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

Hi Siraaj, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

SWC emerged as a response to a pressing need as more Black owned businesses were being founded during the pandemic, the need of powerful marketing strategies within the social media realm that harness the potential of digital platforms.

Recognizing the unique position these businesses have to connect globally, yet acknowledging the overwhelming complexity of social media marketing, SWC is poised to simplify and demystify the digital world for them. Our agency’s commitment lies in creating custom strategies that not only resonate with each business’s distinct goals and values but also capitalize on the latest trends and best practices. With our expertise in crafting innovative content, fostering community engagement, and extracting actionable insights from data, SWC turns the daunting task of online marketing into a landscape of opportunity for these businesses to thrive on a global scale.

Our philosophy at SWC transcends the digital space; we passionately believe in cultivating a tangible community. Our dedication is reflected in the in-person events we curate for entrepreneurs and content creators, designed to be a sanctuary for exchanging ideas and navigating the complexities of social media marketing.

The core of our community’s vibrancy is the diverse experiences and knowledge of its members. We facilitate dialogues that not only stir creativity but also empower members to engage with the latest trends and practices in the social media landscape.

Our focus is holistic; we delve into the intricacies of why certain strategies work and what it takes to forge genuine connections. The essence of our events is to not only teach the mechanics of social media but also to impart the artistry behind successful branding and storytelling.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Of course! My name is Siraaj “SIR” Woods, and I am the founder of SWC. Our mission is to craft compelling digital narratives for small businesses.

I began my journey as a college junior, after joining Kappa Alpha Psi, my job was managing our fraternity’s social media presence and designing our event flyers. This was my first time being in either one of these roles in my life, so I worked hard to make up for my lack of experience and competence. As my expertise grew from someone who had never designed a flyer before, to designing flyers on a regular basis for our events, my confidence began to grow. Soon, I began to garner requests for custom flyers and logos outside of just the fraternity. For a college student with lint in his pockets, the opportunity to earn an additional $50 here and there for work I enjoyed doing was a no-brainer. This side hustle sparked a realization and a shift in my academic and professional trajectory, leading me to pivot from my failing computer science major to focus on digital marketing and entrepreneurship during my senior year. It was during 2020, amid the global turmoil of the pandemic, that I laid the foundation for SWC.

At SWC, we specialize in a spectrum of services, from social media marketing to comprehensive brand identity design, including logos, websites, and full visual storytelling. What sets us apart is our commitment to not just deliver content but to tell a story that resonates deeply with the target audience, thereby solving the critical problem many businesses face: visibility and engagement in a cluttered digital landscape.

I am most proud of the tangible impact our work has on our client’s growth and the role we play in amplifying their message. The core of our philosophy lies in the belief that every business has a story that deserves to be heard – and we make it our goal to tell it in the most captivating way possible.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, it’s important to know that SWC is more than a service provider; we are partners in their journey. We pride ourselves on our ability to adapt, innovate, and stay ahead of the digital curve. Our brand is built on the foundation of pushing boundaries and fostering connections that transcend the typical client-agency relationship.

In essence, if you’re looking to elevate your digital presence and tell your story in a way that not only stands out but also stands the test of time, SWC is your go-to collaborator.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I am very fortunate to have started this journey as a side hustle and transforming it into a full-time career. My foray into this venture began modestly, juggling the fraternity’s social media channels and designing promotional materials. As I honed my design skills, they caught the eye of my peers who then offered to pay me for their projects, turning my craft into a way for me to make additional money while being a broke college student.

The extra few dollars was nice, but it showed me that there was potential for me to turn this into something more. I began spending more time designing than I was doing my actual coursework, because I enjoyed it so much more. During my senior year, I made a drastic and some would call risky move, by changing my major from the logical rigor of computer science to the dynamic realms of digital marketing and entrepreneurship.

This change wasn’t just academic; it reflected a deeper transformation in my career aspirations. After making this change, SWC was born in the crucible of 2020’s pandemic, a testament to my belief that creativity and commerce could intertwine even in the most challenging times.

The growth trajectory since has been marked by several key milestones: the expansion of our service offerings beyond graphic design to full-scale digital marketing solutions, the first major contract that validated my leap of faith, and the cultivation of hiring our first employees to The SWC Team. Each milestone has been a stepping stone, scaling the side hustle into a full-time commitment that continues to thrive on innovation, client success stories, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the digital space.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Certainly, every entrepreneur faces those moments when everything seems to be going against them. I’ve faced many days like that where everything is going wrong. For me, SWC had its share of close calls. There was one particular time where I underestimated how much payroll was going to be, and our cash flow was more of a trickle than a flow.

I remember waking up when payroll was due, staring at my screen, willing those payments to come through. I had to burn through our cash reserve to keep everything flowing until revenue from one of our clients came in. The relief when they did, at the literal eleventh hour, was palpable. It wasn’t just about keeping the business afloat; it was about maintaining the trust and commitment of the team who had put their faith in SWC.

This experience underscored the importance of cash flow management for me. It was a stark lesson in the ebbs and flows of business finance and the necessity of having a buffer. It also led to implementing more stringent follow-ups on accounts receivable and diversifying our client base to minimize such risks in the future. This caused me to implement the Profit First system into our business, which has caused us to have the highest balances in our account in our history.

These moments are like tests of fire, they either consume or forge you, and I’m proud to say we came out stronger. Every entrepreneur has these stories, and they serve as reminders that pressure makes diamonds.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.swcreatives.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sw.creatives/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swcreativesteam
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swcreatives/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@swcreativesllc

Image Credits
All images are property Siraaj Woods Creatives, LLC.