From experimenting with side hustles to founding a social media agency to helping connect small businesses effectively, here’s an Interview with Mompreneur Emmy Kissinger.
Emmy, Thank you for talking with us. Kindly describe your journey as an entrepreneur so far.
Thank you for having me. In 2014 I had my first baby. I hated leaving him to go back to my job as a school psychologist after 8 weeks of maternity leave. Our family didn’t have the means for me to quit my job, especially since I am the breadwinner so I started experimenting with side hustles. After a few years of learning digital marketing skills, I realized that I had a natural talent for social media management. I now have 3 children (infant, 4-year-old, and 7 year old) and I am so grateful to be able to meet their needs by working from home and doing quality work for my clients.
What were the initial challenges that you faced in your endeavor?
Initially, I struggled to figure out which type of work I could do that would yield the best results for my clients. I experimented with blogging and other types of freelance work before I realized that social media management was the best fit for my unique skill set.
How and when did you come up with the idea of Connect Well Social?
I launched my micro-agency Connect Well Social this year after 4 years in business. I came up with the name after attending an inspiring session at the RESET ‘21 Business Conference. The speaker challenged us to come up with one word that exemplified our business. I knew my word was “connect” because I started my business so that I could spend more time each day connecting with my children and now the work that I do helps my clients create genuine connections with their customers using social media.
Business-wise, 2020 and 2021 had their own challenges. How exciting the future of business looks for you in 2022?
My business has been growing in 2022. As a result of the pandemic, many small-town business owners now understand the power of social media, especially in times when they cannot bring customers into their physical space.
In your view, how has social media marketing evolved over the last few years?
Social media marketing has changed a lot in the past few years moving from a huge focus on photos and graphics and now a greater focus on video. TikTok videos and reels are now an important aspect of any business’s social media strategy. Additionally, live video continues to help small-town business owners create meaningful connections with the people in their local community.
Doing business is all about solving problems. It is equally important to help others in the business. What are your views on this?
Authentic and timely social media posts solve an important problem for small-town business owners. These business owners need to drive foot traffic and/or web traffic to their shops. My services help local community members and potential customers learn more about what the stores in their town have to offer. I also help my clients monitor social media trends and create content that helps them build genuine relationships with their customers.
What new challenges have you faced due to the ongoing pandemic and how do you wish to address those challenges?
Due to the pandemic, my business growth did slow down a bit during 2021. I addressed these challenges by continuing to focus on creating great content for my existing clients and that work has paid off. I have seen a huge uptick in referrals over the past two months.
How can an effective social media presence help companies and how can you help them achieve their goals?
Many small-town business owners struggle to create meaningful, timely, and relevant social media posts consistently because they are so busy. My services help them create a buzz around their business because the local community members can get to know the business owner’s personality and quirks. These daily efforts can create a huge impact in the long run.
Any suggestions you would like to give to aspiring entrepreneurs.
If you’re a mom wanting better balance in life it is totally possible! Start growing your side hustle, pivot until you find out how to best serve others with your unique talents, and you will get to a place where you can be present with your family while simultaneously being a provider.
My website is www.connectwellsocial. You can also find me on Instagram at @emmy_kissinger. I am your go-to small-town social media expert currently helping shop owners, real estate agents, and more.
