We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Green a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I LOVE being a business owner. It really was the thing that I was missing in my career for many years.

The last time I thought about having a regular job would be when my little one came to me and said that he wishes I didn’t have to work so much {enter Mom Guilt}. To him, since I work from home, I work a lot because when his dad is home – he is “off” work. However, I work when I have free time. So that’s in the early morning, afternoon, nights, and weekends. So with the thought of working a regular job, I could go to work 9-5 and be able to compartmentalize better between work and home life.

But then I remember all that I would be missing in my families life if I was away at work – my business allows me the flexibility to be the best mom that I can be. I can be at every school event no matter the time of day or go take my kids to the zoo and I never have to “ask off”. I take the time to be with my kids. At the moment, my son is 6 so he doesn’t fully grasp that his mommy is a business owner. I know that one day my children will see how hard I’ve worked for this business and know that their mom is a hard working, strong businesswoman.

I have to remember the long game. I am helping our family become debt-free, saving for college for both my kids, and saving for retirement one day with my husband. When I have thoughts of going back to a 9-5, I realize that I am not made for that life anymore. I’ve built something far greater for myself and family with my business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I became a digital marketing VA back in 2021 as a freelancer. It was a side hustle to make extra money. I had an old boss refer me to a digital marketing agency that needed help. They became my first and only client for a few years. Then in 2022, I decided to go full-time when I saw the potential.

I help my clients with graphic design for marketing collateral, website edits, social media, email marketing, and more. We assist online providers as well as brick and mortar clients.

I assist my clients to regain more work/life balance by taking their digital marketing needs off their already busy plates.

I am proud that within a year, my business grew over 200%. It has been a growing experience for myself and I recently started to build a team to support me. I would have never guessed that my business would have done so well so quickly.

My business allows me to be a mom to my two kids under 7 and it fulfills me to know that I am doing something for not just for myself but for my family.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Back in 2021, I was working for a hospital (yes, I worked there during the pandemic!) and the pandemic taught me that life was too short to be stuck in a rut. I enjoyed my job but it limited the time I could spend with my family. So a friend of my, an old boss, told me about an opportunity to help a digital marketing agency as a freelancer. One to never turn down an opportunity to make extra funds for the extra stuff, I started helping. When the agency owner mentioned several times that she had way too many projects to keep up with, I proposed what it would be like if I took on more hours. I knew it wouldn’t be full-time. She told me to think about how many hours I needed to make and to let her know. So I figured out the amount of hours I would need to make a decent go of it – knowing that I would want to take on additional clients when I could. So in January 2022, I went for it! I have never looked back. The digital marketing agency is still one of my largest clients and I’ve grown to my client roster and team since then. It’s all about seizing opportunities when they come your way – they might not all work out but if you don’t take them, you will never know the possibilities.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I speak with my clients weekly and sometimes daily depending on what projects I am working with them. I scheduled monthly check ins to see where they are in their businesses and what projects I can help with month to month.

In addition, we communicate via Slack on one off questions.

I boost my clients up. One the best parts of my job is being their cheerleader. I am behind them 100% whatever they decide to do and it makes them feel fully supported – not just from a designer prospective but as a fellow business owner that wants to see them succeed.

I tell prospective clients that even if we don’t fit well to work together, I am still going to be cheering them on. As business owners, it can be lonely in the hustle and bustle of the grind so it’s nice to know you have someone – even just one person – rooting for you and your business!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelgreencreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelgreencreative/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgreenms/

Image Credits

JoyCaptured Photography
Talitha Williams