For me, growing a team (or 'outsourcing') has been one of the trickiest parts of growing my business. I've struggled to find guidance or insight in to how other people have done it and so have done a lot of trial and error to understand the type of support that I, and my business, need. With the aim of having more open conversations about growing a team and sharing what I've learnt so far, in this episode I share the mistakes I've made and the light bulb moments that have helped me start to get it right!

In this episode I talk through:

• You know you need help in your business - is the first person you need a VA?
• Working out what to do if the support you're getting doesn't make your life easier
• How to know when you need specialist help vs generalist help
• Stop trying to be 'well rounded' and lean in to the things you love - the 'star' analogy that changed my entire approach.
• Finding the right people to work with and the questions you need to ask.
• The one piece of advice I'd give everyone growing a team (or wanting to!).

If you enjoyed the podcast, here are some ways you can be a part of my world:

Social:

Love Instagram? Click here to watch a video I made on the Warm audience trap (hint, it's something almost every client struggles with!)

More of a LinkedIn fan? I'm there too! Come and follow me here: Sophie Griffiths

Free Resource:

Ready to grow an audience of people who WANT you to sell to them? Radical idea I know, but it shouldn’t be! Click here to get access to my step by step guide to using simple, effective ads to build & nurture a community of superfans,

Work together:

Ready to build an audience of superfans who are excited and ready to buy from you?

Whether you are just starting with Meta (Facebook & Instagram) Ads, you have dabbled but want to build your confidence with your first funnel, or you're already killing it and you're ready for fast growth - I can help! Click here to choose the best option for you

Got questions?

DM me on Insta or LinkedIn

Email me here: hello@sophiegriffiths.co 

hello, and welcome to

Lion Hearted Marketing.

2

This is a podcast for bold businesses

who are ready to go from a slightly

3

scattergun marketing approach to

connecting everything they're doing

4

to create joyful, repeatable customer

journeys, that build connection and

5

consistently convert new clients.

6

That's called a funnel.

7

If you fancy.

8

If you have that nagging feeling,

you should have more of a grasp

9

on your marketing, more of a

plan, more of a system to support

10

your pretty successful business.

11

You're in the right place.

12

This isn't about trying

lows and new strategies.

13

It's about taking what you've

got and making the most of it.

14

I'm Sophie your host.

15

Self-confessed tea superfan marketing

strategist and funnels or joyful journeys,

16

as I like to call them, demystifier.

17

Join me every Tuesday for my Lion

hearted approach to marketing.

18

To help you navigate those big moves,

stay focused on your goals and ultimately

19

take your business to the next level.

20

Let's jump in to today's episode.

21

Hello.

22

And welcome to this week's

episode of line hearty marketing.

23

Now this week, I'm going to be

talking all about growing a team.

24

Now I'm not an expert

in this by any means.

25

And I do hope to get more of

a specialist on the podcast.

26

I'm.

27

At some point soon.

28

However I wanted to talk about this

today because it probably is one

29

of the biggest topics I talk to my

clients about I'm more often than not.

30

After we get off a call, I will

send them over details of my VA

31

or social media manager role.

32

So often they need some level of support

as they're scaling that business.

33

We'll say the courses

I'm in the masterminds.

34

I do often the questions and

the things we talk about is, you

35

know, how do we manage your team?

36

How do I actually create a team

that takes the weight off of me

37

rather than adding another level

of admin or stress organization?

38

It's just something, I find myself

talking about a lot and I have had lots

39

of different experiences growing a team.

40

It's something I've actually

really struggled with.

41

I found it one of the most challenging

parts of my business actually which

42

came as quite a surprise to me because

in my pre kids corporate life.

43

I loved having a team.

44

It was something I was

actually really good at.

45

Probably a couple of years

into my corporate job.

46

I became a people manager.

47

I had a team of sex, really loved

nurturing them, kind of creating that

48

bigger picture vision that they kind

of went off and then implemented.

49

Well, the time I left that job to have

Eliza, my eldest, I had a team of 350.

50

I love team management.

51

I love being part of a team.

52

And the bigger picture,

strategic thinking.

53

You know, getting people together,

creating a vision and then helping

54

them bring that vision to life.

55

I'm blocking issues for them.

56

That's what I really thrive on.

57

And to be honest, when I started my own

business, I really struggled with the fact

58

that I not only had to do all of that,

but then I had to sort of do the doing.

59

Implemented all, keep it consistent.

60

Create structure, create processes.

61

That like to do the end to end.

62

I think actually it's really hard for

most people Because I think whether you

63

love the detail and you're almost the

opposite of that to me, you know, you

64

love the detail, you love the consistency.

65

You love creating a plan.

66

Like some of my incredible team,

I now work with often it's really

67

hard for you to do the other end

and the bit that I really love.

68

So do you think when you start your

own business, especially when you've

69

come from a corporate background,

it can feel really hard that you're

70

suddenly doing all the things.

71

And even just not even just from.

72

Growing a team perspective, but just, in

my corporate career, you know, they were.

73

So many different teams and it was broken

down into tiny, tiny little segments.

74

So you were responsible

for various things.

75

Leather have a very big pie.

76

And then suddenly you start working

for yourself and you're responsible

77

for a very small pie, but all

of the pie that was such a big.

78

Transition for me, it took me

quite a long time, to be honest,

79

to get, to get my head around that.

80

So once I kind of got my head around.

81

Managing all of the pie.

82

I really, really struggled to find clear

guidance on growing a team and even

83

just about other people's experiences,

to be honest, I think often you're

84

asking groups like, oh, I think, yeah.

85

I think I might need a VA.

86

And like loads of people

say, oh, my view is good.

87

Or I love my VA.

