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

Hi Pooja , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I never imagined I’d become a business owner, but life had other plans. Back in 2019, I was all set to become an air hostess. Then the pandemic hit, throwing everything into chaos. Suddenly, I found myself out of work, and like many, I had to take whatever job I could find. That’s how I ended up at a call center, even though it wasn’t really my thing. When the lockdowns hit in 2020, I found myself jobless and feeling hopeless once again.

But during that time, I found something I loved: social media and design. My brother, who works in digital marketing, asked me to help with social media for his clients. That’s when I stumbled upon Canva, this awesome design tool that got me hooked.

I started tinkering around with Canva, learning the ropes, and creating cool designs. Eventually, I decided to try my hand at freelancing as a Canva template designer. I set up online shops to sell my designs, but I felt like there was more I could do.

Then one day, I stumbled upon some social media manager’s pages, and it hit me: that’s what I wanted to do. Suddenly, a whole new world opened up before me. I dove into learning everything I could about managing social media.

I started implementing my learnings right away. And in just 2 months, I got my first social media management client without even looking for them.

Looking back, it’s been quite a journey from where I started to where I am now, but every twist and turn has taught me something valuable.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who haven’t met me, I’m Poo, and I’m a social media manager passionate about helping service-based businesses and coaches like you.

Who knew life would swap airplane wings for social media hashtags? In 2019, I was all set to be an air hostess, but the pandemic grounded those dreams faster than a turbulence warning. Stuck in a call center (not exactly my happy place), a global lockdown brought another round of ‘what now?’

But that’s when I discovered social media and design! My brother, who works in digital marketing, inspired me to learn more. So I started playing around with Canva, making cool designs, and then I jumped into social media management. It all started with fun designs, and before I knew it, I was helping people with their social media! Within two months of learning the ropes, I even landed my first client without even looking for one.

But in 2023 Instagram banned my account, ( it was a mistake – because so many people lost their accounts for no reason when they launched threads, I tried to reach them but I haven’t gotten my account back, my years of hard work and audience disappear in seconds ( had more than 12k followers )

without wasting time I started a new account called thesocialpoo and continued my journey with this but this time I didn’t rely solely on one platform so I started being active on Linkedin and FB as well.

It’s been a wild ride, but I’ve learned so much from every step along the way.

So, what exactly can I do for you?

I offer a range of services to empower your service-based business or coaching practice:

1. Social Media Management: Struggling to keep up with posting or feeling lost in the social media maze? I’ll help you build a strong online presence, saving you time and energy while generating leads organically (without the need for expensive ads!).

2. Social Media Consultation: Feeling unsure about your social media strategy? I’ll provide clarity and guidance, boosting your confidence in navigating the online world.

3. Social Media Audit: Want to optimize your social media profiles for maximum impact? I’ll analyze your current strategy and suggest tweaks to help you see better results.

What sets me apart?

My approach is built on real-life experience. I understand the challenges you face because I’ve been there myself. I’m passionate about helping others succeed, and I bring a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and a “never give up” attitude to the table.

What I’m most proud of?

It’s the journey itself! I’m proud of taking a chance, learning new skills, and persistently implementing what I’ve learned. There were moments when my family and friends called me crazy to do this, but I persevered, and that’s what made this success even sweeter.

What I want you to know:

Deep down, you know you have the potential to achieve amazing things. I believe that anyone can build a successful online presence, and I’m here to be your guide. My message is simple: Learn, implement, improve. With dedication and the right tools, you can achieve your goals.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Great question! Building a social media audience takes time and effort, but it’s definitely achievable. Here’s the story of how I grew mine, along with some advice for beginners:

My Audience Building Journey:

It all started organically. Remember how I discovered Canva and social media management in 2020? Well, I started by creating content that showcased my design skills and newfound social media knowledge. I shared tips, tricks, and my learning on Instagram.

Here are some key things I did:

1. Focused on Value: Every post aimed to provide something useful to my audience.

2. Engaged with Others: I actively interacted with comments and questions, building a community.

3. Collaborated with Others: I partnered with other social media enthusiasts for shoutouts and cross-promotion.

4. Used Relevant Hashtags: I researched and included popular hashtags to reach a wider audience.

5. Stayed Consistent: I posted regularly to keep my audience engaged.

It wasn’t always easy, but slowly and surely, my audience grew.

and I built an active community that is ready to buy and support.

One of the key pieces of advice I would offer to those just starting to build their social media presence is to focus on authenticity and engagement. Authenticity breeds trust and fosters genuine connections with your audience. Share your story, showcase your personality, and be transparent in your interactions. Engage with your audience regularly, respond to comments, and participate in conversations. Building a strong, engaged community takes time and effort, but the connections you forge will be invaluable in the long run.

Consistency is also crucial. Set a posting schedule and stick to it. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, consistency helps maintain momentum and keeps your audience engaged. Experiment with different types of content to see what resonates best with your audience, and don’t be afraid to adapt and evolve your strategy based on feedback and analytics.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of networking and collaboration. Connect with like-minded individuals and industry peers, participate in online communities, and seek out opportunities for collaboration. Building relationships with others in your niche can open doors to new opportunities and help you reach a broader audience.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

While I can’t pinpoint a single “best” source, there are actually a few different ways I’ve consistently attracted new clients:

1. Organic Social Media Growth: As we talked about earlier, growing a targeted audience on social media has been a valuable source of leads. By consistently providing valuable content and establishing myself as an expert, potential clients discover me and reach out for help.

2. Word-of-Mouth Referrals: Doing a great job for my existing clients has led to them recommending my services to others in their network. Building trust and exceeding expectations is a fantastic way to generate referrals.

3. Networking: Connecting with other professionals in complementary fields can be a great way to find new clients. For example, I might network with web designers or virtual assistants who might have clients who need social media help but don’t offer it themselves.

4. Outreach: No I don’t do cold outreach so it’s a kinda DM strategy, where you build a relationship first, and get to know a few things:
1. If they need help,
2. If we are a good fit
3. If I can help him/her

After this, I offer my service.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, I find a mix of strategies works best.

There’s no magic bullet, but it’s all about putting different pieces together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://designbypoo.my.canva.site/thesocialpoo
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialpoo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100009290715234
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pooja-rathi2020/