We’re just TWO days away from Christmas! With all the traveling and spending time with family and friends, The Social Butterfly Gal will be on short hiatus and will be back Monday, December 28. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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“Mija, what EXACTLY do you do?” It’s the common question I get from family, my boyfriend’s family, and friends. In the world of routine- college, graduation, corporate world, self-employment might seem foreign and awkward to those closest to you, or they might just be wondering when you’ll be getting a “real” job.
For those creative entrepreneurs who will be sitting across the table from someone asking you millions of questions like, “What is a blog?” or “how do you get clients and support yourself,” this piece is for you! Here are three ways for you to explain how you are blazing trails and creating a career you’re truly passionate about.
When I was hit with the “what do you actually do” questions, the first thing I was told was, “It must be nice to sit in your pajamas all day at home since you work from home.” NO I DON’T. When I started to explain to them what I actually do, I reminded them that my job goes wherever I go like coffee shops and co-working spaces. My day starts out very early just like yours, but the beauty is I get to go to work anywhere. I also share my mission statement with them, so they have an idea what my business is all about. For example, I help lifestyle biz owners, creatives, and bloggers build an extraordinary digital presence by providing a savvy and personal approach to digital PR strategies and campaigns. And if that doesn’t work, then I say I work in Digital PR.
2. Share your expertise and work:
If you have a blog, a website or an online portfolio, it might be a great thing to show your family and friends your work and your expertise. Social Media managers don’t just sit and tweet all day, we’re constantly building an online community, and researching ways we can connect to the general public with savvy strategies. Share some statistics or trends about your industry and what you are doing.
3. Tell them about your plans for next year:
Have new clients lined up, or planning to participate in a workshop or conference, tell them about it. Sharing your future goals shows that your business is growing and that you have a plan in place.
Have you ever been bombarded with questions? How do you explain to your family and friends? Share below in the comments section!
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#GirlBoss is The Social Butterfly Gal’s monthly Q&A series that introduces some of the amazing female bloggers/business women that encourage and motivate me on a daily basis. This month, I’m excited to feature Sara Helmy of Tribu.
Sara founded Tribu, a digital marketing agency in San Antonio, in 2011 at age 22. She delights in working on new projects and chasing bold and exciting opportunities. In the midst of the crazy busy holiday season, Sara was able to find time to sit down with us for a quick Q&A session.
1. Tell me all about yourself and what you do: Hi, I’m Sara Helmy! My passion is digital marketing, and that’s coupled with a healthy obsession for stellar design, particularly in the realm of branding. I’m the founder of Tribu, a digital marketing and advertising agency in San Antonio. Tribu means “tribe” in latin, and we chose that name because we believe in the power of genuine, authentic, human connection. The idea is to build tribes for our partners (clients), utilizing sound digital marketing strategies and coupling those strategies with great branding and design. In my personal life, I’m also a big fan of travel. I love adventures – skiing, trips to Alaska, exploring the islands of Greece, those are all things I’ve done and live to do. I’m also married to a great man, Jason Beltran, and have what I refer to as my “permanent puppy”, Rainy. In my spare time, I love to read. Fictions, non-fictions, books on finance or psychology – I read all over the place to satiate my endless my curiosity.
2. Why did you want to become an entrepreneur and how did you get started? I value freedom. I like the ability to choose my course and to make strategic decisions that are founded in longterm benefit. I was happy when I worked elsewhere, but I felt as if something was missing, and it was something I couldn’t find working for somebody else. One day, the itch to bring Tribu alive got so great that I went for it. I started Tribu with my personal savings. I was blessed in that I didn’t have to seek outside investment to get it off the ground. We grew organically and continue to do so today.
3. Tell us about Tribu and what it offers. Tribu is a digital marketing and branding firm. We offer in-depth digital marketing, such as inbound, e-commerce marketing, and analytic-based social media strategies. Of course, the basics are available as well – website designs, brand designs, general stationary, etc. We love them both.
4. What has been your most challenging yet rewarding part about owning a business? Starting a business is the easy part. Growing one is hard. Growth means tough decisions and being comfortable with ambiguity. It means mitigating risk and lots of late nights. The most rewarding part is the victories along the way – the “we did it” moments. I think those moments have become a healthy addiction for everyone at Tribu and that’s what gives you the inspiration to never stop.
5. What advice would you give those who want to own their own digital marketing firm or work in marketing? You need to think longterm. If your biggest goal today is “I need more sales” then you’ll make sales oriented decisions, which may lead to short term money but won’t provide sustainable value over the long run. The best advice I can give (and this is just my humble opinion!) is that your goals should always be centered around the question, “how can I structure my firm so that I can provide more value than I am today?” – that’s bigger than a sales goal. It means hard work and answering tough questions, but it also means you’re endeavoring to build a company that provides real and sustainable value over time. After that, the sales will come and the growth will follow.
