Pros & Cons: Starting Your Own Business

I knew starting my own business would most likely be stressful and time consuming. Being the only worker AND owner gives me, not only a full plate, but two filled plates with a desert platter in tow. I may not have to wake up at 6 a.m. and wear work appropriate clothes, but the pressure most people stop feeling when they leave work never completely leaves me.

So far the pros & cons of starting your own business:
I'm starting with cons first because I like to end on a good note!

Cons

• I am constantly running around. When something needs to be done I can't contract out to someone else or ask my employee to handle it--it's my baby and I have to take care of it on my own. If multiple problems arise at once then I have to make a priorities list and work my way through the muddle.
• Time management is a tricky one with my specific business. I am knee-deep in social media sites all day and into the night plus creating/editing client websites. I can't just work an 8-5 and be done with it. Social media and the people who love it don't go to sleep after 5 so either do I. I have been on my computer so much that I start to get headaches from staring at the screen. The more clients I have, the more time consuming it becomes and if I don't manage my time correctly I end up hurting myself rather than helping the clients to the full of my potential. 
• Second opinions are hard to come by when it's only little ole me working. In college and my jobs since I have had another pair of eyes and ears to be able to bounce ideas off of when I hit the occasional brain freeze and innovative rut. Now, I have to just walk away for a bit then come back and use myself as the second opinion. (Not to say my first opinion is always crappy!)
• I don't need to really spell out the fact that I pay for everything I need to use. It's not exactly a con more like a necessary evil.

Pros

• It's my baby. All the cons in the world can't take that one glorious fact away from me. At the beginning and end of the day, all the work I've done is the work I love and the work I decided to make into a career. No one is above me, dictating the direction to go in. It's just me, working my butt off to succeed. When I hear friends and families complain about not liking their jobs, I know that even if I have a few cons to rant about that underneath it all I am in love with my business. 

I suppose this is a bit unbalanced but, even as I was sitting here trying to think of more pros and more cons, I am confident I made the correct choice in saying "Screw you job market!" and pursuing something I love. 

For all of those business owners out there, let me take a moment to pat you on the back! You've realized a need in society and are answering it in your own way. Keeping kicking ass!

(Note: The next post will be about my personal workday schedule of MADNESS!)

Content providers are kicking ass [Warning: Foul, foul language]

Gary Vaynerchuk is my 35-year-old, foul-mouthed, wine genius, hero. He's a humble man that knows exactly what he wants (to buy the Jets) and knows exactly what he can do. He doesn't bullshit you--he's as honest as can be. So, other than my descriptors, who is Vay ner chuk?

Gary's parents owned a liquor store and when he was young he started reading The Wine Spectator and wine books, realizing that collecting wines had the same allure as collecting baseball cards. During college he spent every weekend at the wine store and, realizing the importance of the online world, he started Winelibrary.com. He took his family's business and helped it grow from $3 million to $45 million by 2005. That's pretty damn impressive if you ask me (and even if you don't, it is).
Then, Gary did something that I will start doing very soon--he began doing video blogs. Everyday he would sit down and review wines. What I like the most about him is the fact that he would always be upfront about his opinion. If he didn't like a wine, he said it. This earned him the credibility of being honest.
The video blog tactic revolutionized the wine industry and since then Gary Vaynerchuk has been rocking it out. A cult-like following, guest appearances on television (the Conan O'Brien episode was funny), two best-selling books, a company launched with his brother that helps Fortune 500 companies find their social media voices and build digital brands, and also paid for speaking engagements are some examples of his accomplishments. To find out more go to his website and see the rest.

Now, I love our humble Mr. Vaynerchuk, especially when he's doing some public speaking. I found the video below of one of these events and, let me tell you, I laughed a lot while watching it. I mean, the man walks out on stage with his shirt tail sticking out and weaves foul language into the presentation. But, he also tells you the harsh truth. This video is about content providers and telling people to hustle. "This is the time to do the shit you love."
"Why are you going to work for a company that sucks complete shit?"
"People in the middle are fucked. Content providers are kicking ass and getting more action."

I highly suggest watching this video. It's 12 minutes long but at least give it a chance. It's highly entertaining and, at the same time, very inspirational. Gary Varynerchuk will be the first person to tell you that he isn't very smart, but he knows what the hell he wants and is going for it.
Shouldn't you?


Gary Vaynerchuk at FOWA Miami 09 from DamianVoltes.com on Vimeo.

