Sobeck Studio Blog

7 Tips for Working in a Family-Owned Business

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:18:47 GMT

7 Tips for Working in a Family-Owned Business

For the last 3 years, I worked with my dad, Jim Sobeck , at New South Construction Supply . If you know my dad, you know he responds to emails in two seconds, works 14 hours a day, and networks 24/7. He famously loves to say "I don't expect much, just complete and utter perfection all of the time." HA!

When I decided to work with him, we spoke candidly about how it would work (spoiler alert: I was nervous). I did a lot of reading, I spoke with others in family-owned businesses via YPO , and talked with mentors. After three years of working with my dad, here are 7 tips I gained.

1. Set boundaries. Define roles, sign a contract, or have an official offer. Clarify who you'll report to. Last, ensure you have two emails -- one for work and one for personal.

2. Know your stuff. It was important to come in and instantly provide value. I studied up -- a lot. I asked my dad to be added to the daily sales reports to understand top customers, I asked for an employee roster, and I spent a lot of time learning about manufacturers and services so I could effectively market them.

3. Communication and respect is key. I set up a monthly meeting, we emailed 24/7, and we were open/honest with one another when we needed to be.

4. Ah, emotions. We knew we had to take emotions out of the equation and realize "it's just business." Plain and simple.

5. Remember the end game. I worked with my dad on initiatives that fit the business goals. I always wanted to ensure I was thinking not only about short-term success, but long-term success.

6. If it doesn't work out, it's OK. Luckily, my dad and I's working relationship really worked out. However, I've often seen family businesses that do not work out. Remember to have a plan b -- another option you can do if working with a family member isn't for you. Family is everything, and sometimes it is OK to walk away if it means saving your family relationship.

7. Hire a consultant. My family worked with an industrial psychologist who ensured we could work together, and I worked with a business coach as well. Don't be afraid to ask for help or to see a coach or consultant to assist with the family dynamics.

Working in a family business can have its challenges and complexities, but overall, working with my dad these last three years holds some of the best working and personal memories with my dad. I am beyond thankful he hired me, and I'm proud of the work we did together.

If you are in a family business, know I'm always here to chat with you. It's a small club, but it's a great club to be in. And I'm beyond grateful for the time I got to spend working with my dad.

What is Match Day? (And Why it Matters in Real Estate)

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:19:55 GMT

What is Match Day? (And Why Do Realtors Need To Know About It?)

Why Every Fourth-Year Medical Student is Hoping They’re Extra Lucky this St. Patrick’s Day.

You may be surprised to learn that the biggest day in a medical student’s life is not graduation. In fact, it happens a few months before graduation: Match Day.

What is Match Day?

When medical students graduate from medical school, they get their medical degree (MD), but they are still only licensed to practice independently once they complete further specialized training in a residency program that takes between three and seven years depending on specialty. Now, instead of medical students, these medical professionals are officially doctors called Residents.

On the third Friday of March, graduating medical students across the country will learn where they are “matched” or which program they will be at for their residency training. To read more about the Match process and history, click here .

How Does the Match Work?

It’s much more nerve-wracking than you might think for medical students and vastly different than accepting a traditional job or picking a college. First, they apply to the programs in the specialty they would like to practice. In general, students apply to programs all across the United States. Our team member Lexi’s husband is currently in his last year of medical school and applied this year to eighty different radiology programs!

Then, students will receive interview invitations. Students will interview with programs in hopes of standing out in the crowd of sometimes hundreds interviewed. If they do well, these programs will rank them highly on their list of who they’d like to welcome to their program. Some programs are larger (think around 10) while others are quite small (think around 2) so competition is fierce.

If a student is ranked highly enough on the program’s list, they do not receive an acceptance or offer letter as you may expect. Instead, the students must rank the programs they interviewed at as well in order from where they’d like to attend most to where they would like to attend least. The lists made by the programs are imputed into an algorithm along with the medical students’ lists and–if the medical student matches–the algorithm chooses where the medical student matches. Some students do not match, but typically, Match Day is a cause for celebration! It’s the first job a medical student will have as a doctor and often means they’ll be packing their bags to a new location.

Why Do Realtors Need to Know About Match Day?

