We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marlaina Blackshear a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marlaina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you manage your own social media?

I currently manage my own social media, and have created resources for small business owners like myself to take control of their content. My company The Bellish Branding Agency specializes in coaching new business owners with branding, web design and social media. With social media, I aim to assist my clients with finding their niche and identifying their target audience to organically increase growth of followers, engagement and reach while staying on brand. My social media management services include; social strategy, management, copywriting, engagement and analytical reporting.

Its been a great journey so far as I too have to step in front of the camera and practice what I preach to my social media clients. New trends such as short videos on all platforms have proven to have a larger impression on customers and are simply fun to watch.

Marlaina, 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?

If readers have not read about me before, I spoke about how being the owner of my candle company Bellish Glam Bar and chandler for over 10 years has lead me to pivot my entrepreneurial career as a branding consultant. Over the last few years I’ve been able to use my experience as a small business owner who also balanced working a 9-5, and assist women like myself who want to be successful in both worlds.

My company The Bellish Branding Agency offers brand consulting, web designs and social media management. The Bellish Branding Agency has allowed me to work with everyday women nationally who seek to build a brand that generates income. These are ambitious woman, creating business in industries from beauty & health, travel, fitness, real estate and more. Each of my clients are equipped to build a lasting brand that sharpens their image driving an increase in their business performance.

It’s important to me that potential clients know that I understand the difficulty of being an entrepreneur and can speak from experience. I am a consultant that has been where you are and have made costly mistakes. I wish I would have made a bigger investment in my candle company sooner and better understood the importance and impact of brand marketing. This is why I began my agency to keep business owners from making the mistakes I made as they can be costly. My prices are affordable and my work speaks for itself.

I help clients establish a brand that speaks directly to their clients and exudes a genuine representation of themselves. This eases the tasks of being confident in running your business and creating a product/service that customers will love.

I thank my parents for supporting me and always encouraging me to be myself and strive for the best. The nature of our relationship has definitely built my integrity, created my work ethic and fostered my creativity. I am confident in who I am knowing that no matter what I have a family who is rooting for my success.

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

Consistency, marketing and drive is the most effective strategy for growing your clientele. If you consistently deliver a product or service of value to your customers you will grow your business through referrals and repeat customers.Consistent communication, clients need to hear from you and see your product. Marketing will bring in prospect clients based upon your exposure while highlighting your work from current and previous clients. Having drive will push you to keep going even after you get multiple no’s. If you are driven by your passion you won’t mind going the extra mile.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My journey of being an entrepreneur began in St. Louis Mo. I desired to pursue my career goals and start fresh, so I moved to Texas. I made the decision just one month after going through a major company merger at my full time job. Although my journey did not begin in Texas it showed me that when changing your surroundings and removing distractions you are faced to see yourself in a new light and can’t help but to grow. I think that during this time I learned more about who I am and could better define my career path.

Last year I learned that being the sole owner of The Bellish Branding Agency the success of my company was dependent on my physical and mental health. I’ve had to work through the death of close family members and loss of relationships all while working with clients who depended on me to help run their business. You can’t shut down on days when you don’t feel like it or your heart is broken, you have to learn to work through your bad days and keep pushing.

As difficult as it was it forced me to have better discernment by putting boundaries in place for timing, being more selective when choosing clients and to pencil in off days when needed to take care of myself. Being in a new state I sometimes question myself like “what am I doing here” but I look back and remember how far I’ve came. I’ve wrote a book, started my second company, consult clients nationwide, host webinars, and continue to be the business coach for so many women business owners who are beginning their journey to start their new business. I’m following my passion and I love it every day no matter what.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellishbrandingagency.com and www.bellishglambar.com
• Instagram: @bellishbrandingagency and @bellishglambar
• Facebook: Bellish Glam Bar

Image Credits
Hair: Studio M Beauty Bar