We recently connected with Jess Amburgey and have shared our conversation below.
Jess, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?
I don’t really believe in the word “failure.” I think anything that didn’t go according to your plan is a pivot and opportunity to figure out how to move forward with the next venture. That being said, getting fired from my 9-5 marketing job after 5.5 years of being there certainly felt like a failure at the time. I knew I didn’t want to work in an agency anymore but as a multi-passionate person I didn’t know where to go next because the thought of doing one thing didn’t feel aligned for my soul. That’s when friends started to send me random design jobs, photography jobs, social media jobs, and I began to realize I was making money doing all the things I was good at without even working for someone else. And that’s been going on for 7 years now.
Jess, 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 am a multi-passionate multi-preneur. I will never tell someone they need to niche down or pick one thing. We’re multi-faceted beings and our offers can be too! I hold space and consult other multi-passionate people navigating this world which is built for mono passionates. I create a community to uplift each other and feel less alone in this journey. I do this through 1:1 coaching, masterminds, digital products, public speaking and more. I love seeing my clients thrive after we’ve worked together and lean into their personal journeys with more confidence. I’m also a photographer and social media director that helps small businesses elevate their platforms and gain the trust of their followers.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building my own social audience has been a slow process. It is rare to have a viral video happen overnight and many think if that doesn’t happen they’re doing something wrong. I also know large accounts who rarely make sales and some accounts with 2k followers making 6 figures. It’s about who you’re inviting and the intention behind what you’re sharing.
1. Make your account public!
2. Share what you know
3. You don’t have to be an expert to help someone else, just 2-3 steps ahead
4. Make it EASY for people to buy your service, don’t make them guess and make a bunch of clicks
5. People can’t support you if they don’t know how – don’t be afraid to sell yourself
6. Foster connections and build community – engage.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Getting out into the community. “Networking” doesn’t have to be cringe and any social gathering can turn into a networking event. When you believe in yourself and what you offer, it’s easy to share with others. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself in any environment. Also connecting with my social media followers – follow them back, engage, come from a place of curiosity. Learn how you can help them.
Word of mouth is huge so providing quality service and letting my clients spread the word for me is crucial. Appreciate everyone who has ever done this for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: jessamburgey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.amburgey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessamburgeyphotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessamburgey/
Image Credits
My headshot credit goes to Audrey Cecil