Here’s what we know: The typical person can expect to own around three homes in their lifetime. The job of a Realtor is to find clients when they are at a point in their life where they are in one of those three stages of home buying/selling.

Match Day is an incredible (and often untapped) opportunity for Realtors because these medical students MUST move. Some own homes and need to sell, some are moving to a new location, and many do not know anyone in their new area. This relationship you can build with potential clients is immeasurable in terms of long-term potential.

While Residents aren’t making “doctor money” yet, they will in a few years and, if you treat them well now, they will be delighted to work with you when they hunt for their dream home. Oh, and they’ll be referring you to all their doctor friends as well.

What Do Realtors Need to Know About Match Day for Clients?

There are three important things you absolutely must know in order to help your potential Match Day clients.

What Match Day is. You’re already ahead of the game by reading this article, but we always encourage further research.
Marketing Tip: Create Match Day-specific content so new Residents can easily tell you are their expert when they search for a Realtor or a Real Estate Brokerage.
The medical school(s) and programs in your area. Often these programs provide resources to students. It never hurts to ask if they’d be willing to refer you, but further, it’s important to know what programs these professionals are working in and the areas around the programs to help them navigate the real estate market by the hospitals.
Marketing Tip: Use #Match2023 or #MatchDay2023 in your hashtags during match week, as well as the programs in your area.
Do not give up the momentum the day after Match Day. This is not a holiday that stops when Match Day is over. In fact, for Residents, their real estate search has just begun. Be sure to continue the momentum for the next few weeks.
Marketing Tip: Showcase neighborhoods around the hospitals that future Residents may work at on social media. Continue those match-day-specific hashtags for a few weeks on content that may be relevant to them.

The best way to stay ahead of the market and potential clients is to know what to expect and Match Day is an incredible opportunity to do just that for Realtors. If you’re looking for creative and forward-thinking marketing for your real estate business, we’re ready to help. Click here to contact us today so we can discuss the best plan of action for you and your business.

This post was written by Lexi Upegui, Digital Strategist. Join us in congratulating Lexi and her husband, as her husband just Matched today and they find out where they will be headed in their next journey on Friday, March 17!

What is a Fractional Director of Marketing?

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 17:48:26 GMT

What is a Fractional Director of Marketing?

...and how can it better serve your business? Let’s dive in.

Starting January 1, 2023 , Sobeck Studio will be offering Fractional Director of Marketing Services.

We’ve been in business for almost three years now, and in three years of doing what we love for clients, we’ve come to realize there was a gap in the market for Real Estate Brokerages & Top Brokers/Agents, Real Estate Developers and Construction Businesses, as they need an experienced, savvy and innovative Director of Marketing.

There are, however, many reasons as to why they do not have this full-time person on their marketing staff.

It could be because their budgets are tight, they cannot provide the full-time attention it requires to hire or manage a full-time person, or – while they know they need this person now – they simply are not sure if they need a long-term marketing position on-staff.

That is where I had the idea to start offering Fractional Director of Marketing Services to my clients – as it solves all these problems or concerns. Compared to a full-time, lower-level marketing role, you get higher-quality work and high-level strategy and execution right at your fingertips.

How It Works:

Sobeck Studio joins a real estate or construction business as a contractor and at a temporary basis for a fraction of the week – where we typically will work 1.5-4.5 hours a day 4-5 times a week, depending on their customized scope of work. We offer customized scope of works depending on client needs, but it typically includes all or some of the following:

Overall marketing strategy
Staff marketing support
Full-service social media, email marketing and print marketing
Partnership, sponsorship and advertising management
Website management
Graphic design assistance
PR assistance

When we proposed this to two clients who were needing MORE than just social media or email marketing, they were excited and jumped all over this.

Jillian, supported by her team, is now acting as Fractional Director of Marketing for two Sobeck Studio clients and we are thrilled to announce we will be taking on a limited number of Fractional Director of Marketing services moving forward into 2023 to help clients who are looking for someone to help fill this marketing gap in their business.

Not looking for this service or you do not need all of this help? No problem!

We will still be offering full-service social media marketing and consulting services for advertising, events, public relations and general marketing strategy.

