The deets:
Name: Teena Thomas (she/her)
Business Name: Revolve Social LLC
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Describe your business:
Revolve Social is a woman-owned and operated boutique agency that specializes in social media marketing and brand strategy. My agency focuses on the art of storytelling and I’m passionate about delivering real tangible results.
Tell us about your self-employment journey.
I worked in corporate America for eight years immediately out of college and I always had a side hustle where I work working for myself.
I worked in the marketing sector managing territories for various brands, so I wore several hats. I did everything from project management to social media marketing to experiential events. During my free time, I was also always doing side gigs because I knew I didn’t fit into the corporate world and my end goal was to start my own business eventually.
Fast forward to a month before the pandemic. I just received an amazing offer for a role at a new company. Shortly after the pandemic hit, the role was put on pause with no updates on when it would resume. I had to figure things out quickly. I meditated on it, slept on it, and spent hours researching what my options were. It was a pandemic. No one was hiring.
Since life was no longer happening in person, I decided to pursue my passion in social media, and with the help of Collective, Revolve Social was born.
What area of your business are you most passionate about?
I absolutely love the process of helping a brand’s story come to life through social. Most brands have a beautiful story of how they came to be, but they struggle to share it because social media can be intimidating.
This is what the creation of a brand strategy is all about. I discover ways to share their vision for their brand across various platforms creatively. I help tell their story in a way they couldn’t and that truly speaks to them.
What’s the most valuable thing you learned early in your career that has contributed to your success?
To have grit and resilience. I’ve had so many doors close in my face being a minority woman in corporate America. It’s taught me to keep pushing and keep climbing regardless of what anyone says or thinks. When the pandemic hit and every door closed, I opened my own door and created my opportunity.
How are you pivoting your business during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Social media has such a bad reputation, but the pandemic is a great example of how we can use it as a tool if we allow it. I’ve used the pandemic to teach brands that if you use social media properly, you can build and grow a community with people worldwide. You can connect with people that will see your vision and need your products and services.
What’s a recent project that you’ve worked on that you’re really excited about?
The most recent project that I executed was assisting my client in getting SKUs into Walmart.
My client previously pitched Walmart and got turned down due to the lack of social media presence. When I took the client on they had virtually no presence. Over the past year, I helped scale their brand on social through giveaways, influencer marketing and virtual events.
This past month, I created a one-pager and presentation to help them pitch Walmart again, and they’re set to launch in January 2022.
Are you a part of any freelancer communities? Which ones and how do they support you?
I’m a part of a ton of Facebook groups and a company called FreeUp. It’s great to be a part of these communities because you can meet and connect with like-minded individuals.
What advice would you give other self-employed people?
Outsource where you can: You can’t give your business 100% when you’re doing a million things.
Self-care is key: Your a one-person show. Allow yourself to have a break and practice self-care. Whatever that is for you.
How has forming an S Corp helped you level up your business?
Working with Collective has allowed me to work on what I’m good at, growing my business. Forming an S Corp has helped me understand the ins and outs of running a business.
To work with Teena contact her via her website or set up a discovery call.
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