easier if you can invest in it. Even if you only have £25 per month - join a membership group to support your business or invest in software or a product that gives you a better service than the free version. Things are so much easier if you’re not starting from the very bottom.
Identify your target audience from the beginning - in the early days it’s easy to commit to working with anyone who comes along. It helps build your portfolio and pay the bills. However, if they’re not really your target customer you could end up with friction, where neither of you is happy with the business relationship or end result of working together. Take time to really market to your ideal audience and do say no to people who you don’t think are a good fit for your business.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Representing your company in the online world is a skill that professionals spend years learning and perfecting. If you’re serious about growing your business you need to invest in a professionally built website. A homemade website won’t make your sales.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/thisdemandinglife/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollycchristie/
https://www.facebook.com/ThisDemandingLife
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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