In summary, here’s how Sobeck Studio can help you in 2023 and beyond:

Fractional Director of Marketing Services
Full-Service Social Media Management
Consulting Services

Thank you to everyone who has supported Sobeck Studio these last three-ish years, and if you have any questions about where we are headed or the ways we can help solve your marketing problems, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here . We cannot wait to hear from you!

Unique & Out-of-the-Box Advertising: Sobeck Studio’s Speciality

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 20:32:35 GMT

Unique & Out-of-the-Box Advertising: Sobeck Studio’s Speciality

We don’t just request a media kit, sign the IO and call it a day...

Think advertising isn’t effective? It’s likely you just need to tweak your strategy.

And you will need a trusted partner who is experienced in both buying AND selling advertising, and who also knows the creativity, strategy, and optimizations it takes to create and place effective advertising.

As part of Sobeck Studio’s Fractional Director of Marketing and Consulting Services, we offer advertising consulting, budgeting, planning, creative and/or placement services for our clients. With 10 years of experience in advertising, from digital to traditional advertising, we’ve placed millions of dollars in advertising, and we’ve placed thousands and thousands of advertising. When it comes to creative advertising that converts, we know the game – and we play it well.

Here at Sobeck Studio, we have had some clients who previously felt like advertising either does not work for them or the advertising they were doing was getting stale, too expensive or too labor-intensive. We get it. That can happen. But that does not mean advertising does not work.

This is where Sobeck Studio comes in.

We help clients not only plan, budget, design, place and optimize advertising, but we also help them dream up unique advertising, sponsorship or partnership opportunities that will move the needle and turn heads – all in a good way. We think beyond the media kit with advertisers to ensure clients are finding the perfect advertising solution for their brand.

You see, we do not just email ads reps, ask for a media kit, pick our offering, and call it a day.

We instead work closely with ad reps (whom we have exceptional relationships with – benefitting you, the client), we dream up unique offerings, discover paths toward strategic partnerships, and we find innovative advertising solutions that will help boost client awareness, reach, and ultimately lead to quality engagements or key conversions.

When it comes to your budget, we take it very seriously – and we will use your carefully allotted ad dollars to find the best advertising that fits your needs – we never take your dollars for granted. We know your advertising budget is hard-earned, and to us, there is nothing more satisfying than crafting a paid media budget that is effective and has been negotiated or dreamt up to ensure the optimal satisfaction for the client…all while ensuring it is on-brand and on-strategy for the advertiser as well. This is a win-win!

If you are interested in advertising services as a client, or if you are an advertiser interested in sharing your real estate or construction advertising options with Sobeck Studio clients, please contact us here and we will get back to you in 24-48 business hours.

Meet Lexi: Sobeck Studio Expands Our Digital Marketing Team

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 03:33:55 GMT

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Meet Lexi: Sobeck Studio Expands Our Digital Marketing Team

As 2022 concludes, we’re preparing for exciting milestones for the upcoming year. That’s why I am thrilled to announce Sobeck Studio has an AMAZING new team member who has joined Sobeck Studio to help us expand our opportunities as a company. Meet Lexi Upegui.

Lexi is our new Digital Strategist and currently resides in Baltimore, MD but has been in the real estate marketing realm in the Washington, DC region for the past two years. She loves digital marketing particularly because it allows anyone to have access directly to their audience, allowing businesses to truly know and interact with their clients in a way that was not possible prior to social media.

Previously, Lexi has marketed a variety of music artists and watched many of them reach the Top 20 in the charts with their radio singles. With her luxury real estate marketing efforts, she helped more apartments lease before opening day in a large-scale building than ever before in the city of Baltimore, and most recently, Lexi led digital marketing efforts for a top local DC-area brokerage. When it comes to creating content online that resonates with audiences, Lexi is a true expert.

When she’s not working, you can find Lexi enjoying watching her five month old daughter Cosette grow, writing her musical, and helping her husband Alex practice interviews for his upcoming medical residency.

Lexi will be helping clients with content calendars and writing, and I will continue to help heavily as well by writing posts myself, overseeing all content, and my goal is to also help clients with even more projects to provide even more value.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of Sobeck Studio! We can’t wait for the upcoming exciting chapter ahead as a team.

- Jillian

New Website, New Branding, New Offerings!

