Tell me about you and your company:
Wendy Manganaro, Founder of Social Abundance Marketing, helps frustrated heart-centered entrepreneurs attract, resonate, and engage with their social media community so that they can feel more productive and stress-free. Before Wendy started coaching she was the social media strategist for such companies as Baby’s Badass Burgers and Source4Teachers. Currently, she enjoys working with entrepreneurs and businesses nationally and internationally. As a natural problem-solver and people connector, Wendy's clients can expect a fresh perspective on their social media strategy and implementation.
How long have you owned your own business?
I’m excited to say July 15th, 2016 will be my 4th year anniversary.
What made you decide to start your own business?
I started this business after leaving a business partnership in an advertising agency. At the time, I loved working from home, but I felt the agency was unfocused and I was doing less of what I loved to do, which was social media. So, I opened my own agency to run it the way I wanted to run it, which was focused on social media only.
What was the best advice you received when you started your career?
The best advice I received when I started my career is to meet people where they are at. You can’t expect any customer to be the same. As long as I recognize all of their great attributes and form a relationship based on them, those relationships will grow into fruitful referrals and customers later.
What do you wish someone told you when started your business?
I wish someone told me that I was going to lose deals and not to take it personal. I wish someone for every okay “contract” not signed that it was practice for an even better contract to be signed. I also wish someone told me not to take a client that isn’t a good match out of financial fear.
What are three skills that new entrepreneurs need in order to succeed?
Consistency - Entrepreneurship takes time and more than time, it takes being consistent. It’s showing up at the networking event you joined and going regularly so that people build relationships with you. It’s calling when you said you will and it’s also consistently marketing even when you are busy, so you don’t go through feast or famine.
And Can Do Attitude - I see so many entrepreneurs fold as soon as it gets hard. It’s like quitting one minute before the miracle happens. So, if you get frustrated and you get frustrated your business isn’t working out the way you thought it would, scream, yell, even hide under the covers for a bit, but then get up and go back at it.
A business card with only one business on it. I can’t tell you how many serial entrepreneurs I meet. They have 4 businesses on one card and people are confused. If you want to do more than one business for the extra cash, no your audience and give them your card for that business. You will look more legitimate than a fly by night entrepreneur.
What routines do you have in place to help your days run smoothly?
Everyday I start my day with a meditation and gratitude list. I also script out my vision daily, so I stay on track of where I am and where I want to go. This time to myself is vital to the rest of my day.
Next, I love an organized list. For all I do on the computer, I still love to have all my projects written out and the next short-term steps I need to complete them. Each night, anything not done, I just start there the next day.
I also love my virtual assistants and coach. It’s so important as a coach I have a coach. It’s also important that I practice what I preach. No one can do everything and knowing what I can give to someone else to get off my plate is important.
How do you find balance as an entrepreneur?
My sanity and balance lands in my ability to take care of myself. About a year ago, I shut down all my social media notifications and email notifications on my phone. I also use a service called unroll.me so that I can check all my emails when I put it on my list. It doesn’t control me and as a result I have more time for my family and myself.
What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is setting my own schedule. I use Acuity scheduling and set my calendar when I can and can not take appointments. As a result for the last four years, I have not missed a game, play, or any other important event in my son’s life. I also love the ability to go to as many networking events as I would like.
And of course as a social media coach, I love knowing what I am doing is helping other women further their entrepreneurial dream.
What do you do to unwind?
I have a couple ways I like to unwind. Taekwondo classes are one way, I’m currently a dragon belt and love to end my day there. Yet, to really unwind, I have started adult coloring. I love it. It’s relaxing and I do it quietly or I can watch my favorite shows while doing it. Either way, it gets me away from a computer screen while being creative.
What is a project that you are working on right now or just finished?
Currently, I”m writing the videos of a 5 Days to a Social Medias Strategy Challenge. This will be a free challenge that will give a high overview of what an entrepreneur needs to get started on a social media strategy.
How can people get in touch with you?
Need to know if social media marketing can really work for your company? Please book a free half an hour consult with me: https://wendymanganaro.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?appointmentType=94706
Or you can like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SocialAbundanceMarketing
Email me at wendy@socialabundancemarketing.com
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