3 Things I Wish I Would've Known Sooner (as a Professional Digital Marketer and Content Creator)
Written By: Jessica Wallace Co-founder & CEO
So, I'll be honest—like I always am—there's a massive part of me that still can't believe we're at a point where we can confidently help others navigate the digital landscape with a little less of a headache. We've got a laundry list of things we wish we would've known sooner—not only as small business owners but as professional marketers and content creators.
Take a look at our top 3, and trust us—they'll save you a ton of time and headaches.
If you're working with multiple clients—Start with a CRM or Project Management Tool.
I can promise you, it's going to save you so much time if you get one set up right in the early phases of your business. It's important to keep clear records and have a place to track projects, clients, deadlines, etc. It's worth the investment, and if you're in the market, we'd suggest getting one that includes productivity-enhancing features.
Our agency uses ClickUp—not entirely a CRM tool, but it's an all-in-one project management and productivity platform that allows us to track and manage our clients' accounts. We like to think of it as our command center. You can plan projects, assign and track tasks, set deadlines, chat with team members, store documents and SOPs—they even have workflow automation features.
Right now, my sister and I are both ranking in the top 10% globally in terms of platform usage, and we've been rewarded with power-user badges that unlocked exclusive access to insider information on enhancements and tutorials for the platform itself.
It has cut back on the time we spend organizing files and recording important client information. This winter, we’re planning to become verified and certified through ClickUp's online education program. ClickUp has drastically increased our productivity, and as we continue to navigate and learn its features, the more we love it.
Stay tuned for a deeper dive in a future article!
Make your messaging one of the first things you focus on.
Here's the hard truth: you're not going to be liked by everybody—and that's okay because you're not here to be liked. You're here to make an impact. You're here with purpose, and you need to be more than liked... you need to be loved. So yeah, not everyone is going to like you—but some are going to love you. Talk to them.
Attracting a smaller group that's die-hard, loyal, and willing to back you in rooms you're not in is far better than knowing everyone and rarely being seen—talking but not being heard.
What you're building is more than a hobby; it's a business. Treat it like one.
I'm not about to give you a permission slip to skip out on your work and always be nudging the damn deadline, but I'm also not going to condone dropping your life to constantly show up and show out because "it's my business..."
Listen—stop with the 7 AM troubleshoot SOS text messages and the 9 PM “Can you look at this?” requests while your family is watching a show before bed. This isn’t a hobby. It’s a business. Establish business hours and honor them. Draw boundaries with urgent requests and remember—there’s always tomorrow.
However, when tomorrow comes—“Work from home peeps,” I’m looking at you—make sure you’re productive. Make sure that during your business hours, you're getting your work done. Distractions are ultra-high when you’re working from the kitchen table, but trust me—it will balance out if you can separate home from work and vice versa.
Pro Tip: Set yourself up for success and organize your day so it make the most sense for the phase of life you're in. You do have the permission write your own schedule, do it so it makes sense and make sure you're giving yourself enough of a turn around time for deadlines. Over-committers, we see you too.
Hustle Phase... We're With You.
We see you, and we stand with you. Starting, scaling, building—they all take a lot of work, a lot of grind, a lot of hustle. We’re in the messy middle of scaling our agency. We're still figuring it out, and if you know anything about the profession/industry, you know it's fluid and always changing.
You've gotta stay on your toes, and you've gotta find a rhythm that works for you. If we can do anything, it’s to shed some light on a journey that might feel a lot like yours.
Want more real-time insights from the frontlines of agency life?
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for BTS grit, tips, and marketing strategy gold.
Small Business Owners, Marketers, and Content Creators—click here to subscribe!