We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julie Zhu . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julie below.

Julie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?

One thing to keep in mind if you’re looking to hire or outsource a marketing manager is to co-create the process with the team. I get it, you probably want someone else to take care of it. However, you have to make sure they really understand your long-term and short-term business goals – that’s going to help you decide which platform is right for you and what kind of content will best resonate with your ideal clients. That approach will be more effective.

Another important aspect is to make sure they capture your voice. The worst thing you can do is to have content or a brand that doesn’t align with who you are.

Julie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a marketing strategist based in NYC. I help entrepreneurs and creatives build bold brand identities and engaged communities. With a background in history and marketing, I offer a unique blend of strategic thinking and creativity to help my clients achieve their business goals.

My services include social media strategy, thought leadership, brand messaging, and partnership development. I take pride in diving deep into my clients’ businesses to develop customized strategies that drive real results and help them grow their impact at scale.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

When my first client came to me, she was overwhelmed and on the verge of burn out. She was struggling to keep her business afloat after having her second child, and her social media presence was nearly nonexistent.

Together, we crafted a tailored social media strategy focused on showcasing her expertise and building a strong community around her brand. Despite the limited resources, we believed in the power of authentic connection.

As we implemented the plan, her followers grew, engagement skyrocketed, and her business began to thrive. Within one year, she had expanded her practice and opened a second office in another state.

Seeing her transformation from being on the brink of burn out to renewed confidence and success was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It reaffirmed my belief in the impact of strategic marketing and the power it has to change lives.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the assumption that what worked for one client would work for another. Working with diverse industries, from fashion brands to best-selling authors, taught me there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

I learned to treat each client as unique, diving deep into understanding their specific demographics, products, and goals before crafting a tailored marketing plan. Relying on market research, customer insights, sales figures, and hard data became crucial in guiding my decision-making process.

Letting go of assumptions and embracing a data-driven approach allowed me to create marketing strategies that resonated with each client’s target audience.

This lesson made me a better marketer and taught me the value of adaptability, active listening, and continuous learning. Now, I approach each new client with an open mind and a commitment to understanding their unique needs and challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: juliezhu.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingwithjulie/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliezhunyc