Blog

• What is your professional background?

I have been working in marketing and events for various companies and organizations for over ten years. Since graduating a decade ago, I’ve taken many opportunities across a variety of brands; from global retail to Olympic events and broadcasters. Most recently I worked with Bourne Leisure. Now I am the mother of two children and I want to live flexibly, i.e. work as a freelancer.

• Love it or hate it, is social media something businesses of all sizes need to embrace?

Rachel Markie

Social media is definitely here to stay. Our world is adapting to social media and companies need to leverage the capabilities of the platforms. Social media offers companies of all sizes the opportunity to communicate directly with their target customers regardless of their location. It enables businesses to build communities of dedicated, loyal followers who want to shop with them and endorse their brand. It opens up efficient advertising opportunities that companies would otherwise find difficult to reach without large budgets.

• Social media can be a little confusing when you’re new to it. What’s the best way for entrepreneurs?

My first advice is to really think about your target audience. How old are you? What are your interests? Where do they live and with whom? What is their disposable income? Once you have this information, you can begin to understand what type of media they are consuming and how they might use social media. You should also research social media platforms that suit your target audience and show up on those networks. Start connecting with these people and building trusting relationships with your brand. There are plenty of free online courses available to learn about social media and understand the basics. For example, Facebook’s Blueprint course is great for understanding how the platform works and how you can use it for your business – www.facebook.com/business/learn. I also offer individual or group training and master classes. My next workshop is on August 25th at 6pm with the title “Plan your social media content by Christmas”.

• How do you approach coaching people on social media?

First and foremost, I get to know the entrepreneur and his goals. We then decide which route would be better for you. If it’s just a matter of replenishing knowledge quickly, I offer individual Power Hours or Nurture Packages that enable you to expand your skills in a customized, fast and relevant way for your business. Some of my clients are looking for a little more support, so I am offering a package with a written strategy that is rich in research on their business and its position in the market. I then coach them through the process of deployment. My main goal is to enable business owners to get the most out of digital marketing and understand its power.

• Where can we find out more?