Summary
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Grace Gill, Harrison Kitson, and Claudia Scott are joined by Brittnie Simon, founder and owner of Collab Design Co. Collab is a digital marking agency in Northwest Arkansas whose goal is to elevate businesses through creative initiatives that drive results through strategy, marketing, and design. In this episode, Brittnie talks about what she learned about culture in corporate America, as well as how she builds a culture in her company that encourages growth and innovation.
Show Notes
(0:53) Brittnie’s Origin Story
(12:27) Introducing Collab Design Co.
(15:00) The Importance of Support Networks
(19:29) Building a Company Culture and Avoiding Burnout
(27:01) Selling Clients What They Need
(29:20) Social Media Advice for Small Businesses
(37:38) Advice to the Younger Self and Closing Thoughts
Links
Quotes
“What really stood out to me on my journey was how many people that I was able to lean on, like connections that supported me…[and it was the same experience] when I launched my business. When I started networking and connecting in the community, people want to refer locally and they want to get to know who they’re referring.” – Brittnie Simon, (15:43)
“If you have your cup and it’s full of creative juices, and as you’re doing things you kind of lose it, and if you don’t have a way to refill it…then you’re kind of at the end of your cup and you’re not doing successful work. So being able to say, hey my cup’s empty and build that communication there, then we can pivot and help give you opportunities to refill.” – Brittnie Simon, (20:26)
“I think there’s a misunderstanding of what consistency means [on social media], and I think that’s the biggest challenge. Consistency isn’t posting every day. Can you post weekly, on a regular basis consistently? Even if it’s once or twice a week. You just determine your level of consistency and commit to it.” – Brittnie Simon, (29:25)
“The other thing I’ve learned is that social media is a long game. Marketing is a long game. So trying to see return on investment one week after you started posting consistently is going to dishearten you…You’re probably going to be putting effort in for about a year before you’ll see those results.” – Brittnie Simon, (33:37)
The Importance of Building a Culture of Support with Brittnie Simon
On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Grace Gill, Harrison Kitson, and Claudia Scott are joined by Brittnie Simon, founder and owner of Collab Design Co. Collab is a digital marking agency in Northwest Arkansas whose goal is to elevate businesses through creative initiatives that drive results through strategy, marketing, and design. In this episode, Brittnie talks about what she learned about culture in corporate America, as well as how she builds a culture in her company that encourages growth and innovation.
Collab’s Culture
When Brittnie launched Collab Design Co., she did it for herself. She’d worked a handful of jobs since graduating from the University of Arkansas, and while some had been good fits, others proved more difficult. She wanted Collab to be a workplace she could thrive in, one that would benefit her mental health and thwart creative burnout. As a result, she’s created the same environment for her team, allowing creativity to flourish.
“If you have your cup and it’s full of creative juices, and as you’re doing things you kind of lose it, and if you don’t have a way to refill it…then you’re kind of at the end of your cup and you’re not doing successful work. So being able to say, hey my cup’s empty and build that communication there, then we can pivot and help give you opportunities to refill.” – Brittnie Simon, (20:26)
Social Media Advice for Small Businesses
As Brittnie explained, social media and digital marketing come last for most businesses. They serve their clients and their clients’ needs, and there’s rarely time left at the end of the day to focus on marketing their own brand. Luckily, not all businesses need to post several times a day. Instead, Brittnie recommends having a consistent presence on social media, and consistency can look different for every brand.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding of what consistency means [on social media], and I think that’s the biggest challenge. Consistency isn’t posting every day. Can you post weekly, on a regular basis consistently? Even if it’s once or twice a week. You just determine your level of consistency and commit to it.” – Brittnie Simon, (29:25)
Once brands identify what consistency means to them, many hit the ground running but are quickly discouraged by the early results. They might be posting three reels a week to Instagram, but they’re only getting a handful of likes. As Brittnie learned, social media is a long game, and you have to focus on the long-term results. You might not notice a change tomorrow, but in a year’s time, you’ll have the social media presence you dreamed of.
“The other thing I’ve learned is that social media is a long game. Marketing is a long game. So trying to see return on investment one week after you started posting consistently is going to dishearten you…You’re probably going to be putting effort in for about a year before you’ll see those results.” – Brittnie Simon, (33:37)
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