Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angie Shadle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Angie, appreciate you joining us today. Do you manage your own social media?

Our company designs and creates content for ourselves and for our clients.

Angie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Let me just start off with saying that I am so humbled to be asked to write about my story. I hope that this brings some inspiration to others out there that may be thinking about doing what I’m about to share in my story or provide some validation or connection to some pieces of my journey.

For most people, once they are in a career that they love, they more than likely will stay in that same field for quite some time, even if it’s just with different companies. With the people I know, it’s not just a decade or so, it’s a lifetime! Well for about 17 years, I thought that was me. I never thought I would change my career field, but it happened!

My entire career I was in the medical administration field. From reception to billing and coding, analyst, and supervisor. I loved what I did and never thought I would ever find myself changing careers.

But guess what? About 18 months ago I didn’t just change careers, but I moved 1500 miles away to do it, and in the middle of 2021, a year into a pandemic! Now most of you are probably thinking, “why in the world would you risk changing your job and uproot your home, especially during unforeseen times?!”

Here’s what happened, I was asked a question, “What do you think of moving to Texas and working for my family business?” Now this isn’t just someone else’s family-owned business, it is my amazing sister-in-law, Amy House’s business, Growin’ Out Loud Darlin’, or as you will hear me reference it as our acronym GOLD.

This question had my husband and I excited yet nervous. Is this something we should do? Is this something we want to do? Would we be able to make this change work?

Making this decision to switch careers and do it in an entirely different state wasn’t an easy decision. But we ultimately decided, why the heck not! I know, that sounds very nonchalant for this life change, but the undertones of the decision process would tell you that there was anxiety, crying, stress, sleepless nights, excitement, nervousness, and all those other feelings.

There were weeks of talks between my husband and I weighing all our options and sifting through all the pros and cons of why we should or shouldn’t do this. We thought, if there was ever a time to do this, there was no better time than the present! Oh, and did I mentioned, that it wasn’t just me changing careers, but he was going to be starting his own business as well? I can just imagine how many of you must have had your jaws just drop. YES, my husband and I were both about to turn our lives completely in a new direction.

So, I wrote up my letter of resignation, gave it to my manager with tears in my eyes and told my team they would have me for two more months.

Fast forward to 18 months later, and here I am! Angie Shadle, Marketing Account Manager for Growin’ Out Loud Darlin’ (GOLD)! I curate content for our client’s social media and write and design email marketing pieces.

But first, let me tell you a little about GOLD.

We have two main pieces to the business. Coaching and consulting, and boutique marketing. Under the coaching and consulting branch, Amy provides businesses and owners the tools to find the GOLD in business and life. Helps increase sales, improve systems and unique solutions help your business ‘Grow Out Loud, Darlin’! This includes private coaching, being a main stage speaker, training and workshops and mastermind’s groups.

My focus is on the other branch of the business, which is the boutique marketing. Social media and email marketing curation is what I develop for our clients.

When you think about something like “email marketing”, you conjure up images of your high school English teacher. Instead of flowing words and tools to add value, you see WRITING. Not me! I think “like a client” to help you connect with value to ensure engagement.

I create virtual experiences through normally “flat” digital formats. Can you imagine having clients and contacts that open emails because they cannot wait to read what “you” have to say and share? It’s all about new ideas for solutions to the old problem of continued engagement.

Social media is such a great tool for all businesses! It’s an opportunity to bring brand awareness and engagement with your target audiences. You know we are living in a digital era, right? So, it should be no surprise that most of your consumers are on at least one digital platform. So why wouldn’t you take advantage of the opportunity to get your brand out there, show the world who you are and make those connections with your audience? Social media is all about engagement and if you aren’t putting content out regularly and engaging with your people, then you’re missing out on opportunities. Social media is a tool to reinforce what you are building offline.

That is where I come in. At GOLD, we understand that being a business owner and running a business is more than a full-time job, it’s your entire life. It is my job to help businesses and owners by taking off their shoulders a piece of their marketing. I get to know your brand and become your voice. I write the content as if I was you, talking with your audience. I design graphics with your branding and fit it with the tone of the written content. I provide you with monthly analytics and provide recommendations on how we can improve the strategy. Posting here and there on social media just doesn’t work when you have a business. Sometimes businesses and owners just don’t have the bandwidth, the know-how or the time to be curating content that is branded to them and being consistent with posting to keep them seen and top of mind with their audience.

So, if you aren’t ready for the “marketing firm” with the hefty price tag, but you want a team that can stay very tied to you, your business and your brand and be as invested in your business and brand as you are, then the Growin’ Out Loud Darlin’ team might just be the right fit for you! Whether you have done a great job of building your marketing or feel like there are some gaps, we have services that can fit your need. (Or we can customize a plan!)

Working for my sister-in-law at Growin’ Out Loud Darlin’, has been a blessing. But the work I do has allowed me to be a small part of other businesses. I can help their business be seen to help grow their audience, grow their engagement, and grow their business. Watching their growth is what makes me feel proud of what I do. Being a business that helps support other businesses, brings a smile to my face, knowing that I might be a small part of what is helping them grow and succeed.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When you are building your social media presence, whether it is for your business or personal branding that relates to the business, just be yourself. Be true, be you. No one will follow or engage with you if they feel you are being fake. Provide value, be a storyteller, be relatable. Just show your authenticity, show your why, share your solutions. People aren’t blind, they will see right through you. So why not let people see you (your business) right from the get go. This will bring the followers, the engagement and the conversions.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Networking and referrals have been a huge part of how we have gained clients.

People don’t want to utilize your services until they actual meet with you face to face. They may see you on social or at events, but until you actually talk with them and they get a sense of your personality, then they truly decide if you fit with their culture.

Clients that have been happy with our services aren’t afraid to voice it. Whether it be a Google Review, Facebook or LinkedIn Recommendation, a shout out on a social channel. But you simply can’t count out word of mouth advertising.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.growinoutlouddarlin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangieapproach
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheAngieApproach
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-shadle
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngieApproach
• Youtube: https://bit.ly/TheAngieApproachYouTubeChannel

Image Credits
M. Shadle Photography