Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Grether. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jenny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Running a business is stressful. I know I’m not the only one who has skimmed LinkedIn or other job boards, updated your resume, and daydreamed of returning to a traditional 9-5 job.
The last time this happened was earlier this year, and I had just found out I was expecting my first baby. I was filled to the brim with excitement. However, this sense of dread and a little voice in my head said, “How are you going to handle running your business during maternity leave and beyond?”
I started thinking of all the things I didn’t have as a business owner – like co-workers to delegate my tasks to while I was away or to keep the business moving without me there, and most importantly, I did not have three months of paid maternity leave.
With these thoughts came the doubts I’m sure we all as business owners have: “Wouldn’t predictable income and hours be nice?” It may be time to throw in the towel.
But as I scoured job postings for my “dream career,” it quickly became apparent that I already had it.
Would it have been nice to have paid maternity leave? Sure. But I quickly realized that those perks were only temporary.
What I exchange for the traditional 9-5 life is the ability to build a business to fit my life, no matter the season it’s in. And now, I get to show my son firsthand that breaking the mold and following your dreams is not just achievable but will always be encouraged.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have been running Jenny Grether Social for three years now. I graduated with a degree in Technical Communication from Arizona State University. During my coursework, I took a lot of courses related to social media and writing for the digital landscape. I then worked as a Marketing Coordinator for a mortgage company but realized I wasn’t passionate about the industry. During the peak of Covid, I saw a lot of local businesses struggling and knew I could help.
I quit my safe full-time job and started my business. When done correctly, Social media is a fantastic tool to build brand awareness, loyalty, and connect with your customers. I love teaching business owners how to effectively show up online to stand out from the noise and grow their business with it.
While there are a lot of social media professionals out there, my unique value is that I work with business owners and meet them where they are. I understand your capacity and can help you approach social media sustainably and strategically.
Instead of offering costly monthly packages to entirely run your social media (I know many businesses just don’t have the budget for that), I offer one-time investments like creating your Social Media Strategy and Vertical Video Days. I also provide consulting packages and 1-time strategy sessions. No matter your level of expertise, I can help you.
I’m also always proud to share our core values which are intention, communication, and growth.
Intention because time is our most precious resource. Running your social media can feel like another full-time job. If you are showing up strategically, you’re saving valuable time creating that actually moves the needle in your business. Being intentional with what you create and how you spend your time online is imperative.
Communication is my favorite C word! From communicating candidly with my clients to helping you uniquely communicate your value – it’s the heart of what I do.
And growth because isn’t that what we’re all here for? And I’m not just talking about the growth of vanity metrics like followers or TikTok views but the overall growth of your business and you as an expert in your industry.
If you want to utilize social media to support growth in your business, please reach out and connect!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social media is proudly my second highest source of leads for my business (second to referrals), and it’s because I spent time building and nurturing an audience online – specifically Instagram.
As a service provider, sharing your personality online is essential to give your potential clients a feel for working with you. Hundreds of other social media providers offer similar services to me and similar price points, so why would someone choose to work with me? It’s because I strategically show up to share my unique perspective and personality.
Specifically, sharing educational content and “hot takes” has been the best way to gain new followers aligned with my brand. Using tools like Instagram Stories has been a great way to convert my followers into paying clients.
In a time where social media is highly saturated, it’s important to remember that you are your unique value if you provide a service. Share glimpses of behind-the-scenes and use storytelling to better connect with your audience. You want them to envision working with you, booking your services, etc.
The other important piece of the social media puzzle is consistency. You want to stay top of mind with your audience, and by being consistent, you’re also building trust with them!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
My number one source of new business is referrals.
I believe investing time into creating a seamless and memorable client experience has been a big reason for this.
You want to feel secure with your investment when buying anything, from a product online to a haircut to other professional services.
Effective communication is the first piece of this. I have spent a lot of time ensuring all my processes are airtight, from onboarding to delivering materials to even sending thoughtful gifts and thank-yous to let my clients know how valuable they are to me.
For example, when you book my VIP Social Media Strategy package, a piece of that is filling out a lengthy survey for me so I can better understand your brand. I always send a digital gift card for a coffee so my clients can have a beverage while working through their “homework.”
When you create a memorable client experience, you turn clients into fans who happily rave about their experience, sending more customers your way.
This isn’t something that you can perfect overnight. Still, I am constantly evolving my customer experience and truly believe that businesses prioritizing this have a leg up when getting referral business, which is the best way to grow!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennygrether.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/jennygrethersocial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennygrethersocial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennygrethersocial/
Image Credits
Photographer: Shelby Dubin Photography