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

Tamara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In March of 2020, I was just on the other side of my second layoff in less than 90 days — the most recent, the result of COVID. At the same time, my 86-year-old Dad was hospitalized for what should have been a fairly straightforward outpatient procedure. So with no job, no prospects and in the middle of a global pandemic, I relocated from Dallas, TX, back to my childhood home of Jackson, MS, to support my Dad’s care and figure out what was next.

I was literally sitting in the hospital with my Dad Googling ‘How to make money working from home,’ and stumbled upon the idea of becoming a virtual assistant. Coming from the corporate world, that was a new term for me. I’d never considered the option of offering contract business support services. And that’s how the business started.

I decided on the business name on a Friday — Studio Three 49, inspired by my Dad and a combination of his birth year and month — cobbled together a website between Saturday and Sunday and launched the business the following Monday.

I’d always wanted my own thing, but I’d been looking outside of myself thinking it had to be some kind of external product or service. It wasn’t until that moment in the hospital with my Dad that I recognized, ‘Oh, wait, I am the product and service!’ I had over 15 years of experience across a variety of industries wearing basically every hat at one point or another. That had to count for something.

As a result of my strong background in advertising, marketing, sales and new business development, most, if not all, of my early work was done supporting my clients’ email marketing and social media efforts. It’s funny that after more than 20 years, my career basically came full circle. My first job out of college was in broadcast production, writing, shooting and editing commercials for local advertisers on small market TV.

I was now basically doing the same thing, just using a different platform. And I realized that’s the work I really loved to do – helping businesses stand out, be seen and better connect with their ideal clients. So in October 2021 almost 2 years in, I made the decision to pivot and relaunched Studio Three 49 in January 2022 as the boutique digital marketing agency it is today.

Tamara, 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?

Studio Three 49 has evolved to become a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in copywriting, content creation, email marketing, social media and paid ads management. We provide smart digital marketing solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses and help emerging brands build superfans.

Our approach is highly personalized. As marketers and business owners, we’ve gotten really good at talking at people, but have often forgotten how to talk to people. We’re mindful that behind every like, comment and share, there’s a real person with fears, pains and goals. We’re focused on helping our clients make real, personal connections with their ideal clients.

Connections that start conversions and create opportunities for conversions.

It’s the same strategy we’ve used to grow ST49, and I’m proud that we’ve become our own case study to inspire our clients and prospects that they can do the same to grow and scale their own businesses.

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

When I first started Studio Three 49, I leaned heavily on my personal and professional network. In fact, my next step almost immediately after launching the website, was to send an email to all of my contacts simply sharing what I was doing. That email remains one of the most valuable emails I’ve ever sent, as it helped secure our first client – who is still with us today! – as well as a number of new referrals.

We, of course, also use a variety of different marketing methods, including social media, blogs, email marketing and in-person events. These are all critical and necessary for visibility, social proof and credibility. However, nurturing our existing client relationships and their referrals continues to be our best source of new business.

And that begins by providing high-quality work and exceptional customer service. We are always working to improve and update our services, as well as to go above and beyond to make sure our clients’ needs are met.

For example, when a client was struggling with their sales process, I volunteered to put together a custom landing page and sales funnel for them at no extra cost. By going above and beyond, we’re able to demonstrate our value to our clients and keep them coming back for more. This has helped us to build strong relationships and drive referrals.

Referrals from companion businesses in our space, including website designers, branding agencies and photographers, have also been incredibly valuable. And we make it easy for people to refer to us, with a referral program that offers incentives for clients and partners that send any new business our way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges, but one of the toughest things I had to come to terms with was my own fear, insecurity and self-doubt.

That nagging voice in my head constantly telling me, “I’m not good enough, I’m just faking it, I don’t deserve this success.” Otherwise known as imposter syndrome.

As a 40-something single woman that’s never been married and with no children, I know all too well the feeling of being unsure of myself. And despite all of my personal and professional accomplishments for which I’m very proud and grateful, I still felt largely measured, and frankly often judged, by my lack of a husband and a family.

These feelings of lack carried over into when I first started Studio Three 49. Who was I to be starting a company and trying to make a name for myself in the marketing world? I didn’t have any formal business training or a business plan. I was just an English major, with passion and drive. What did I have to offer that others didn’t?

It took me a while to realize that I was the one holding myself back. I was the one telling myself that I wasn’t good enough and that I didn’t deserve success. It wasn’t until I started to recognize and get comfortable with my own value that I began to start asking for and charging what I was worth.

I looked at what my competitors were charging for similar services, and I realized that I was significantly undercharging. I was so afraid of scaring off potential clients that I was pricing myself too low, which was not only hurting my bottom line, but also my confidence.

I then took a hard look at my own skills and accomplishments and made a list of all the things that I had achieved in my business so far, no matter how small. I started to see just how much value I was offering to my clients. I realized that I had a unique set of skills and experiences that set me apart from others in my industry, and that I deserved to be compensated for them.

It wasn’t an overnight change, but gradually, as I began to believe in my own value and worth, I started to feel more comfortable charging for it. I stopped worrying about what others thought of my prices and was honest with myself and my clients about the value of my work and the time and effort that went into it.

And you know what? The world didn’t stop turning, and we didn’t lose any clients. It was a total non-event. They still consistently compliment our work and refer us to others. I learned that when you honor your own value, others will, too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiothree49.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiothree49/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiothree49
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/studio-three-49

Image Credits
Alicia Leigh Photography (www.alicialeighphoto.com)