Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maiya Ali. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maiya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To succeed in your business, you must be open to change and firm in implementing your boundaries.
In any industry, so many concepts can change within the blink of an eye. People may realize they don’t need your product anymore. The economy may make your clients more frugal with their money. You may recognize that a concept in your business isn’t pulling the numbers it used to pull. You may be getting less traffic to your business for whatever reason. If all these things are huge possibilities for your company, the biggest question is: what would you do in those moments? You have to be open to change and feedback!

I can be honest and say that I don’t know everything and don’t expect to know everything. That’s why I reach out to my current clients (and past clients) to ask what they liked about my services AND what they would like to see me grow in. I also ask my fellow peers in the industry what they have learned over the last few years and how they have improved their businesses. Hearing their stories and client feedback has helped me challenge myself to become open to change and switch up the flow when I know I can improve in certain areas. Once I get a team for Innovative Pages, I would ask them the same question: how can we grow to make this business as successful as we think it should be?

Also, set boundaries with your clients/customers early on! Owning a business is already pretty stressful, so the last thing you need is a client that doesn’t respect your time and effort. Remember that you are in control of your schedule and workload, so if it is outside your boundaries, let it be known. I had to learn this the hard way (and trust me, I’m still learning how to implement them). However, once I started setting my limits, it allowed me to be more productive in my projects and timelines. Don’t get me wrong; most clients will work great with you and your team! However, make sure you make a success story out of the projects that only give you headaches and long hours.

Maiya, 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 the Owner and Head Digital Brand Strategist of Innovative Pages! I originally started Innovative Pages as a web design business. However, we have slowly expanded our services to help others grow their business through a human-centered digital brand strategy approach. We offer Social Media Management, Graphic Design, and Web Design services to businesses. We work closely with small business owners to give them a brand makeover and teach them methods to market themselves better. Overall, we turn your digital daydreams into dazzling designs!

I love assisting my community in any way that I can. Our goal is to support several start-ups/small businesses run by black individuals or families because their voices deserve to be heard. We want to help them build their platform to the fullest potential. As a black woman myself, I’m proud to say that our clientele is primarily black female entrepreneurs. Last year alone has been huge for black women worldwide, including myself! My company has grown tremendously thanks to the support of other businesses and individuals within our community who believe in what we do and want to see us succeed!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was younger, my parents taught me that opportunity knocks only once, so I need to take it as soon as it’s presented. For years, I chose options that I felt would be good for my future, despite how I truly felt about it. I wanted to select the “right” path, the “right” job, and the “right” opportunities to get me there. In my mind, if I didn’t say yes right then and there, I was letting a good opportunity slip out of my hands.
I realized I had to unlearn it when I decided to upscale Innovative Pages. I had played around with the business concept since high school, but I was scared that my creative outlet would never be able to be a full-scale business. However, the opportunity of me making it a company presented itself to me three times before I decided to make it a reality. It made me realize that timing matters most, not just taking an opportunity that you think will be the right choice in the long run. Sometimes, you must think through an opportunity before you make a final decision; if it doesn’t work right now, it’ll come back to you when the time is right.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Referrals, referrals, referrals! I have done cold calling before, and it is not for the weak. I love warm leads! It makes the conversation flow easier and allows me to connect better with the business.

The best way to get new clients is through referrals from existing ones. I have had current clients who always introduce me to new businesses in the area. I also ensure that every moment counts when I meet new individuals because you never know what opportunities they’ll present to you. Many of my prospects (whom I only had a discovery call with) have referred some of my best clients to date. Sometimes they realize that my services aren’t the best fit for their business, but it doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a better fit for someone else they know.

Overall, obtaining warm leads and great connections from prominent community members have helped me build my clientele to where it is today. I show my appreciation for referrals by sending a thank you card and a Starbucks gift card to those who sent me a good referral. It lets them know how much their referral meant to me and how much of a difference it makes in my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ipagesdesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativepages/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innovativepages
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maiya-ali/

Image Credits
Aziz Ajaney (@fotofreaksaziz)