Keep up with Sara and the Tribu team on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Oh, December! You’re the month that screams fashion! I mean I celebrated an anniversary… dress. I have Christmas parties to attend… another dress. And then we have Christmas Eve and Christmas oh, and of course, New Years… DRESS! Thank goodness for OPEN Downtown Pop-up shops!
OPEN Downtown pop-up, an initiative of the Center City Development and Operations Department in San Antonio, gives local entrepreneurs the opportunity to test the market by providing no-cost short-term leases in vacant downtown properties. OPEN usually occurs in mid-May. However, the city brought it back for the Holiday season. While in the midst of looking for some great local holiday fashions, I had the pleasure of visiting Zelle Boutique, an online boutique owned by twin sisters Michelle and Christine of San Antonio. Zelle was chosen to participate in the holiday OPEN Pop-up. This adorable and affordable shop quickly became my latest local fashion obsession, here’s why:
Affordable Finds: Zelle Boutique has tops, bottoms, dresses, boots and rompers all under $35! They provide safe and fast shipping and ship between 2-3 business days.
Wearing the “Geo Print Dress”
Adorable Accessories: Not only do they sell clothing, but they also offer accessories like scarfs, sunglasses, and hats!
Amazing customer care: Michelle and Christine are very passionate about their business and their customers. If you want to return/ exchange your item, send them an email before! They accept returns within 20 days of shipped date and if you want to exchange your item for a different size, simply leave a note in the package clearly stating the size you would like to exchange it for.
Visit ShopZelle.co to shop and find them on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
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The holidays have arrived! If you’re a small business owner or someone that manages social media, you will likely find yourself wondering how in the world could you take a vacation if you are managing accounts. In the latest #CoffeeWithSBG session, I give you some helpful tips so you can take a little breather from social this holiday season. Check it out:
The next #CoffeeWithSBG will be on Periscope on January 5 at 10 am CST and we will be discussing How to be build a savvy network for 2016. Find me on Periscope @ChristinaJOchoa
Want to build an extraordinary digital presence for your business or blog? Let’s get to work! Schedule a coffee meeting by viewing my Digital PR Services.
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It’s that time of the year- the company holiday office party has arrived! While you are busy away checking your co-workers list twice, it might be a wise idea to brush up on your holiday office party etiquette. You don’t want to walk in on Monday morning tagged in an embarrassing video on Instagram! Here are some basic do’s and don’ts to surviving your office holiday party.
Do conduct yourself professionally at all times.
An office holiday party is still a company function, which means, proper etiquette and decorum matter. The office party is not the place to blow off steam.
Don’t bring gag gifts
Unless your boss says it is okay, don’t bring the party lampshade or any other crazy stuff you might do at a personal holiday party.
Do take the time to network
A holiday party is a great event to begin building or strengthening business relationships, so do introduce yourself and build your network.
Don’t over do it
Don’t feel you need to drink excessively just because it’s an open bar. And don’t pig-out at the food buffet either. Moderation is key. You can always eat and drink more after the party.
Do say thanks
Make sure you say thank you to the person responsible for the planning and coordinating of the party. And also consider sending a thank-you note to top management for hosting the party.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Take a Uber or appoint someone as a DD, but whatever you do, DON’T drink and drive!
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Over here at Yelp we’re all about supporting local businesses and the saying goes especially around the Holiday Season! From gifts to personal “Treat Yo Self” moments, you can be assured San Antonio has some great spots around town to pick up a thing or two. Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming gift shopping but lucky for you we’re here to feature a few Holiday Pop-Up Shops!
Pop-Up Shops at JoyRide
JoyRide a local indoor fitness cycling studio has decided to make Holiday Shopping stress-free, as much as possible, by providing local businesses a chance to pop-up shop inside their locations on select dates from 8-11am!
Saturday, December 12:
Saturday, December 19:
OPEN Holiday Market is back in town! It’ll be from Dec. 11-19 at 11am-7pm each day. The OPEN Holiday Market functions similarly to the Pop Up Shops featured from May, giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to test the market! This season’s market has some AMAZING vendors—leather handmade goods, women’s fashions, fresh flowers, bath goods, home wares, candles and more!
On December 12th from 12pm-4pm in Yanaguna Garden, Hemisfair Park will be hosting a Holiday Artisan’s Market full of locally made crafts and goods, perfect for gifting (or keeping for yourself!). Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on-site for everyone to take personal photos with! You can catch this iconic Holiday couple from 1pm-3pm. For those of us who have an appetite no matter what time it is… Food trucks, kettle corn, (and games! Think life-size checkers and chess) will add color and flavor to the Market.
