Getting noticed online is a challenge, but Erin Montgomery has the secret sauce. She is the founder of Piper Media, a boutique communications agency that offers social media packages and à la carte services developed through Erin’s ten years of media and public relations experience. She works with both brick and mortar businesses local to her native Toronto and savvy online creatives across the globe.
On this podcast, Erin addresses the value of social media in marketing your business, maintaining self-discipline when you’re self-employed, and establishing clear boundaries with clients.
Key Takeaways
Erin’s smart strategy for landing new clients
- Utilize targeted email cold calling to approach potential clients
- Be specific in explaining where the client is now, and where they could be in six months – with your help
The secret weapon for staying disciplined when you work for yourself
- Establish dedicated, routine work time
- Go to a coffee shop or library to eliminate distractions
Set boundaries to establish work-life balance
- Erin’s contracts outline her availability
- She doesn’t work after 10pm or on Sundays (unless there is a serious issue)
Erin’s advice regarding how to package your work
- Whether you do hourly or packages, script a detailed contract with explicit expectations
- Piper Media creates custom monthly packages with a four-month minimum contract
Leverage Facebook to reach potential clients
- Erin launched an Etsy shop for one-off social media services (i.e.: blog posts, newsletters), and she uses Facebook ads to advertise to small business owners, corporations and entrepreneurs
- Facebook groups provide a forum where you can meet and chat with potential clients instantly
Erin’s keys to getting the most value out of your social media content
- Be consistent – post on a regular basis
- Include a call-to-action in your posts – tell the reader what to do next (i.e.: answer a question, read your blog post, sign up for your newsletter)
Make use of a scheduling tool to plan your posts
- Erin recommends Hootsuite or the free scheduling feature on Facebook
You don’t need a fancy degree to land a job in social media marketing, but you do need to understand the channels and be willing to do the work
Resources
Connect with Erin Montgomery
Getting noticed online is a challenge, and Erin of Piper Media has the secret sauce. She offers social media packages and a la carte services she developed through her 10 years of media and public relations experience. She works with both brick and mortar businesses local to her native Toronto and savvy online creatives across the globe.