Cynthia Johnson and Ashley Legg, co-founders of Get It/Girl Brands, offer advice for growing a small business in the digital landscape.
Cynthia Johnson
Co-Founder, Get It/Girl Brands
Ashley Legg
Co-Founder, Get It/Girl Brands
What is your best advice for those who want to become an entrepreneur but do not know where to begin?
Take the time to figure out what you want to do, or even better, what you don’t want to do. The truth is that people are happy when they are doing what they love, but often, we don’t take the much-needed time to do the work required to know what we love to do. Avoid people pleasing, because if you are building someone else’s dream, you aren’t building your own. Once you have figured out what you want to do, stay eager, prioritize time management, and batch out your work. If you don’t, it can and will consume you. Finally, work with people you trust and like to be around. Ashley and I have been friends since we were in high school, and the best part of working together is that we trust each other.
What is some of the most important technology for small businesses to invest in?
We are content creators, so it’s important that we both stay nimble and cost-efficient, while also prioritizing quality production. Most everyone has a smartphone these days, and they are great for capturing content, but investing in a good camera and lighting system could help level up your content, giving you a clean, crisp, professional look. We love ring lights, travel ring lights, quality mics, and of course, a laptop on which to upload the content. We are also huge fans of Adobe editing products.
How can small business owners build a business plan that will ensure longevity of success past the 5-year mark?
Market research. Know your audience. We cannot emphasize this enough. Like we said in the beginning, take the time needed to ensure that you are heading in the right direction. The worst mistake an entrepreneur can make is to launch too soon with too little feedback. It is a costly mistake. Talk to people who are doing or have done what you want to do, ask family and friends, and make sure you have a vision. If you lack vision, you won’t know if you are heading in the right direction.
What steps do you recommend for entrepreneurs who are looking to scale up and increase the size of their enterprise?
Collaborate. There’s strength in numbers. Target your specific community. Speak to them. Collaboration, humility, and vision are key success factors when growing your business. Be sure to ask yourself why you want to scale your business, too. You should be able to answer that question with clarity and without hesitation, because scaling is both difficult and will change your business. When your business changes, so will your lifestyle.
What advice can you provide pertaining to digital marketing and its importance in growing a business?
Digital marketing and social media are so powerful. You have the ability to reach so many people through social networks. Take advantage of all the platforms available. Plan out your content calendar. Use design tools like Canva or Adobe to help you create the cleanest-looking images and marketing campaigns. Remember to target your community and your audience, and get to know them well.