We were lucky to catch up with Keeley Collins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Keeley, appreciate you joining 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.

When I started my company, I was not making enough to support myself so I had to work an office job. I spent eight months working in an office while I was building my company on the side. As I gained more clients, my office job slowly became a side hustle and my business took center stage. After eight months, I felt that I could no longer do both jobs well. They were both demanding so much of me and I have always been someone that believes in giving 150%, all the time. I was faced with a choice; I could stay at my office job and have benefits, a stable salary, and a set schedule, or I could take a big risk and become a full-time entrepreneur. I believe that big risks often lead to big rewards. As an entrepreneur, you have to have the confidence to bet it all on yourself, so that is exactly what I did. I am so glad I took that risk because fast forward four years and my business is thriving and having a record-breaking year. Risks can seem daunting and uncomfortable, especially in business. However, I think being uncomfortable is essential to succeeding because it forces you to hustle to make your idea, dream, or plan come to fruition.

Keeley, 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?

From a small town dreamer to a leading innovator in freelancing, my journey has been anything but ordinary. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for my Bachelor’s degree. I had entered college with 40 credits so by my third year, I had enough credits to graduate. I had wanted to stay all four years but, God had other plans. The COVID-19 pandemic shut my campus down and left me taking online classes alone at my house. I decided to graduate early and launch my career. I had four years of experience in corporate digital marketing and decided to pursue a career as a digital marketing freelancer.

I landed my first client and founded my company, The Savvy Socialite, in March 2021. Since then, my company has expanded and evolved into a boutique freelance digital marketing agency. However, it is not your typical digital marketing agency. Our team is a collective of passionate freelancers dedicated to crafting bespoke strategies that elevate brands. Our mission is to empower businesses to thrive in the digital landscape through tailored strategies that captivate and engage. We specialize in B2C marketing, offering a comprehensive suite of services including social media marketing, content creation, copywriting, email marketing, and more.

Despite being rooted in Madison, Wisconsin, our remote workforce enables us to collaborate seamlessly with clients around the country. Our passion for excellence drives us to create compelling campaigns that not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations.

Have you ever had to pivot?

At 15 I started my first company, MyBella Birthday, which was an event entertainment company. My employees and I dressed up as children’s favorite characters in film and attended a variety of events across Wisconsin. Through this business, I fostered a relationship with the American Family Children’s Hospital and impact families and children at the hospital. This was a rewarding job that I loved, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to pivot. Since people were not having any type of gathering during the pandemic, I made the tough decision to close our doors and focus solely on my digital marketing career. This pivot was filled with emotion however, I can look back now and see that it was necessary in moving my career along.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

While credentials are important, nothing is as important as having satisfied clients. I feel so fortunate to have many clients that have worked with me since the beginning. In my niche, all of my clients are small business owners that have extensive local networks. When my clients are satisfied with my work, they are more likely to tell other people in their network about my company. For me, word of mouth has been the most valuable way to build my reputation and my client database.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.savvysocialite.net/
• Instagram: @ thesavvysocialitellc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keeleygracecollins/
• Other: Email: [email protected]