Q&A With A Solo Social Media Marketer
Something on the mind of many young Ad/PR professionals is the idea of freelancing or starting their own business, and it’s no surprise. Between the struggle of finding enjoyable work and earning enough to keep up with inflation, why not decide for yourself and do what you love?
This week I shared a conversation with Amber Zakem, Founder and Creative Director of Haus Social LLC. As she goes into her third year of running her own social media management company, she’s learned an incredible amount about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, as well as the freedom of being your own boss.
Q: What were you doing right before you went on your own, and how did you make that decision?
Amber earned her undergraduate degree in History and her MBA in Marketing, proving that you don’t need to start in any particular place to be successful. Her first post-grad job was at a family friend’s travel agency in Oshkosh, WI, where she had the opportunity to manage their social media on top of her full-time role. Little did they know that it would become her passion and the reason for starting her own business nearly seven years later.
Amber later moved to Chicago, and in 2015, she took a position with another travel agency doing social media marketing exclusively. The pandemic hit the travel industry hard in 2020, and Amber’s pay felt the impact. She had always thought about starting her own business, but this was her sign to actually take that leap. Although her main concern was the dip in income, she realized that the pandemic did less financial damage than she expected. Why not take this chance?
Today, Amber works with multiple past companies & clients as part of her own LLC. She gained her clientele by networking and reaching out to family friends, past colleagues, and by gaining referrals.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?
The main thing Amber enjoys is that she can create the roadmap. When she started the journey that is Haus Social, she says she “loved being able to create what I thought it should look like.” Besides her clients, there is no one telling her what direction to take her creativity and strategy, and she loves being able to structure her work around a system that makes sense for her.
An advantage that Amber has is that she’s been able to carve out a niche in the small business community. She focuses her work with clients that have a small marketing budget and want a simple plan without the exorbitant costs that come with large firms or digital marketing programs. Many businesses don’t know that companies like Haus Social exist, so Amber is doing her part to tell their stories.
Q: What’s not so amazing about your job, or what would you have done differently?
According to Amber, the answer to this changes all the time. Any time she wishes she would’ve done something differently, she tries to learn from it and try again. In a general sense, all jobs come with tedious work that isn’t necessarily enjoyable, but the results are rewarding. Amber otherwise enjoys her opportunities and looks forward to the possibility of hiring more help that allows her to re-focus into the creative side of her job.
Sourced from Haus Social
Q: Is there a certain type of person that makes a great entrepreneur or freelancer?
Yes, kind of. When it comes to business, there's not one route to success. You just have to know yourself. Amber told me, “Self awareness is going to drive how you go into the business world.” So once you understand how you function, that can determine how you get where you want.
When it comes to the question at hand, Amber has noticed that entrepreneurs do well when they’re already the type to be organized, driven, and confident in their creativity. Someone who likes the ability to lean on others and physically leave work at the office might be better suited for just that, or for a freelance job that allows them to be further from the core of the business.
One insight I loved was this: You can be super successful in a career where you aren’t necessarily the boss or CEO. There’s so much talk about making it to the top, but why? Amber also pointed out that we are all driven by something other than money. For her, this is work-life balance. With a passion for travel and a baby on the way, Amber loves being able to structure her life in a way that suits her, not a corporation. If this sounds like you, it might be time to think about your future career a little more seriously.
Q: What steps would you recommend someone like me (a college senior) to take?
The industry is constantly changing, and there’s a lot more opportunities out there now than when Amber first started. You can find jobs from companies who post specific social media positions, as well as from freelancing websites like Fiverr and Upwork. But Amber’s most critical tip is to get great at networking. She herself admits that networking is hard and uncomfortable sometimes, but it only takes one opportunity to snowball into your entire career. All of her clients are referral based thanks to this method, starting with her one job at a travel agency that blossomed into a web of helpful connections nationwide.
It’s at this point that a college student should focus on taking chances, putting themselves out there, asking questions, and treating interviews like they’re the one interviewing - because they are. And lastly, have fun with it, because nothing needs to be permanent. If you fail, learn from it. If you hate a job, give it 6 months, and if you still hate it, quit. Find what you’re passionate about, and you will discover ways to share it with the world in one way or another.
About Katie
Katie Lindow is a senior pursuing a BS in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Psychology. This will be her first year with GrandPR as an Account Associate. Currently, Katie is a Marketing Intern for DeWys Manufacturing as well as a Social Media Intern for Haus Social and their podcasting team. This fall, she will continue her role as a Digital Skills Consultant at GVSU Libraries. After graduation, she hopes to use her creative skills as part of a new team, or even eventually start her own business.