We recently connected with Olivia Shears and have shared our conversation below.

Olivia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My hero is undoubtedly my mother! I might be a bit biased, but I truly believe she’s one of the most remarkable people on this earth.

She’s owned her photography business my entire life, all while juggling more philanthropic missions than I could name. Most recently, she’s worked tirelessly helping hurricane survivors around the world restore their damaged photos since Hurricane Ian hit SWFL in 2022. Her work with hurricane damaged photos has led her to growing a community of 30k Instagram followers and even to being a guest on The Kelly Clarkson show. Watching the way she turned tragedy into hope for so many people has been truly inspiring.

Because of her, I’ve seen the best example of what it means to pour your entire heart into everything you do. Watching my mom accomplish unimaginable things my entire life has only inspired me to do the same.
At 24, I’ve owned three businesses, and I owe so much to her showing me that the impossible is possible.
Beyond business, she’s also taught me the value of contributing to your community and leaving a positive impact on the world. Now, I’m heavily involved with both the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Big Brother Big Sister here in Miami.

She’s the first person I call when I have a question and always gives me the advice I need. As a business owner, it can be hard to have no one but Google to look for the answer to some of those tough business questions… So having her to ‘consult’ with makes what I do so much easier.

Beyond all her accomplishments, she’s an extraordinary person with the largest heart. She’s taught me kindness, grace, the power of positive thinking, and beyond. She’s not just my mother; She’s my best friend, confidant, coworker, social media client, and the person I know will always have my back.

I’m beyond lucky to have her to look up to and confide in as a hero and role model!

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.

Hi! I’m Olivia Shears, the owner of Social Bean Agency.

In 2020, I began freelancing social media for an eating disorder outpatient program. I found so much joy in helping people find the care they need by marketing this amazing program, and immediately knew I was on the best path for me. I then started freelancing for other businesses and agencies, and my full-blown passion took off from there.

By December 2022, I launched my business Social Bean Agency. Since then, I’ve had the honor of working with over 30 small businesses to grow their online presence. My speciality is wedding/event industries – From photographers and DJ’s to photo booth companies and private bartenders, I’ve worked with a range of services to build their brand.

In the world we live in, social media is a crucial asset to a successful business. I often explain to clients that their social media acts as a ‘resume’, it’s a platform to highlight all of the best parts of your business. From testimonials and announcements, to showcasing your team and exciting achievements – It’s a place for all the best information about your business to reside.

Think about how often you’ve gone to Instagram to find ‘The best Miami restaurants’ or how many times you found a business website and immediately checked out their Facebook. People are using social media as a search engine every single second of the day. You have to be active on socials to get your name out there and get the recognition your small business deserves.

What I’m able to do as a social media manager is provide people with a way to do so. I handle everything, from creating the content and engaging with the community, to researching the best strategies to resonate with your target audience. I know running a business often looks like taking on many roles you didn’t anticipate… Accountant, client management, and even social media manager. I’m here to take that daunting social media role off of your plate. Because I get it – doing it all can be an overwhelming task. If I can help even just one person with taking that weight off their shoulders, I’m doing something right.

What sets Social Bean Agency apart is being able to give that marketing agency experience to smaller businesses. Every business, regardless of its size, deserves the chance to grow. I take a hands-on approach with every client and pour my heart into every project to move them closer to their goals!

Whether you’re just starting or in the market for GROWTH, I’m here to help!

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, I launched my luxury picnic company, Picnic Lane. From 2020 to 2022, I juggled this business along with freelance social media work. My time running Picnic Lane was lots of joy, curveballs, and just learning how to be a business owner for the first time.

Overtime, it came with far too many setbacks. The overhead costs were expensive, the city began requiring costly permits, and the labor- lugging wagons down Miami beach in the heat- was draining me. Gradually, I fell out of love with it and paid attention to what I had always loved the most about my business… the marketing.

I started leaning harder into my freelance clients and building up my portfolio over the year of 2022. Even though Picnic Lane was growing, I had to make a choice of pursuing my passions. I was scared about leaving behind a business that was working, but I had to sacrifice something good for something even better.

That big pivot led me to create a business that I truly love. Social Bean Agency is a business I wake up excited for every day!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My biggest mission in life has always been about serving others. In business, that means helping small business owners achieve their dreams and connecting consumers to the right business for them.

For some accounts, I’ve connected people with the medical assistance they need. For others, I’ve helped them find the wedding vendor that’s perfect for them. Connecting people to the businesses that can help them is a definite driving force for me. I work with businesses I really believe in, so seeing people find value in them is rewarding.

On the other side, helping these businesses grow into something bigger is a blessing. Some people might think ‘You’re just a social media manager’ but it’s much more than that. It’s giving a business a voice, building its reputation, and being there for my clients however I can. I often hear business owners say social media is a role they don’t want or don’t have time for, so stepping in to take on that role for them drives my love for what I do.

Ultimately, helping others is the driving force that keeps me going every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.socialbeanagency.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialbean.agency/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzA8NAjA-Y0U9VNBrSQo1VA

Image Credits

Impressions Photography, Krista Kowalczyk