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 03:07:20 GMT

New Website, New Branding, New Offerings!

Welcome to the new Sobeck Studio website! After almost three years in business, I decided it was time for a website refresh, and I’m thrilled for you to be taking the time out of your day to click around my new site. Three years in, I also decided it was time for a rebrand to eventually highlight our new offerings, which you can learn more about here.

On this new website, you will find highlights of my company’s services, a quick snapshot of current or previous work, a blog to stay informed about Sobeck Studio, marketing trends and business insights, testimonials, where to find us on social media, and more.

This website, rebranding and new offerings launch is special for me, as three years ago, I was in the thick of planning and mapping out my soon-to-be-launched business. If you know me, I love to plan – and I am incredibly competitive with myself. When I have a goal, I go after it – full force. I thought I had it all figured out. I would do X, Y and Z, and it would go this way and that way, and I had so many big plans for a splashy launch – big branding, big website, big launch party, big hires…the whole nine yards.

I launched in early March 2020, and then BAM…Coronavirus–the big ole C word–hit the world two weeks into my new job. I was terrified. I kept thinking to myself, “what have I done in quitting my job and starting this business right now?” I decided I just had to move forward and I would either sink or I would swim. And I wanted to swim.

Those big plans I mapped out for myself were not paused. Rather, I decided to shift…or as Ross Gellar in Friends famously said…”PIVOTTT! PIVOTTT!” So I pivoted.

I did not launch with all the glitzy big things I intended to do, and I decided it did not have to be my version of perfect to go live or to be a small business.

I hired a lawyer and an accountant, I set up my LLC, and I worked with what I could and what I felt comfortable doing or spending at the time. In that time, I also had very wonderful mentors and friends who offered to help, and I often would help them or refer them to some business as well. A very dear family friend and also terrific website partner graciously helped me with my website to get at least something out there. To John Judy , thank you for your support with my initial website – it was truly wonderful, perfect for what I needed at the time, and I am beyond grateful for your help and support. I decided scrappy was also better than nothing at all. I created my own logo on Canva. I worked about 14 hours a day to get things up and running – new process documents, new tools, new…everything. I also decided to not hire right away, and due to the fears of what the big ole C word would do to my life and the world, I decided to take on truly whatever business I could get at that moment, instead of niching down like I initially wanted to.

What I am so thankful for is that the big ole C word brought a boom to the construction and real estate industry, two industries that have many similarities, and two industries I had the most passion for and the most experience in. My former employer continued to use my services now as a contractor (I was beyond thrilled and excited), and I had former clients, friends, friends of friends, and connections from social media reach out to me immediately. To this day, most of these wonderful clients are still with Sobeck Studio, and I’m working with a handful of other terrific clients as well. I am grateful that almost three years in, 90 percent of my business has been through referrals. Referrals are the best compliment I can get.

I could ramble on forever, but ultimately, I’ve learned in three years’ time that I can never plan for every exact moment, that outsourcing and processes are key, trusting my gut will never, ever fail me, and that I still LOVE what I am doing day in and out.

A special thank you to Hayes and Maggie at Hayes Wynn Design for creating this website, and for their killer branding and understanding my vision perfectly. If you are looking for a beyond stellar company to assist with your website and branding needs, I cannot recommend Hayes’ company based in Greenville, SC enough.

I am also grateful to my husband and my parents, who are my “unofficial” advisors and who give me the best advice. I cannot forget my Online Business Manager/Sobeck Studio’s Executive Assistant Andrea Balcunas, who has been with Sobeck Studio since late spring 2021. She is literally the most organized person and so gracious and kind, and she is someone I cannot imagine my business without. I am also grateful to the wonderful contractors who have helped me since fall 2020, and I’m thrilled to welcome Lexi Upegui who is now assisting as a Digital Strategist as of this November.

There is a lot to look forward to, and I am so appreciative to all those who have supported me along the way. If you have any questions, feedback or want to simply get in touch, please email me at j illian@sobeckstudio.com . 2023, I sure am ready for you!

Onward!

Jillian

4 Tips for Recent Graduates or Those Looking for Their First Job

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 15:02:00 GMT

Lessons from 12 years in marketing so far.

FROM THE ARCHIVES IN 2020.

