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

Shari , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Every business owner has one goal. It’s to be successful. Whether it’s financially, or socially, we all start businesses to succeed.

My end goal is to help you start up or revamp your company by getting you organized.

When a client books with me, I always start off by asking them what standard operating procedures they have in place.

Meaning, how do clients connect with you, what happens once a client does connect with you, where do you keep your clients? Are they still in an Excel? Do you keep them in a folder in your email? Do you have a CRM set up?

Every website contract I create always includes a revamp of Google my business, keyword research, and search engine optimization.

I will do a review of the keywords with you, and teach you how to use them appropriately when posting about your business.

I also have many suggestions about how to organize your business. Many don’t realize that you can create a database without it costing you an arm and a leg. CRM’s (Customer Relationship Management Systems) , don’t have to be $300/month. Not only can you get a CRM database for under $20/month, some are even FREE!

No need to create a database in excel, it can be easier than that.

At the end of every project, I include mini how-to videos on how to edit your own website, or how-to edit any project that we have completed. I think it’s important for business owners to know how to do their own marketing and editing, as long as they know that I am here to help if they get stuck.

Did you know there’s a program out there that can send automatic emails once somebody contacts you from your website? Did you know that that program can be free?

I’m always looking for the best deals, and the best service for myself and clients.

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 background and context?

I’ve always been an entrepreneur.

It all started with my babysitting business when I was 12. I marketed myself using homemade magnet business cards and handed them out around my town. I even went to technology camp at age 14 to learn how to build a website for my company. Shari’s Little Feet was booked out months in advance.

After college, I was lucky enough to get a job with Subway Development where I started as a part-time admin and ended (10 years later) as the Local Market Strategy & Growth Coordinator & Even Coordinator.

Through those years, I worked at a second company (at the same time) where I became the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and the Marketing Manager.

Yes. I worked TWO full-time jobs.

In 2017, after having our first son, I was determined to find a way to stay-at-home with him. I created my company (then, The Virtual Savant and now Oh My Landa), where I did exactly the same thing as I did for SUBWAY®…but for small businesses that needed a little help.

Fast forward to 2020…and my SUBWAY® world came crashing down (with millions of others). It was soul crushing; I really enjoyed my job.

At this point, I knew I had to figure something out.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

As Covid continued, all businesses continued to suffer. I began posting all over social media how I was offering free promotional creation for the local companies. I created flyers, logos, etc.

Then, my true break happened with two clients at the same time.

My first client (who I still work with), reached out to me, knowing that I had experience helping small businesses promote themselves. I did it for Subway, why couldn’t I help local companies too?

She gave me the confidence. (The Well For Women in New Haven, CT)

Then, I had a friend reach out to me saying that she knew a realtor who needed help in Washington. I connected with her, and we worked together to grow her company. (Your Caring KW Agent, Jennifer Berg, Puyallup, WA)

As Covid continued, many people found time on their hands, and my future customers began to create their dream jobs.

The amount of websites, marketing material, and conference calls I had in 2020 made me realize that I didn’t need to ever work for someone again.

I listen. I give suggestions. I offer unsolicited advice on how you can grow your company, while standing in line at a restaurant

I’m not upset if you do not like an idea. I am here to work with you and to give you the tools you need to succeed.

I use my time management skills to keep your projects running smoothly.

With enthusiasm, I am always thinking of the next approach to help make your company grow.

Oh My Landa specializes in website design, CRMS, local marketing, and social media.

My clients tend to be new entrepreneurs, or business owners that need to be revamped.

For instance, congrats, you started a business, you bought your website domain… now what? You contact me, and I help get you where you need to be.

Or

You’ve been in business for five years, and you’ve grown just drastically. You keep all your clients in Excel, and you have a static website that doesn’t have any fun movement to it. You know it’s time to revamp, but how?…..You contact me.

Or

You have a business idea, but you’re not sure if it’s a good business idea, or how it’s going to work. You want to talk to the business idea out, and get suggestions on how to get it started and to grow it. But who do you do that with? You contact me.

2020 made me realize, I can do this.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Talk to everyone.

Anytime I’m at a playground with my kids, anytime I walk into a new local store or salon,anytime I’m around new friends, I ask them what they do for a living or how business is going. I ask them if they’re happy with their current results. Then I happily slide in what I do for a living and offer assistance.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ohmylanda.com
• Instagram: @oh.my.landa
• Facebook: @oh.my.landa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharilanda