For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, social media can be an absolute game-changer! All it takes is one viral post and a business can suddenly take off.
At Like A Voss Social Media, we’re highlighting local businesses and entrepreneurs who are killing the online game. This week’s spotlight is on Liana Ling, Owner of PowerUp Strategy!
This week is a really special interview because Liana was Mandi’s first client SEVEN YEARS ago when she was just starting out. She worked with Liana for more than 4 years and learned a lot from her. Liana is also the one who handed Mandi one of her biggest opportunities – which led to major growth in her business after landing a huge client three years ago.
Our CEO Mandi interviewed Liana about her secret to success in business and in life. We also got some awesome insights into what they think makes social media such an effective tool in business.
A Little Bit About Being a Female Entrepreneur
1: How long have you been in business?
10 years
2: What made you decide to break away from the 9-5 and start PowerUp Strategy?
The number one challenge for most business owners is lead-generation and since I learned the skills to do this and was showing results, I decided to make it official so I could help as many business owners as possible.
3: What do you love most about being a female entrepreneur?
I was not prepared for the most wonderful and supportive communities I have discovered and been honoured to be a part of in which women entrepreneurs support and encourage each other.
4: What is the hardest thing you have had to overcome as a female entrepreneur?
I face the same issues as when I was a female lawyer in the corporate world. It can be hard to find your voice as a female entrepreneur and rise up from imposter syndrome. I thought I had a different style from the men around me but it turns out, they liked and appreciated my style, my point of view and my voice once I felt confident enough to voice it.
5: What is one thing about working in the lead generation industry that people would be surprised to learn?
Marketing (lead generation) will not get you sales. What it does is bring awareness to your target market about what you have to offer. The offer then has to do the heavy lifting. Many people think marketing, lead generation, paid ads are a “magic fix” for sales to start but what they really have to work on is creating a persuasive offer that is the perfect match for their audience.
And Now Onto The Social Media Questions!
6: Do you have a favorite social media platform? Why?
That’s like asking me who my favourite child is! In my experience, an omnichannel approach works best because, in today’s noisy world, the best way to get someone’s attention is to reach them through a variety of channels. The latest social media platform that also surprised me with how effective it is at building your platform as a thought leader and lead generation is TikTok.
7: What made you decide to start using social media as a way to promote your company?
SEO was too slow and for marketing services, Google Search ads were too expensive. I first ventured into social media through Facebook and Twitter, followed quickly by LinkedIn. It was amazing to me who easy it was to connect with and network with your future customers. I quickly discovered that not everyone was leveraging it for their business so I built a niche for myself in helping businesses get ROI from social media.
8: How has social media impacted your business? Would you say that it’s an effective marketing tool?
It is an extremely effective tool if you know how to position each network and invest the time and energy to learn it. In the same way that you cultivate close friendships by investing time and energy to care for each other, you need to do the same in social media. It’s called “social” for a reason. It has been a literal game-changer for my business.
9: What advice would you give to other businesses and entrepreneurs who want to use social media as a way to connect with customers?
Make sure you know what your customer journey is from prospect to customer. Then map out social media networks and how they will be used on top of that customer journey. Second, spend time to research the network and understand what is being discussed there and how. It’s a little like learning the language and customs of a new country when you travel. Then dive in and start using it yourself. Delegate it to your internal team or hire an agency to do it for you once you become a bit more familiar with the platform.
A Little More About Liana
Things people don’t always know about me:
- I looove Escape Rooms
- I studied and played harp for 8 years. I even won first place at the Kiwanis music festival for harp.
- I am a lawyer and practiced as a litigation and corporate lawyer for 8 years. I am not in practice anymore but I teach a Business Law course at York University.
Connect with Liana
Website
Instagram: @theleadgenqueen
TikTok: @leadgenqueen
Facebook
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Do you know a female entrepreneur who loves social media as much as we do? Contact us today – we’d love to tell her story!