Do the things no one else is doing.⁣
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This is a read for anyone looking for their first job, interested in digital marketing, or who recently graduated.
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I’ve spoken with a few recent grads this week, and I’m energized by the conversations I’ve had so far. I’m happy to have these conversations, because I also remember how much these calls meant to me when I was starting my career in the digital world. Since I received many of the same questions, I decided to share 4 lessons I’ve learned in my career thus far that I also shared with these amazing graduates:⁣
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1. Be the first to arrive and the last to leave (or in today’s world, be the first one on the Zoom call). I’m not promoting a long work day, but if you’re the first to arrive or the last to leave, you’re going to start rubbing elbows with the senior leadership at your office -- and they’ll notice.⁣
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2. Say yes. Say yes to the projects that require you to learn new skills or that others don’t want to do. I was able to get ahead in my career by saying yes to these projects, and that’s how I learned so much about advertising, websites, events, PR, and project management. I never had a title with any of these words in them, but I consider myself an expert in these subjects because I said yes and was committed to learning.⁣
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3. Say no. Well, maybe don’t flat out say “no”, but know when to ask your boss for help or when you do not have time to work on a task. I am a huge people pleaser, and not speaking up for help or saying no always ended up working against me. ⁣
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4. Be kind to the receptionist or assistant. The receptionist knows everyone, and that person will remember the way you treated them, from the time you arrive at your first interview or the email you sent them that wasn’t professional. I worked at a company where HR would follow up with the receptionist after interviews to learn how the person carried themselves and acted while waiting to be seen. You’d be shocked to learn about people’s behaviors when they thought they weren’t in the interview room yet.⁣
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I am by no means a 20+ year industry veteran, but I hope these tips will be useful for anyone who is just starting out. What would you add to this list? Email me at jillian@sobeckstudio.com and let's chat. I’m all ears and still learning myself!

Meet Jillian: A Moment of Gratitude for my Career

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:43:00 GMT

A note of gratitude for my career and small business.

Ever since I started Sobeck Studio 2.5 years ago, I've felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, and that's because I get to wake up and do what I love every. single. day. And I know -- it sounds cliché, but it's true.

Wondering *why* I love social and content marketing so much? Here are a few reasons why social media marketing feels like it's within my DNA.

▪️ Community-driven and instant satisfaction. I love the instant satisfaction of seeing a strategic and well-planned digital marketing campaign take off and communities coming together through meaningful engagements. Campaigns can take weeks or even months to plan, and there's nothing better than seeing your hard-work pay off within moments of posting to different social channels.

▪️ I'm data-driven and LOVE analytics. I had a call today where I said, " Now to the BEST part: Google Analytics and link tracking!" and I 110 percent meant what I said. I find the analytics to be one of the most rewarding parts of my job, as I use this information to make informed decisions and optimizations based off what I'm viewing on Google Analytics, Facebook/IG Insights or whatever social media measurement tool I'm using.

▪️ A/B testing and constant optimization is incredibly fascinating, and it's neat to understand what makes consumers and audiences resonate with content. I find social media to be a big puzzle, and testing imagery, copy, posting cadence, hours in which you post, and other pieces crucial to social media success plays a large role in your business getting discovered by the right audiences you want to reach.

I'll leave it here: if you're looking for someone to help you dive into the world of social media or you're wanting to take your social media campaigns to the next level, know that this 'work' isn't just my 'job', but social media marketing really brings me so much joy and it's my true passion. Ten plus years in the digital realm (yes, I've been in this industry since before IG), and I still cannot imagine doing anything else.

Wishing you a relaxing and joyful week ahead, and contact me at jillian@sobeckstudio.com if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level.

Using Audience Personas to Organize your Marketing Strategy

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:25:00 GMT

Knowing your audience is critical when it comes to mapping out a strategic marketing strategy.

Content Planning Tip: Let's talk about audience personas!

Each week, I'm going to start highlighting marketing quick tips and tricks that you can read now & bookmark for later, and this week I'm starting off with one of my favorite topics: audience personas.

If you’re a small biz, are you using 3-5 personas to achieve your social media + business goals? Here’s what to know >>

Breaking it down: An audience persona is a fictional person (I literally name my personas) that represents a target audience you want to identify with, and is determined through analytics and market research. Determining these personas will help you create stronger content pillars that align with your ideal customer.

