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Posts tagged ‘social media marketing’

Maggie Fox, Founder/CEO of SocialMediaGroup

Maggie Fox’s BIO

Maggie Fox

Social Media Group is one of the world’s most highly respected independent agencies helping businesses navigate the socially engaged Web.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

1. What prompted you to start the Social Media Group?

Maggie: I had been using social media since the tools became widely available in 2004 or so. I was in a client meeting in early 2006 (I worked as a freelance web producer at the time) when an executive remarked that they were very interested in how companies were starting to use these tools, like blogs, to talk to their customers. It was literally a lightbulb moment. I chose the name Social Media Goup, bought the URL, got a logo and we were open for business by August of that year. Our first client, Yamaha Motor, was landed in November.

 

2. There is no typical day in the life of an entrepreneur. Please share with us a sample of your day, start to finish.

Maggie: I usually start the day by reading my Twitter stream and any industry news and business-focused articles that surface there or in my inbox. I also read any articles that are just plain interesting. I find it really gets me in the right expansive headspace to have a creative and engaging day. Then I’ll typically review my priorities and identify the top three things I must accomplish that day. The rest tends to be meetings, emails and talking with my team. A lot of catch-up happens in the evening after dinner, and I will usually attempt to power through email and to-do’s on the train ride home (where I’m writing this right now!).

When I’m traveling, all bets are off! I usually try to get a run in each day, and keep up with things when and where I can. I greatly enjoy the wifi-free productivity that plane rides offer.

 

3. What are your ‘can’t live without’ Smartphone or desktop applications?

Maggie:

 

4. What are your tricks for time management?

Maggie: Focus! Identify the top three things and get them done. I also have a constantly evolving to-do list broken into both tasks and follow-ups. Accountability is a massive part of what I do, so keeping track of that mission is critical!

 

5. What was the best advice you received when you started your career?

Maggie: Sometimes you need to just shut up and listen!

This came from a senior leader who mentored me when I was first starting out. She talked about the need to not always be ready with an answer to a problem. Instead, sometimes you just need to let people vent, get it out, and then ask them questions that help them get to the solution themselves.

She is a brilliant woman.

 

6. Given the current economic climate, what has been your strategy for building awareness of your business for short term and long term growth?

Maggie: We have always leveraged social media successfully to market our services and our smart people. This year we will also focus on earning even more targeted mainstream media coverage, especially in trade publications. We’ll also be exploring channel sales opportunities and partnerships to accelerate our growth.

 

7. What is your proudest achievement as an accomplished entrepreneur?

Maggie: Rebuilding our business after losing 75% of our revenue in early 2010. We kept the team together and motivated them to make it happen. It has been an amazing ride.

 

8. How do you achieve balance in your life?

Maggie: I’m not sure that I do!

 

9. Who has influenced your career the most?

Maggie: I tend to admire people from afar and episodically; I have certainly learned an incredible amount from every single one of our clients. Working with smart, accomplished people is one of the highlights of my work and I love it!

 

10. What is your advice for someone interested in entrepreneurship?

Maggie: It’s a hard row to hoe. Make sure you (and your life partner) are ready for the ups and downs. However, there is nothing quite like building something from nothing (and motivating other people to help you do it). It is amazingly rewarding and you will never be bored if you do it right!

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MAGGIE FOX

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Christine Hueber, Social Media Marketing Expert

Christine Hueber’s BIO

Christine Hueber

Christine Hueber has become regarded as the voice for business owner and entrepreneur marketing and social media marketing. As founder and CEO of ChristineHueber.com, she has created a dynamic boutique enterprise that is devoted to empowering business owners and entrepreneurs around the world. It currently has over 20,000 members in her online and offline programs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

1. Oprah Winfrey has been inspiring us each month with her unique approach to life and to creating our very best lives so, as a tribute to her, A La Oprah, what did you know for sure when you decided to be a solo business practitioner?

That it was going to be very interesting and exciting. That I would grow in ways and have experiences that would amaze and delight me.

 

2. Take us through a typical day with your schedule from start to finish.

My days vary a lot, but this is what I strive for:

  • I usually start work at 5 by thinking and focusing on projects/writing that will take me where I want to go for the first three to four hours of my day.
  • The next three to four hours, I focus on my business and work with clients.
  • I break for lunch and personal activities from noon to 1PM.
  • I focus on my business/marketing for the following three to four hours.
  • Depending on the time of year, I go walking for thirty minutes or running for an hour at some point during the day.
  • I try to end the day with a good book.

 

3. What are a few of your “can’t live without” applications on your personal computer/smart phone?

 

4. What are your tricks for time management?

  • Have two primary goals for the day and set a timer.
  • Manage email/voicemail once a day.

 

5. Best advice received when you started your business?

Focus on what gets me closer to my goals.

 

6. If given an extra hour each day to seek new ideas and brainstorm, what are some sources you turn to?

Those who have done what I want to do and myself.

 

7. Given the current economic climate, how has your strategy for your company changed for the short-term and long-term?

I focus on revenue-generating activities in every economic cycle.

 

8. What’s been your proudest achievement as an entrepreneur?

To provide constant value to my clients.

 

9. What are some of the ways that you achieve balance in your life?

I run/walk outside daily, set aside time for thinking and enjoy delicious meals in delightful company.

 

10. Two books you would recommend highly to our readers (and why?)

  • [amazon_link id=”0307465357″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Four Hour Work Week[/amazon_link] by Timothy Ferris for the effective perspective on work and life.
  • [amazon_link id=”0385491743″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The 80/20 Principle[/amazon_link] by Richard Koch for how simple it makes being effective in work and life.

 

11. If you received a surprise bonus equal to half of your monthly salary, what (if anything) would you spend it on?

Travel.

 

12. What are some of your most rewarding charitable involvements and why?

Providing value to those who are seeking it.

 

13. Who has been the most influential person to you as you’ve advanced in your career?

My clients are the most influential and most valuable.

 

Social Media for Christine Hueber

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