What is Social Spaz?

Basically, I am a social media consultant and a social media strategist wrapped into one.

This is what I do: 

I have a consultation with you and assess your social media needs. I go over these points:

• What is your overall goal? (Are you going for a certain demographic? Are you just starting out or do you just want a larger audience overall?)
• What social networking sites are you already using
• What social networking sites SHOULD you be using

I take your answers and research the best strategy for you and your business. I go beyond the top tier sites (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube), find your niche market and the sites that will get you the most exposure.

Then, from there, I meet with you again with a marketing strategy in hand. I outline what should be done and give you two options:

1. I set up the accounts, like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for example and run them for two months. 

or

2. I set up the accounts and maintain them for a monthly fee. This option is what most clients choose because I pull out all of the stops and become obsessively interactive with them, attracting and keeping a larger audience engaged daily.

Lastly, without going into hardcore details, these are the most popular things I can do:

• Create social networking accounts across a variety of sites
• Update them daily during the hot zones (what I call the times when most people are online)
• Blog/Video Blog
• Content creation, i.e. creative copy
• Design options are also available
• Weekly updates on stats for each site

I am extremely flexible and affordable with each plan and I truly love the work I do. If you are interested or just have questions email me! 

I'm online everyday! It's my job!

Networking isn't just talking to yourself

Since the announcement of Social Spaz's future, I've had people start to ask me what it is exactly I do all day. Then, the less tactful people accuse me of doing absolutely nothing. This makes me smile because, while I may not have the normal 9-5 with a fancy desk and a water cooler near by, I work my fingers off just like the rest of the world.

I'm not going to give you a play-by-play just yet, instead I want to focus on one of the most important facets of starting your own business, especially one that revolves around the online world, and something I spend many hours working on.

Online networking.


Some people just POST on their social media sites and blogs and that's it. Networking isn't just talking to yourself folks. You need to go online and find things related to what you're doing. Find sites and discussion boards and become involved. Comment, email and be social. This will help you create a whole different network that will be a great tool for your business' future. I am constantly going through message boards and websites, commenting, liking and emailing intelligent, opinionated people who have common interests. A wonderful client or a supportive fan base could be a comment away!

Note: I'm talking about ONLINE networking only. You should already be doing face-to-face interactions.

Shouldn't I have a real job by now?!

My name is Tyler Anne Snell and I'm starting my own business.
Let me begin by telling you that it is one of the scariest decisions I've made and it definitely was not the first either.

Starting my own business was actually my back-up plan. Kind of backwards, huh? I graduated and was certain I'd have a job in no time. I'd like to say that this was my confidence talking and not the state of the job market.

Let my break down my experience during the months after graduation:
Month 1
No call backs.
I wasn't phased, instead I was almost pleased as I lived in my apartment while my lease ran out, hanging out with my college friends who were taking summer courses.
Month 2
No call backs, but I was applying for two to three jobs a day.
Unexpected (mostly) free trip to New York, where I decided that I like greenery and front and backyards so I began to search for jobs in places where those were attainable features.
Stress Level: Definitely rising.
Month 3
One call back...that didn't work out.
Stress Level: Very frustrated--doubting self.
Month 4
Job offer, but the pay wasn't enough to allow me to move TO the job.
Stress Level: Oh. My. Gosh. Freaking out. Looking for jobs online in my spare time (which was a lot considering I was JOBLESS) and thinking about my life as a failure as I feel asleep each night. I just wanted to burst into companies' offices and yell "I'm awesome! You need me!"
End of Month 4
Then something wonderful happened--I met a woman who said I had drive and the skills to make my own business and to do it well. She even went as far to become my first client.
I am currently her social media consultant where I create and maintain her online presence while connecting her to a larger social network. And, let me tell you--I love it. Since then my clientele has boomed.

So, taking my prior experiences, I decided to make this idea into a business.
My two biggest inspirations?
Crazy Love Studios' owners Chelsea and Travis are a duo of creative genius who in the past year became a trio with a cute little baby girl. They started their wonderful business and are amazing at it. They went for gold and are doing great. Check them out!
Then there's Tara Hunt, a marketing genius that when asked for her resume just says "Google me." She started out small and now is a powerhouse in the industry.
With these people to look up to and a passion for people and social media, I will be starting my own business and blogging updates about the ups and (hopefully few) downs!