We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Prentice recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

In the midst of the pandemic’s chaos, when the world seemed to come to a standstill, I found the courage to embark on a journey I had long dreamed of: launching my own business. The idea had been brewing in my mind for quite some time, but it was the unexpected pandemic that pushed me to finally take the plunge.

With everything shutting down, I reasoned, what did I have to lose? The worst-case scenario was failure. If I failed, then I could try something else instead.

With nervous anticipation, I stated the launch of my business to the world, unsure of how it would be received. Among the first to reach out was an old friend from 12 years back, someone I had sporadically stayed in touch with over the years.

As fate would have it, their wedding photography/videography company had been hit hard by the pandemic’s economic fallout. With weddings canceled or postponed indefinitely, they found themselves in dire need of assistance to navigate the digital landscape and attract clients for when normalcy eventually returned.

With the generous amount of time on my hands amidst the lockdown, I delved deep into the intricacies of the wedding industry, honing my skills and experimenting with various social media strategies.

As the world gradually began to reopen its doors to weddings once more, my hard work became abundantly clear. By leveraging innovative social media tactics and a deep understanding of the industry, their business grew in brand awareness, increased in leads, and developed new relationships with other wedding vendors.

By the beginning of the 2021 wedding season, they were fully booked, with inquiries pouring in for the following year. In a remarkable turnaround, I had not only helped them but also triple their revenue compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Sarah , 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?

My name is Sarah and I am the owner of Sarah Prentice Studio. I’m a passionate social media marketer specializing in elevating the online presence of wedding vendors. My journey into the world of marketing took an unexpected turn from my initial aspirations in public relations. After graduating from Baruch College with a degree in corporate communications, I discovered I had little passion in working in PR and enjoyed working in marketing.

In 2020, I took a leap of faith and launched my own business, and my first client happened to be a talented wedding photography/videography team. Thus began my beginning into the captivating world of weddings, where I found my niche and never looked back.

My mission is simple: to help wedding vendors to reach their goals using social media. Whether it’s expanding brand awareness, generating leads, or fostering meaningful online relationships with other wedding professionals/potential clients, I tailor my strategies to suit the unique goals of each client.

At the core of my approach lies a commitment to building authentic relationships. In an era where AI technology is now emerging, I firmly believe that genuine human connections are irreplaceable. The lessons of community and in-person relationships learned during the pandemic have only reinforced this belief, particularly in an industry where trust and rapport are important, especially within the premium and luxury segments.

I take immense pride in witnessing the transformative impact of my work. From guiding clients who’ve never booked a single client through social media to achieving full bookings, the joy of seeing their success fuels my passion.

Ultimately, it’s the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives that drives me each day. There’s nothing quite like the exhilarating feeling of witnessing my clients flourish because of the strategies we’ve implemented together. That, to me, is the true essence of fulfillment in what I do.

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

When I first embarked on building my social media presence, I received advice suggesting having one Instagram account for both my personal and business accounts to cultivate a unified personal brand. While I appreciated the logic behind this approach, I realized that my circumstances called for a different strategy.

As a digital nomad traveling and working around the world, I found that my followers were divided between those interested in my travel adventures and those seeking marketing insights. Recognizing this divergence in interests, I decided to create separate accounts dedicated to each niche.

This choice proved to be a game-changer, opening up a wealth of opportunities. Not only did it allow me to cater more effectively to my diverse audience, but it also facilitated collaborations with brands ranging from wedding professionals engaging with my marketing tips to tourism boards seeking travel content.

When building a social media presence, my recommendation is to begin by establishing content pillars—essentially, key topics to focus on—and crafting content around them. This strategic approach ensures consistency and relevance, which are essential for fostering engagement and growth. Simultaneously, it’s crucial to nurture relationships with your existing audience. By prioritizing engagement and building genuine connections, businesses can lay a solid foundation for success in the dynamic realm of social media. These principles have been instrumental in my own journey, guiding me through the ever-evolving landscape of social media and opening doors to new opportunities along the way.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I would say right now is an example of how I am pivoting my business. One of the joys of entrepreneurship is the constant learning and discovery, always experimenting and adapting along the way. Currently, my focus is on collaborating with wedding professionals aiming for or already established in the premium and luxury wedding industry. Simultaneously, I’m intrigued by the prospect of venturing into the technology space, particularly as numerous wedding tech brands emerge and thrive.

My overarching goal remains unchanged: to identify challenges faced by wedding professionals in the digital realm and provide innovative solutions. By staying attuned to industry trends and actively seeking out opportunities to address unmet needs, I’m committed to supporting the growth and success of my clients in an ever-evolving landscape.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahprenticestudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahprenticestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahprenticestudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraheprentice/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmDgrxGf346dNxL1ZE7mUmQ

Image Credits

http://www.snowcreekphoto.com