We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ravyn Smith . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ravyn below.

Hi Ravyn , thanks for joining 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.

If I had the opportunity to start over, with zero hesitation I would: 1. Give more credence to faith and less credence to feedback.
Along any entrepreneurial and purpose-driven journey is inevitable criticism, often from critics who lack credibility (and sight). Humans can only see and be aware of so much. After nearly 6 years in business, the fact remains that when I was instructed to birth R-O-S Media it wasn’t a conference call; it was just me and God. I heard Him clearly, and as I’ve grown in womanhood and business ownership my ability to drown out the noise has increased tremendously. Feedback only matters when it is credible and constructive.

2. Sacrifice sooner.
Sustainable success in business doesn’t happen without sacrificing personal wants. Vacations, events, beauty, etc. should be paused when you are building a profitable, sustainable business. The commitment and focus should be on integrity and solid provision, consistently.

3. Keep my head down longer.
I launched R-O-S Media in late 2018 and experienced major financial success beginning in early 2020. Not long after experiencing this financial success my head quickly rose, and I lost sight of the fact that I was a new entrepreneur and there was so much for me to learn about life, my newfound skills I decided to monetize, leadership, and business ownership. I wasted so much time, energy, and money fixing issues that shouldn’t have been an issue.

4. Be intentional about personal development sooner.
Much of my early failure was due to personal issues and a lack of personal development. Entrepreneurship only amplified my shortcomings and, finally, enough was enough. Shoutout to God and my therapist.

Ravyn , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Ray of Sunshine Media (R-O-S Media) delivers marketing solutions for radiant brands by producing and promoting clear, cohesive, and credible media. You plant the seeds. We make it bloom!

In addition to providing print and digital marketing solutions for our clients nationwide, we also provide eBooks and tech gear for content creation including tripods, bluetooth mics, lightning adapters, phone stands, lights, and more. You’re an ideal client if the following is/are your problem(s):
1. Digital and print marketing are not your forté and you don’t want them to be because you’re committed to being an expert in your field.
2. Your business is stable and legitimate, and you need to outsource digital and print marketing services on a consistent basis (at least THREE projects per month).
3. You have the budget and vision to execute you simply need the right person to produce for you.
4. You are willing to collaborate, patiently, to produce quality marketing for your brand you simply need the right person to produce for you.
5. You want to be active on social media and grow your accounts but you run out of ideas.

What sets us apart from others is my fearlessness, resilience, personality, leadership, and my diverse skillset. I refuse to quit. I may pivot but quitting is a no. Also, every service offered I have produced at a quality standard. Strong relationships, a solid foundation, and word of mouth referrals remain the keys to our success.

I’m most proud of the fact that much of R-O-S Media has been developed solely by myself including the brand, our website (I still manage it), our print collateral, and our processes. This is my baby through and through.

The benefit to playing the long game is that as I grow my team I’m able to provide clear direction because I know what I need and when I need it, also I have played every role (and still do when necessary). Six years later the darts are landing with ease and the foundation is solid.

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

The most effective strategy for growing R-O-S Media’s clientele has been: 1. Don’t overpromise; just deliver. The work should speak for itself.
2. Paying close attention to certain character traits because we aren’t for everyone. We cater to a specific client who exudes specific characteristics.
3. Seeking reviews from happy clients that can be used to market our services.
4. Prioritizing slow and steady success (a few clients) over working with many clients simultaneously. Truth is, we are positioned greatly to provide high ticket offers due to the confidence in our provision.
5. Networking, constantly. People may forget a name or social media handle, but they do not forget a face or a feeling.

The best source of new clients for us has been word-of-mouth referrals. Granted, new clients don’t always land in our lap. Many times I’ve been told, “I told someone about you and your business,” and I’ll reply, “Thanks! Give me their contact so I can follow up!”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I have literally been an artist and a creative my entire life. I was published in an anthology of poetry in elementary school, I had a drawing published in the local newspaper (Memphis’ Commercial Appeal), and I was known at all school levels for having the most memorable and creative projects. Arts, crafts, a computer, music, literature, and my imagination have been my besties since I can remember. Over the last 6 years, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is seeing R-O-S Media’s digital and print solutions produce revenue and results for our clients. The fact that something I love to do (create) is monetized and makes dreams come true for other business owners is mindblowing. I’ve been creating my entire life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rayofsunshine.co
• Instagram: @rayofsunshinemedia
• Facebook: Ray of Sunshine Media
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithr404/
• Youtube: @rayofsunshinemedia

Image Credits
I own the rights to all imagery provided.