So how many personas should you have? SS recommends identifying 3-5 target personas. Once you identify your personas, you should map out everything you can possibly know about their journey and how it relates back to your business.

For example, if you're a Realtor, you'll want to answer questions about their age, interests, hobbies, their jobs, their dreams for real estate and more. Identifying where they are in their life and what makes them "tick" will help you create content that's ultimately going to speak to them.

Pro tip: try mapping out 3-5 audience personas in the coming month so you have a clear strategy for who you’re speaking to in 2021. You’ll be amazed what simple audience persona development will do for your content strategy!

Questions, wondering how to get started or what your personas should look like? Email me at jillian@sobeckstudio.com -- let's chat on next steps for getting started.

How Content Pillars Can Organize a Marketing Program

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:22:00 GMT

Content pillars will help you organize your marketing strategy.

Below I'm discussing why content pillars matter for every business -- both big or small!

The below info is helpful if you're working on an integrated digital marketing strategy or simply just a social strategy!

So, what is a content pillar?

Content pillars are buckets of 'content themes' that drive your brand or business' story and sum up your core messaging. Content pillars are intended to keep content and social media strategies consistent, to build trust and community with your 3-5 audience personas, and to push out meaningful content that will ultimately be valuable and interesting your readers and target audiences.

When I work with my clients, I look at a variety of metrics and tools to identify these personas AND content pillars, and I also look at qualitative trends like what's happening in the news, for example!

Overall: why is this important? Identifying your pillars will help you reach your business goals AND social media goals. I love when I work with clients to identify their pillars, and then they end up garnering more leads, clicks, followers and engagement on social.

Curious to learn more or how you can work with me? Shoot me an email at jillian@sobeckstudio.com to explore the ways we can work together and finalize your content pillars.

6 Social Media Tips for Success

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:16:00 GMT

Get your social media strategy in order!

I love working with businesses to up their social media game, and when I first work with others, I review the 6 notes below to remember NOT to do. Hope these quick social media tips help you or a friend's business!

1. Using photos that aren't yours without permission. **Always** credit creators AND ask for permission if using a photo on your feed that is not yours. You don’t need to ask for permission if sharing a story.

2. Posting images that aren't sized correctly. Ensure your photos are optimized for social! Pro-tip: Sprout Social has a running blog of the latest image sizes for social media. DM me for their link!

3. Posting for the heck of it. Don't overshare or post "just to post." Just because it's National Hot Dog Day, don't think you need to jump all over that awareness day. Refer to your content pillars to identify if awareness days or viral moments will benefit your brand

4. Posting dull content. When posting, post within your brand's tone of voice, ask questions, respond to questions & use emojis -- be as personal and informative as possible

5. Not engaging with your community. Respond to your comments, DMs and community thoughtfully and quickly! Provide your email, give other quick tips you have or ask follow-up questions

6. Feed lacks branding: Keep colors, branding, look and feel on brand with your overall branding on social

If you're finding yourself making these "mistakes" -- don't panic! There really is NO right or wrong (except you should really never use someone else's image without permission), but correcting these 6 things will definitely help you. Email me at jillian@sobeckstudio.com for more details on how I can move your strategy forward!

Jillian Sobeck Whalen on LBM Journal Podcast with Rikka Brandon

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 14:02:00 GMT

From the Archives: This 2021 podcast still rings true when it comes to hiring and retaining talent using social media and marketing best practices.

Thanks to LBM Journal and Rikka Brandon for having me on your podcast, Recruit + Retain . In the latest episode that launched today, Rikka and I chat about the power of social media in the LBM (lumber/building material) industry, how to use digital to recruit + retain talent, the top platforms and content strategies I recommend for those looking to enhance their social media program, and more.

Even if you're not in the LBM Industry, I'd love for you to listen in, as more specifically, we dive into the following:

▪ Using social + website analytics (like Google Analytics) to inform your social media strategy, to discover your target audiences, and to inform your content pillars
▪ Ways to engage employees in becoming your best social media brand advocates
▪ A list of post ideas (that you can do this week!) to show off your company culture, values and career paths available to employees
▪ Simple tricks and incentives to encourage your employees to feel empowered on social media
▪ Shot list ideas when hiring a photographer to take lifestyle photos for your social media program
▪ Tips for content consistency, discussing the importance of quality over quantity, the importance of strong engagements over follower counts, making meaningful connections online...and more!

