We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Olivia Hayse a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Olivia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.
From about 2013-2018 I ran a small digital marketing firm. I started out just helping a few friends and family with their content. By the end of that first year I had grown to need one employee and we worked out of my spare bedroom. We soon grew into an office space with a handful of employees and clients. I remember thinking that I would have time to figure out things like HR, payroll, etc. In reality, I ended up spending way more time running the business than I did creating content, which was where my skillset was. If I could go back in time I would hire someone to “run” things for me, even if it meant I wasn’t in charge of the business I started. I would have had way more longevity and less burn out if I got to stick to the things I loved: creating content. Nowadays as a freelancer and coach, I get to just create for the most part and it’s a much better fit.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am the author and host of “The Mama Marketer” blog and podcast. I have extensive digital marketing experience, including co-founding my own digital marketing agency in 2013. I also have a lot of experience working with nonprofits, event planning, photography & design. My services include: Digital Marketing, Marketing Training + Consulting, Wedding Coaching, Enneagram Coaching, Event Planning, Photography, Graphic Design, Web Design, Public Speaking.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
For me, building a following online came way easier when I stopped listening to branding experts who told me to “pick a niche.” The experts told me to to pick one passion. Supposedly the story of a woman who was interested in marketing, homesteading, and homeschooling just didn’t make sense. My instagram was the one place where I refused to divide out my interests and wouldn’t you know it, my instagram is where I saw the most growth. Despite what the experts say, I believe people actually resonate with my being a multi-passionate. Humans are not one dimensional and that has been my key to connecting with followers.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A myth I had to bust the hard way was the belief that as entrepreneurs we have to “lean in,” “hustle,” and “grind” all the time. In reality, that is not a sustainable way to live your life. As entrepreneurs, we face so much pressure to keep things going and growing. We don’t talk enough about how that pressure is not good for our souls. Yes, it’s important to do our best in our work, but it’s equally important that we take time to live our lives. That means turning off notifications, putting our devices away, spending time with our loved ones, and going on adventures. If you can’t take the time to do those things, then your grind is pointless anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themamamarketer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamamarketer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMamaMarketer/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-hayse/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/themamamarketer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtOXH8FC4EnKpEzm7ZbRQNw
Image Credits
Paula G Photography – Derby KS