Can you tell us about your background and career to date?
I embarked on a career in marketing at 18. While volunteering with a fashion company, I was given the opportunity to travel and work abroad as they expanded internationally into America. This experience gave me the skills and connections that helped to build my business.
Six years later, I launched my career as a freelance digital marketer, and developed a growing list of clients wanting me to create content for them. I took the next step and founded ‘Social Chameleon’ – a London-based, full-suite agency specialising in professional services and the luxury sector.
We’ve since grown, and now boast a team of 20-strong, ambitious marketers and content creators. We work alongside global brands, managing their organic growth strategy through social media management and search engine optimizations, amongst other strategies.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
The launch of Social Chameleon was more of an organic progression from my freelance career – as opposed to a meticulously planned business venture. I’ve always hated being ‘capped’ and wanted to ensure that I could service as many clients as possible. Of course, there are only 24 hours in a day(!), and once I had used these up I realised that I needed to expand my freelance career into an agency in order to keep growing my client base.
How did you move from idea to actual business?
It sounds silly, but I just did it. I’ve always been quite proactive and if I decide I’m going to do something, then I just do it. I sat down one evening and just went through all of the planning. Next, I sorted the legal paperwork and then moved onto the website.
There are a lot of people who like to plan such steps carefully, to ensure that they launch at the ‘perfect’ moment. In my view, no such time exists, and this thought-process can be quite inhibiting for business owners. For me, getting started is the most important part – I like to learn as I go and finetune my approach on an ongoing basis. Nothing beats real experience.
What would you say is Social Chameleon’s unique selling point?
We offer quality work and client care. We will literally work harder than any other agency. Our commitment to our clients results in us effectively becoming an extension of our clients’ in-house teams – which clients have really appreciated! We are consistently praised for our flexibility and willingness to work as part of their teams.
We always make an effort to really get to know our clients, put in additional hours to deliver above and beyond client expectations. The success of this is demonstrated through over 90% of our clients being on retainer – consistently coming back to us.
What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
There was a point in the first few months after launching Social Chameleon where we went nearly two months without onboarding any new clients. This felt like we were stagnating, and I feared that the company wouldn’t grow and live up to my expectations and hopes for its success. After planning potential ways forward, I pitched for our first 6 figure contract, which we closed a month later.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Our team mostly operates remotely, but at least once a month we get together as a full time for strategy meetings and a team social. Every time we hold another event there are always additional team members who have joined the team since the last meet-up. Seeing the growth in person is amazing, and moreover, having a group of people who are all very enthusiastic and excited about the agency’s future is incredible heart-warming. They really are a fantastic bunch of people!
What are your three top pieces of advice for someone wanting to do something similar?
- Raw talent is important, but not enough. A strong work ethic will get you further.
- Remember what drives you. Whenever I’m struggling or feel like I want to give up, I remind myself what I want, how far we’ve come so far, and what can still be achieved.
- Developing quality content will always be crucial in attracting and retaining clients.
What are your plans for the future?
We are currently working on something top-secret!