I'd be so appreciative if you give this 30 minute podcast a listen -- easy listening for your commute or at your work desk. Tune in by clicking the link in my bio or email me at jillian@sobeckstudio.com for more info!

Meet Jake Judy - Marketing Strategist

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 12:36:00 GMT

Meet Jake Judy - Marketing Strategist

Hi everyone! Sobeck Studio has been up to a lot lately, and a few months ago I realized I needed some help in order to ensure client tasks were getting out the door. When I was looking for the right marketing strategist to assist with content creation, research and reporting, I quickly approached Jake Judy -- who I've known since he was born. Jake and his family are like family, but I really wanted to work with Jake as he has incredible drive, passion and interest in the digital marketing industry.

Jake's a graduate of Clemson (BS in Marketing), and right out of college, he started ContractorWebsiteSolutions.com , where he's helping contractors with quality and affordable web design and lead generation systems. If you are looking for a website and SEO solutions, definitely reach out to Jake and his team!

Get to know Jake with some by reading the Q&A below and say hello by emailing him at Jake@SobeckStudio.com . Jake -- I'm so glad you're here to help Sobeck Studio!

Where you live: Greenville, SC
Education: List when you graduated, your major/minor: Clemson University - 2020 - majored in Marketing and minored in Business Management
Name 1-2 hobbies and a fun fact that people may find interesting or can relate back to you: I like to exercise and study ways to better myself in my free time. An interesting fact about me is I weighed 3 pounds when I was born due to being born prematurely.
What do you love about social media marketing? I love how many people it allows someone to reach so easily and also how it provides instant feedback through likes and comments.
What is your favorite task to work on? I enjoy working on the design and build of websites the most. It allows me to be as creative as I want while also providing value to the customer!
What skill have you been developing? I have been learning stock trading and what to look for in smart investments. To me, this is a skill that pays to have - literally.
Tell us about Contractor Website Solutions and your goals for 2021 - Contractor Website Solutions is our family owned and operated digital marketing company that is based out of Greenville, SC. We do everything from custom websites to Search Engine Optimization to logo design and branding specifically for contractors. Our goals for 2021 include increased brand awareness not only in general but also on main social media platforms, and increasing our clientele to 100 clients by the end on 2021.
What are some things you've learned so far working at SS? I've learned how much work goes into running just one social media page so running multiple pages for multiple clients is daunting. Things can get out of hand quickly if proper planning is not in place. Constant communication with the client is also key to make sure certain content is written well and is posted at the perfect time.
What social media or marketing trend(s) are you anticipating to take off in 2021? I believe that we will see an large influx of businesses creating social media pages and websites that utilize SEO. If companies are not on social media and have no website that traffic is being led to through SEO, potential leads will not see them. Consumers get all their information from their devices now so not showing up on those screens would have a major effect on a business.
Favorite marketing app, podcast or blogs (can pick one or list all) Right now I am listening to a book called Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins who is a retired NAVY Seal. He describes awful experiences in his life that ultimately made him who he is today. It is quite raw but is filled with tactics that allow someone to take control of their life and crush their goals.
Guilty pleasure? Watching Netflix or various Youtube videos for hours. It's just so easy when the next episode or video automatically plays for you. It's the ultimate in being lazy.
Favorite quote? "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison

