Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amber Hewitt, owner of Hashtag Assistant Inc., located in Calgary, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Hashtag Assistant Inc., and I help clients with their social media and website design needs. My clients are entrepreneurs and businesses/brands who are looking for help to get their business in the social media world.
Tell us about yourself
I started my career in the legal industry as a legal assistant, but it wasn't something I really had a passion for. I enjoyed drafting, proofreading, and preparing documentation and contracts but I hated working downtown, so after having my second child, I decided I wanted to stay home with my boys. I still wanted to help bring in some income, so I started researching how to build my own website and launched my own online baby boutique. Shortly after that, I started an online directory and blog where I reviewed baby and mom products! All this was self-taught with many hours of research, determination, and dedication. After a few years of honing those skills and my boys getting older, I decided it was time for me to get back into the workforce. I went for an interview for a sales associate position for a new home builder and got hired that afternoon. I did this for 11 years, and I enjoyed it!
During my last year or so working as a sales associate for the home builder, I started doing social media on the side during the downtimes. Before taking the plunge and starting my business, I often helped people with their social media profiles, pages, and websites as I enjoyed it, and it was like second nature to me. A lot of people said, "you should do this as a business. You're good at it!" I realized not everyone likes social media like I do or has the time, knowledge, or patience to learn about it, and there were a lot of people out there that have a business that could benefit from social media, so in late 2018, I got my first paying client as a social media manager.
When I first started in the social media industry, it was all about having an aesthetically pleasing feed. I had an eye for making a great feed, and being a perfectionist is a great quality when it comes to social media! Social media has come a long way since I started, and I've learned a lot and continue to do so! Currently, it's all about short-form video content! As a social media manager, you have an amazing opportunity to meet so many different people across the world that you would never have the chance to meet in your day-to-day life. You are constantly learning new things and leveling up your skills because if you don't, you'll get left behind. You also have many roles as a social media manager; you are the brand voice behind your client's company, you're an educator on the client's product or service so you can provide information to their target market, and, on top of that, you are a designer, using your creative side to create fresh, engaging content and video to share with your client's audience.
Social media has allowed me to work with lots of amazing people and brands since starting Hashtag Assistant Inc., and I am grateful for all the experiences I've had to date and look forward to many more! Being a social media manager can be fun plus challenging at times, as nothing's the same for long! Plus, the mystery of figuring out the algorithm. I think that's why I love what I do, as I'm always learning and I'm never bored!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been working with Lindsay Lohan. I was introduced to her by one of my clients as we were in collaboration, so I was posting content for her, and when the collab ended, she liked my work and hired me to work on her own social media.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things I find when it comes to being a business owner is taking time off. It seems I'm always working. With social media, it's so easy to be on it all the time. Even when I'm not working, I'll often go on "just for fun," and then I'll end up finding ideas for my clients.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My advice to anyone wanting to start their own business is to go for it! If you have a passion for something, do it! We never know what life has in store for us, and it's never too late to start doing what you love! And keep learning and challenging yourself. That is how we grow!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.hashtagassistant.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hashtagassistant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehashtagassistant/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtagassistnt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hashtagassistant/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hashtagassistant
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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