Freelancer Profile: Meet Carly, a Socially Graceful Digital Strategist
Meet Carly, digital strategist of Socially Graceful, who specialises in organic digital marketing across social media, email and content marketing. She has been running Socially Graceful since March 2020 and went all in, in February 2021 when she hit 5-figure months. She knows how to grow and scale a business and can help you do the same!
Over the past almost decade, Carly has been immersed in the tech world. She started blogging when it was a big thing back in 2008 and was featured in magazines for pieces, picked up by big companies for collaborations, and was well-known within the mummy-blogging world. She then assisted with managing online communities on Facebook and Instagram for Fat Mum Slim and created massive campaigns on my group blog – encouraging women to love their bodies.
Before Carly dived head first into the world of digital marketing, she was a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and has a passion for creating a plan, implementing it, and seeing those results (because it’s what she did on a daily basis with the kids she was working with!). Moreover, writing beautiful stories that pulled the audience in, is just her jam.
Within Early Childhood Education, Carly was mainly in leadership roles (the director, educational leader, and assistant manager) so she knows how to project manage and get things done in a timely manner. Plus, after she was managing 18 2-3-year-olds, she thinks she’s got it down pat!
Let’s get to know more about her in our interview.
Tell us a little about yourself and your business?
I’m Carly, and am a mama of 2 and wife. My biz is Socially Graceful and I am a digital strategist, which is just a fancy way of saying that I put a strategy in place before I implement anything when it comes to digital marketing. I mainly deal with organic marketing, focusing on social media, email and content marketing.
I have three main options of working with me as your digital strategist.
Done for you options, where you outsource everything to me
Done with you options, where you and I (and your team if you have one) work together!
Do it yourself options, where you get in and get your hands dirty so-to-speak and I teach you the ins and outs!
What inspired you to make the leap and go out on your own, and when did you first start working for yourself?
Back in March 2020, someone needed some help and I thought “I can do all that” and so I popped my hand up and well, I got it. From there, word of mouth exploded my biz and it wasn’t long before I replaced my part-time income. I love that I have flexibility and a better work/life balance then when I worked in Education.
Tell us about your experience of working for yourself?
I started working as a VA originally back in 2020 and soon discovered that my previous skills worked perfectly with strategy and started up-skilling. It wasn’t long before I made the jump from VA to Digital Strategist (because I focused so much more on the strategy then the getting things done aspect).
What’s your best piece of advice for someone wanting to make the leap?
You have to do what’s right for you. Owning your own business has it’s ups and downs, there’s never a guaranteed income like when you work for a salary, but the flexibility is AMAZING!
Best tips for winning new business?
Always be yourself. There’s no point in trying to be everything that they need, if you can’t deliver!
What has been your favourite project to date?
I’m loving my newest offer at the moment, Graceful Content Consulting, which is where I work with businesses who want to outsource, but can’t yet due to finances. This is the perfect alternative because I keep you accountable and get your content written, but also read over it and give you ideas and suggestions too!
What is a business win you’re currently celebrating?
Amazing results for my email clients! 16.2% click rate on a 2,000 list size, $2.5k revenue from one email being sent, and so many more! (ps. Average click rate is 1-2%)
What led you to join Freelancing Gems?
FG Member Joanna suggested that I join as I had space available within my retainers, and she said that qualified leads came through.
What is one word you would use to describe Freelancing Gems?
Helpful.
What’s next for your business?
Hopefully moving more towards an even split of more passive income and retainer income, and celebrating my 3rd year in biz with a bang next year!
Carly is constantly up-skilling and refining her passion for marketing, specifically organic marketing and conversational copywriting. She loves working with a range of different clients, and has a soft spot for those that involve anything children-related, particularly when she gets to flex her developmental knowledge.
You can connect with Carly here on the Gem Directory.
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