Why Social Media Matters In The Construction Industry

Tue, 12 May 2020 13:39:00 GMT

7 Reasons you Should be on Social Media if in the Construction Industry

Hey friends! Today I'm taking a moment to talk about construction marketing. I recently received a question from a construction industry owner who asked "if their business really needed to be on social media?” My answer? Absolutely. If you're in the construction industry, below are 7 simple reasons you should be on social -- particularly Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1) Brand awareness: Social media is a free way you can spread the news about your company and its offerings. I repeat...FREE. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2) Drive leads and sales: If used properly, you can find new leads and drive sales, particularly through targeted social ads.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 3) Reputation management + PR: If there's news your company needs to push out or a situation that needs to be addressed, you can immediately publish something to your social channels to inform your audience. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ 4) Recruitment: Looking to expand? Posting about company culture and giving behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it's like to work at your company will be appealing to job seekers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
5) Customer service: As you grow, customers and other stakeholders will start to reach out to you on social, and using your account as a customer service tool can be a powerful tool.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 6) Build community: How to really thrive on social? Be authentic, emotional and focus on building a community. A strategic content calendar and thoughtful content narratives will help boost your social media presence. If you post regularly and if you remain authentic to your brand, over time, your social community will grow. Building this community will only help boost your reputation, drive potential new leads and will help boost your vanity metrics.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 7) Competitive Research: Social media is an excellent way to keep track of your competition. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Whether you're in construction or not, I hope you found this helpful. Questions or thoughts? Email me today -- I'd love to chat!

Know Your Worth

Tue, 12 May 2020 12:06:00 GMT

Knowing your Worth When Starting a New Business

"Know your Worth." This is a phrase that’s been written on the white board in front of my desk for a few months now.

I started Sobeck Studio because I am so passionate about digital + social, and I also have incredible experience and a background I’ve over time realized many do not have. I have worked with some of the world’s most reputable companies, I have thrown my name in the hat for the projects no one else wanted to do (or wanted to learn), and I have found myself doing things for clients most others simply will not do. Those experiences are what shaped me into the marketer I am today.

It’s also made me realize my worth. I have spent years developing my talents, constantly learning, networking, and trying to expand my knowledge of marketing. Starting a business is A LOT of work (especially in a pandemic, nonetheless), and I am also doing all of it while completing client work. As I continue to push forward and grow down this new path I’ve set out for myself, I have found the phrase “Know Your Worth” keeping coming back up -- in my mind, in multiple conversations… you name it. And for me, it has applied to not just what I’m making, but also applies to stopping that little voice inside my head that is asking questions like “Am I good enough”, “What will others think?”, “Was this the right idea?”. When those questions start to pop up, I have found repeating phrases like this one, or mantras, if you will, have really been keeping me focused and inspired.

If you’re considering going out on your own, if you’ve been wondering if you’re good enough, and if you’re a business wondering what your next step will be…I encourage you to remember this phrase. Know your worth, and remember you are indeed, good enough. What are the phrases or quotes that keep you going? I'd love if you email me to tell me your favorites. Other phrases keeping me going: anything a Peloton instructor tells me while running -- I am obsessed.

Welcome to Sobeck Studio!

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 16:42:00 GMT

Let's Get To Know One Another!

Hey everyone! Below are some fast facts about me. I love learning more about my clients and network, so thought I'd share some facts you may or may not know about me below. Do we have anything in common? Shoot me and email and let me know !
FAST FACTS

Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Current Location: Rockville, Maryland (Right outside of Washington, DC)
Alma Mater: I have a BA in Communication Studies, minor in Media Studies and emphasis in Public Relations from Clemson University
Favorite Work Memory: I have a few! Spending many days in Beaufort, SC during my first job, flying to LA for 48 hours to work at an Oscar's party & in general, walking the halls of Congressional buildings, feeling inspired by all those working to make a difference in our country
Favorite Vacation To Date: Anywhere in Italy
Favorite Spot: Sunsets at The Outermost Inn in Martha's Vineyard
Favorite Pastimes: Cooking, entertaining, running, walks with my husband and dog, live concerts, geeking out to business podcasts and books, browsing real estate, learning more about interior design, and you guessed it -- social media and advertising!
Favorite Food: I live for good guac, tacos and a spicy margarita. I also love a good steak
Happiest When: Outside, close to the water or mountains
Guilty Pleasure: Bravo TV and Instagram
What You May Not Know About Me: I love Broadway plays, and I was in 10+ plays growing up
Why DC? I moved to DC on a whim 7 years ago, having only ever visited once before. I wanted to do something different and live outside my comfort zone
Favorite Instagram Accounts: Brand: Southern Living and Bon Appetit. Public Figure: Maria Shriver and Gary Vee. Influencer: Libby Living Colorfully and Liz Adams
Last Book I Read: Sell It Like Serhant