In honor of the giving season…
Culinaria, SA2020, and SA READS have all been selected here in San Antonio to receive a grant of up to $5k from the Yelp Foundation! The Yelp Foundation supports charitable organizations and activities addressing the needs of local communities, including access to information, education, local economic development, and freedom of expression. Each of these respective NPO’s work in the community embodies the Yelp Foundation’s mission, and we’d like to champion you as a deserving grant recipient.
What’s even more amazing?
The citizens of San Antonio get to determine how much each NPO receives by voting for them 1x daily until December 15, 2015!
Vote Here Daily: http://www.yfgiveslocal.org/san-antonio-tx/
All 3 organizations will ultimately receive a grant; however, locals get to determine who receives $5k, $3k, and $2k respectively.
-Tomas, Yelp Community Manager for San Antonio- A night owl who absolutely loves craft beers, live music, food, and all things “210”.
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Christmas time in the Alamo city is romantic. Between the lights and the colder weather, San Antonio during the holidays makes for the perfect spot for any couple. If you’re celebrating an anniversary or just wanted to impress your significant other during the holidays with some fine dining, here are a couple of fancy and romantic restaurants you should try.
For the 1604 Stone Oak folks
J Prime Steakhouse
It’s no secret that this luxurious steakhouse, located in the Stone Oak area, is a popular spot for realtors and real estate crowd. Pete and I were fortunate to get a taste of this authentic Brazilian cuisine the night of our 4-year-anniversary. We enjoyed a complimentary meat & cheese board along with a shrimp cocktail. For our main entrees, we both selected the stuffed airline chicken breast and paired it with the sweet potato hash. The meal was as delicious as can be!
J Prime Steakhouse Price Range: $31-60
For The Pearl Folks
The Historic Pearl is one of my favorite spots in San Antonio, so when I was surprised to a birthday dinner at Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden, my love for the Pearl grew. Instead of having two full entrees, Pete and I decided to get three different meal choices from nibbles, spreads, and tastes selection on the menu. As much as a loved the selections, my ultimate favorite was the Moscato I was drinking.
Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden Price Range: $11-30
For the Alamo Heights Folks
20nine Restaurant & Wine Bar, located in the Alamo Quarry, is the perfect intimate spot for a romantic dinner. This past Valentine’s Day, we got to try out the prix fixe menu. Everything was as exquisite as can be. Dying to know what we had, check it out here.
20Nine Restaurant Price Range: $11-30
For the Downtown Folks
Going out on a Downtown Tuesday in December? You should hit up Luke!
Famous for their 75-cent oysters and founded by Chef John Besh, Luke features a menu of authentic Old World cuisine, combining classic German and French cooking techniques with a New Orleans touch. Want to know more about our evening at Luke, check it out here.
Luke Price Range: $11-30
Have you tried any of these restaurants or have a favorite that wasn’t on this list? Share in the comments section below!
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary dinner certificate for our anniversary to J Prime Steakhouse, which inspired this collective piece. Don’t worry though, all opinions are 100% my own!
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#CoffeeWithSBG officially launched on Tuesday December 1! As I stated in my recent post, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10am CST, I will be on Periscope virtually having coffee with you and chatting briefly about how to spiffy up your digital precence.
The scopes will be a Q&A format and will run about 10-12 min long and will be up on the blog the following day! In my first scope, we talked about goals and building your brand using social. Check it out:
The next #CoffeeWithSBG will be on Periscope on December 15 at 10 am CST and we will be discussing how to manage social media during the holidays. Find me on Periscope @ChristinaJOchoa
Want to build an extraordinary digital presence for your business or blog? Let’s get to work! Schedule a coffee meeting by viewing my Digital PR Services.
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Now we can have coffee together and virtually talk about all things social media, blogging and small business. In honor of my six-month biz anniversary on December 1st, and as part of my expansion to my Digital PR services, I’m launching a bi-weekly Q&A Periscope series called #CoffeeWithSBG. The concept for the series formed after I celebrated my first-year anniversary of The Social Butterfly Gal with a Periscope party! Periscope has become a powerful platform for personal branding, and I wanted to hop on and showcase a few tricks and tips to help you with your digital presence… think of it as a test run for my actual services!
In this series we will focus on:
• Utilizing Social media for biz
• Building an effective personal brand for your blog & biz
• Small Biz goals and being a creative entrepreneur
And lots more!
The bi-weekly series will be live on Periscope every 1st and 3rd Tuesday morning at 10 am CST and will also be posted on the blog the following day. In our first topic, we will discuss the importance of setting goals for your social media marketing plan. Find me on Periscope @ChristinaJOchoa
Want to build an extraordinary digital presence for your business or blog? Let’s get to work! Schedule a coffee meeting by viewing my Digital PR Services.
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