Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tracey Matney, CEO of Victory Points Social, located in Redlands, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Victory Points Social exists to support passionate and influential entrepreneurs who seek to make an impact on the world through their coaching programs, memberships, courses, and experiences. We free these visionary leaders to innovate and pursue their dreams by owning their paid social advertising, so they feel relief from marketing overwhelm.

We help them dominate their industry by implementing a strategic plan to create conversations that convert clicks into customers using Chatbot Advertising, SMS, and Email Marketing. And as a result, we all find Victory.

Tell us about yourself

In 2018, I was a stressed-out working mom of a 1-year-old in sales, getting paid hourly to sell huge digital services over the phone. I couldn't see a way for me to make more money and find time freedom and get out of trading time for money unless I went out on my own. So I got started as a freelance marketer, dabbling in social media, graphic design, and editing resumes for people I met online.

I grew my skill set in paid advertising and ManyChat marketing and began to become a specialist, working with 6, 7, and 8-figure coaches to help them scale.
I'm now a homeschooled mom of that sweet baby, who is now six and looks up to me. He is mine, why. I love spending time with him and teaching him what entrepreneurship is... how you get paid based on the value you provide to the world, not based on the hours you work.

I am also motivated to help my clients get big results with less effort through the power of paid advertising. And that's why I grew from a freelancer to an agency, with well-trained team members who equally care about our clients' results. We'll stay up late and work on the weekend to ensure good results. It matters. They matter.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My husband and I opened a retail board game store in October 2020 (in California, where during the pandemic, we were only allowed to be at 25% capacity). We grew it to $1M in sales within our first year and will likely hit $1.4M in year 2. We employ ten people and are able to give back to many organizations in our local area, and we just launched our own online store as well with a board game subscription box called Cogo Crate so we can reach a nationwide audience.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I think managing people is the hardest part for me. I'm a driven leader, so I am 100% focused on results (as are our clients). So finding people who can get on board with that and don't want to just show up and do a few tasks has been challenging. I'm a place now in my business where I'm really excited about the people I work with, and I know they all care deeply.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Learn how to sell. Stop being awkward about talking to people about your business and learn really good communication skills, both written and verbal. Sales skills are incredibly important and matter, regardless of your industry. You need to get your "no" reps in (more than only 5).
  2. Get really good people around you. Your support system as an entrepreneur will make or break you. If your spouse isn't on board, I promise it will be super hard, so you need others who can cheer you on. For me, I've been blessed because my husband is an entrepreneur, too, because our families and many of our friends really don't understand us. That's ok. We are surrounded by other entrepreneurs in the online communities we've connected with.
  3. Hire a coach or get a mentor, someone who has gone before you and can guide you. No need to reinvent the wheel... sure you can search for "free" info online, but time is money, baby. Don't waste time trying to figure something out that others have done already. Just hire a coach and go faster. I love skipping steps by paying with money instead of with time. :)

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.victorypoints.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traceymatneyVPS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traceymatneyVPS/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/traceymatneyVPS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceymatneyvps/

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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