Interview with Owner Kelly Jones
March 18, 2015
We've got a special blog for you guys today – an interview with the founder and owner of Social Marketing Solutions, Kelly Jones! Here you'll learn about Kelly's history in social marketing, find out what makes her tick and so much more. Let's get started!
1. What led you into social marketing? One of my previous employers had the idea to manage business's social media for those who didn't have the time and expertise to do so. He was looking for a college aged student with social media knowledge who had interest in working and growing with a variety of companies. At the time it was a great opportunity for me to learn how to work with various businesses, understand their needs and expectations, and then deliver while doing something I loved. After working with the company, Working Your Network, for almost two years I decided to venture off and go on my own.
2. Why did you decide to start your own company? I started my own company after realizing how much I grew Working York Network on my own. I wanted to expand and grow, and I felt like owning my own company gave me the ability to do so. I was still young and in school, but I had the knowledge and background of the industry and I knew with hard work and dedication the business would thrive.
3. Since you were so young when you started Social Marketing Solutions (SMS), how do you think being younger worked to your advantage in this field? Being young was an advantage in this field as I grew up on social media. I personally have used, purchased, researched, and reviewed a company based on their social media pages. I know what others are searching for and this knowledge has helped me understand how businesses target audiences in order to achieve success through social media. It is important to know what the consumer is looking for and growing up in the generation of social networking definitely gave me a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.
4. And on the flip side, what have you learned through the years and from people who are older and wiser? Throughout the years I have learned A TON from working with over 100 different clients and 10+ different employees. I have learned that every company is different – including their target audience, goals and expectations. I have learned it's important to be in constant communication with your clients, in addition to addressing client concerns on what works and what doesn't. I have gained an appreciation for every business with which I have worked. As we are all trying to grow and develop and every company is dealing with different scenarios, I also have learned to listen and value my clients and employees because they're the reason why we are successful. As the owner I have become more humble and grateful for my staff as I couldn't do what I do without them.
5. What's your favorite aspect of social media marketing? My favorite aspect of social media marketing is seeing and hearing about the success stories. Hearing that clients are getting attention or that their pages are getting noticed is the most rewarding part of our job. It's so tough to judge ROI in our industry, so hearing positive feedback from my clients is the most rewarding.
6. How have you seen trends change and grow? There have been so many changes in the trends of social media worlds. I learned quickly social media marketing is ever changing, and it is up to us to stay ahead of the curb. I learned that some sites are better than others for our clients, and not everything works for everyone. It is important to learn about the company we are working with and find what is going to be best for that specific organization.
7. If companies are going to have only ONE thing they do online, what should it be? If a company is going to do one thing online, it should be to have a powerful and well maintained website that you can direct people to through your other marketing channels.
8. What else should people know about you? What do you like to do? Where did you go to school? Anything else like that you'd like to share? I graduated from High Point University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Communications with a specific focus in social media. I also work full time for College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, one of our first clients when the business started in 2011. I enjoy staying busy through work and traveling, and in my "free time" I enjoy heading to the Jersey Shore where I have a summer beach house in Long Beach Island.
Check out the video below to find out who inspires Kelly and more!
Interview by Misty Layne
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Author
- Kelly Jones
Social Media Manager
