We recently connected with Erika Simkova and have shared our conversation below.

Erika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I used to dream about being a hotel manager in a fancy beach hotel resort. I studied hospitality management for about 9 years but after finishing my university in Copenhagen, Denmark, and completing a 3-month internship in one of the hotels in the UK, I found myself at the point when I realized, this might not be “it”!

Working in hospitality limited me in so many ways and even though I loved it, I was always stuck in one place, working regular 9-5, not having the freedom to take as much holiday as I would like with people who told me what and how to do, even though it didn’t feel right to me sometimes.

So the moment, I finished my degree and moved to the UK, I declined the position at the hotel which they offered me after my internship to take some time off, figuring out what are my options and researching if there were any online jobs I could try. I had no idea what I could do but what I did know was that I wanted to travel more and start working remotely.

One day after scrolling through the Facebook group where people shared what kind of online work they do, I saw someone commenting about being a virtual assistant and she linked her blog where she shared her story and the VA course that helped her live a digital nomad lifestyle. At that moment, I knew this was something I could imagine myself doing.

I researched more about the course itself and I decided to take a leap of faith! Despite not having much money in my bank account, I invested in my very first online course even though I had no idea if this could actually help me earn some money. I didn’t know how it works in an online world but I said to myself – It will definitely give me some new knowledge and it’s an investment into myself. If others could make it work, why wouldn’t I be able to do it?!

Looking back, I can say, it was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve EVER made! I’ve had my online business for over 4 years now and even though I started as a virtual assistant, I quickly niched down to social media management and content creation. I’ve been working with clients from all over the world, I met so many inspiring like-minded entrepreneurs and I’ve created a life that I always wanted – to have a freedom to manage my time how it best works for me, to have more flexibility to travel more and to do the work, I would actually enjoy because of working with people I feel aligned with.

It’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs but even though there are days when I question everything I do, I get back to the fact that I just love this lifestyle and freedom that I have and I wouldn’t change it for anything else.

Erika, 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?

I’m Erika and I’m a Social Media Manager and Content Creator. I’ve been living the laptop lifestyle since 2019 and my mission has been to help people live better and more fulfilled lives whether that’s through my social media clients or my coaching work.

I used to work in hospitality, working in different countries, but I felt trapped in the system, and I was missing freedom. So, I decided to leave the check-in desk in hotels behind, leave the secure job, and follow my dreams to live the life I always wanted. The life that allows me to travel and be in charge of my time and plans without asking anyone for permission.

Over the last 4 years, I’ve been helping various projects and small business owners to share their message with the world, helping them to show up online more consciously. I mainly have worked with clients/projects within the travel industry, gastronomy, and mindset coaching.

I’ve gathered a lot of experience over the years whether that’s in marketing or running my own online business and that’s why I created an 8-weeks’ 1:1 coaching program that helps starting entrepreneurs to market & launch their online businesses with ease and to be location independent.

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

When I was starting my business, I knew one of the things I need to do in order for people to find me and my services was to start showing up on my Instagram profile and creating personal brand.

One of the main things about posting on socials is definitely consistency! I was posting regularly for over 2 years, I was showing up on stories every day, doing mini trainings and it helped me to connect with so many amazing people and even fellow entrepreneurs, Consistency doesn’t mean you need to post every single day but that there should be a pattern in posting and content going out on regular bases.

For example, I was quite camera shy at the beginning but I really tried to push my comfort zone and I kept on recording videos because I knew it was a great way to attract new people and also nurture those in my community. After some months I started to actually enjoy it and it felt so much more natural. But if I would stop right at the beginning just because I didn’t feel comfortable, my brand wouldn’t grow that much and I wouldn’t have people trusting me as much as they did after showing up on there more often.

My advice is to optimize your profile, share relevant content that your target audience needs, and focus on building relationships through engagement.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

– One of the best things I did at the beginning of my business was reaching out to some people from my already existing community on Facebook. I reviewed my friends list and I chose people who either already had some sort of business or those who knew some other entrepreneurs. I sent them a short message mentioning I started my online business and if they would ever need help with marketing or they know anyone who would, they could reach out to me.

This actually helped me to get some of my first clients because one of my friends recommended me to some people, she knew needed help with socials. Don’t underestimate the power of your already existing community.

– The second best way I got some of my clients was though relevant Facebook groups and my Instagram profile on which I built my personal brand. By sharing valuable content on there, people reached out to work with me.

Overall, most of my clients in the past years have been through referrals, so when someone from my community or my previous clients recommended my work to someone else.

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://erikasimkova.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikasimkova.va/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-simkova/