We were lucky to catch up with Sommer Poquette recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sommer, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

Looking back, I wish I had started sooner. I should have trusted my gut, listened to my intuition, and believed in my capabilities. I let the fear of failure and the unknown hold me back from starting my marketing agency. I had a fantastic job and loved the people and the mission of the company I was working for, so it was a hard decision to leave, but it was not the job that kept me from starting to Keep it Real Social; it was my self-esteem and belief in myself. My grandma always said, shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Norman Vincent Peale wrote that, but my grandma used to recite it to me, and I wish I had listened. If I could do it over, I would have leaped sooner.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up thinking I’d be a teacher, and I was so sure of it that I bet my dad $100 I’d graduate college with a teaching degree. I won that bet. But after discovering blogging and social media marketing in 2007, I swapped the chalkboard for a laptop and never looked back.

Since then, I’ve spent over a decade working as a professional blogger, social media consultant, and online influencer. I’ve partnered with award-winning PR and advertising firms on social media campaigns for major brands like eBay, Verizon Wireless, Whirlpool, Method, and Stonyfield Farms—to name a few.

I’ve consulted with businesses of all sizes and even commuted to Oakland County, California, for three years as a social media consultant for the Shaklee Company. The running joke at Shaklee HQ was that I had the longest commute!

In 2018, after selling my Nielsen top-rated blog, I launched Keep it Real Social to help businesses use social and digital media marketing in a way that’s clear, effective, and, most importantly—real.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

My dad, a longtime business owner, always told me to avoid debt whenever possible. My husband shares that mindset—he believes in paying cash, staying out of debt, and never getting in over your head. Both of them have built successful businesses with that approach, and their influence shaped how I started mine.

When I sold my professional blog, I used the money to launch Keep it Real Social, my marketing agency. Around that time, I also read Profit First, which changed how I approached finances in my business.

My husband was fully supportive, but we made one thing clear from the start: this couldn’t be just a hobby—I had to bring home a paycheck. So I built my business with no debt, set aside money each month for operating expenses, and always made sure I paid myself. That foundation helped me grow Keep it Real Social into a sustainable and successful agency.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Marketing is always changing, but one thing has stayed the same: people buy from people. One of the most valuable things I’ve done for my business is make real, in-person connections. If you’re trying to grow a business, don’t rely only on social media—show up.

Go to Chamber events, conferences, and local gatherings. Talk to people, but more importantly, listen. Find out what challenges they’re facing. Can you offer help or connect them with someone who can? Be the person who shows up to support, not just to sell.

When people get to know you, they naturally learn what you do. Even if they don’t need your services, they might know someone who does. That kind of connection goes a long way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://keepitrealsocial.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitrealsocial
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepitrealsocial/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sommerpoquette