Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in content creation but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Deanne Gustafson, Live Selling Host, Amazon Influencer, located in Oceanside, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I do video product reviews and demos for brands. Mostly I do videos for Amazon products as part of the influencer program. I also work with brands as an on-camera host for scripted videos and UGC social media content.
Tell us about yourself
My background is in journalism. I was a tv news reporter and anchor and left that industry because I was getting worn out by the negative news. I switched to online news and then made another switch to make it my mission to only focus on positive news stories! I always loved doing product reviews, and funny enough, I used to email Consumer Reports all the time asking if they were hiring. They never wrote me back. Now I do product review videos, but I get to work for myself and make way more than I would have to work for them. In many ways, I think I manifested my job/business.
I love what I do; it doesn't feel like work which is crazy because I also own a business with my husband called Kombucha On Tap, and working on that with him felt like a lot of work to me, and I was stressed a lot. He still runs it, and it's going great! One thing I've learned is to align your passions with your talents, and it won't feel like work!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I started this new business in January, and by July, I reached my goal of having my first 5 figure month!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Since I work from home and my income depends on how much content I put out, it's hard to turn it off. I'm up most nights editing videos till 12:30 am. I also prioritize family time as a mom and try to "balance" it all.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start! It takes time to grow income and grow your business, but you won't grow it until you get started.
- You have to be incredibly self-motivated. If you want a hobby or side hustle, call it that. If you want a business, know it's not something you do in your spare time. It's full-time and then some.
- Find others doing the same thing. I joined Facebook groups for others doing what I'm doing, and that made a huge difference. Community over the competition! Helping each other gets results for everyone. Have an abundance mentality; helping others does not mean less for you.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I get a lot of products sent to me (my house looks like an Amazon warehouse), and many wonder what I do with it all. We keep some, sell a few things, and donate/gift the rest! I have a bigger plan to do videos that involve surprising people with these gifts and having my kids involved in that too!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.amazon.com/shop/kombuchaontap
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/utubedeanne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannestagram/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannegoodman/
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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