88

But I think it's such a personal

thing about what you want help

89

with and how you want help.

90

And I'm really working with someone

that understands your style and how you

91

work as well, which I'm going to talk

a little bit more about later because

92

that's been quite a massive thing for me.

93

More recently as well.

94

So, I guess taking a

little bit of a step back.

95

I started my business back in 2017.

96

And for a long time, I

just did all on my own.

97

I couldn't even imagine.

98

Having a VA taking anyone on.

99

But as my business grew a little bit of

Christmas, 20, 21, I wrote on my vision.

100

For 20, 22, but I wanted

to feel part of a team.

101

And I've talked about this

on previous episodes as well.

102

I felt really lonely at

that point in my business.

103

I was managing a lot of client

accounts and there wasn't a

104

huge amount of interaction.

105

Between me and the clients over the month.

106

So You know, we'd have a

monthly check-in, but other than

107

that, I got on with my job.

108

And that was a real benefit in a

lot of ways because it went, I would

109

say flexible . I was really lonely.

110

And I think in hindsight, I was probably

getting to a point where my business

111

wasn't really for the kids anymore.

112

So.

113

I loved the fact that it was

so flexible for a really long

114

time for a good couple of years.

115

I had my second baby.

116

Totally.

117

In 2020 It was amazing that I

could run that whole business

118

around her and be so flexible.

119

I think by 2022, I was at a

point where actually she was

120

really settled at nursery.

121

My eldest Eliza was at school and I felt

like, okay, I really needed to find a

122

way for this business to kind of feel.

123

Energizing and fun.

124

And like, it was giving me what I

needed as well as what my family

125

and what my kids needed and how I

kind of wanted to be there for them.

126

So at the beginning of 2022,

I made this really strong.

127

Intention for the year to create a

feeling of having a team around me.

128

And I knew that I wasn't a point where

I was suddenly going to get later people

129

in my, I kept thinking to myself, how

can I create this feeling of a team,

130

even if it's not necessarily huge So

when I actually ended up doing was

131

creating a women's networking group.

132

Locally to me with two

other incredible women.

133

And we had events in the evenings and

the daytimes, and we started to build

134

more of a local network around me.

135

Feeling like part of the team that

was a little bit closer to home.

136

And I then also started pivot things

and training, and I talk a lot more

137

about this in other episodes of the

podcast, but making that move from

138

just doing monthly support to more

training was such a big shift for me.

139

And it's something I've really led

into the last couple of years and

140

has made a huge difference in my

business as well because training

141

and helping other people learn and

grow is such a huge passion of mine.

142

And then finally I did dabble in

getting some support my business.

143

So off the advice I did hear it

was things like you need to get a

144

VA before you actually need one.

145

Or.

146

I finally got a VA and wished

I'd got, had that six months ago.

147

So I thought, okay,

that's totally logical.

148

Get rid of the admin, get rid

of the stuff that doesn't add

149

value to the business and stuff.

150

That's repetitive so I started

working with the VA and actually,

151

you know what, I've worked with

quite a few VA's over the years.

152

Now, and do you know what?

153

I really, really, really struggled.

154

It's never felt.

155

Easy and like it's releasing.

156

Much time from my business.

157

And I won't go into each of the different

like VA experiences, because I think

158

to be honest, the biggest thing I

want to share is that it wasn't them.

159

It was me.

160

I wasn't really ready for a VA and

everyone can tell you that you need

161

to get one before you're ready.

162

But it is a hell of a learning curve.

163

If you are nowhere near ready for a VA.

164

And I don't mean financially or, you

know, within the business, why aren't you

165

mean is really settling on what you want

to offer and how you want to offer it.

166

And.

167

I'm processed is.

168

That become repeatable in your business.

169

'cause.

170

I was just transitioning

from management to training.

171

I was testing out lots and lots of

different ways of working with clients.

172

I was testing different training offers.

173

I was testing different

small group programs.

174

I was being really dynamic

in my business, which I love.

175

But what that means is there's not a

huge amount of stability and there's

176

not a set process or way of doing things.

177

So I couldn't say like right when we

take on a client you know, this happens

178

and this happens and this happens,

and I need you to take over from that.

179

Actually what we're saying is, oh, well,

I've actually started working with this

180

client in a slightly different way.

181

And that client is actually separate

or when I've actually agreed to

182

something else with that client.

183

And it was really, really messy.

184

It felt like it needed a lot of

input from me because I was agreeing

185

to all these different things.

186

Now, some people might say, well, you

know, you should sell your services and

187

you should just offer what you offer.

188

And that's just, it.

189

And you shouldn't create different

things for different clients and

190

that's, that's all very well.

191

But frankly I was just at a point

where I just wanted to see what

192

kind of results I got with different

ways of working with clients.

193

It was just a real

period of testing for me.

194

I was also building up to launching

my group program, which I did

195

towards the end of the year.

196

Everything was just so new for me.

197

I didn't feel like I

could hand over anything.

198

Because nothing felt particularly

repeatable at this point.

199

So I did work with a few different VA's

and I just couldn't work out why I was

200

finding it so hard when everyone else

seemed to be finding it, like, okay.

201

But it just wasn't really working for me.

202

But over the last year or so, I've done

a lot of work on my business or myself.

203

And I've now realized why

it wasn't really working.

204

And that actually, I was probably

looking for the wrong thing.

205

So for the rest of this episode,

I thought I'd just break down.

206

What was it that wasn't working?

207

What may be kind of realize that and then

change my approach and then how and why

208

I've grown my team to where it is today.

209

So I've done a huge

amount of work on myself.

210

In August last year.

211

So at this point where I was really kind

of feeling overwhelmed, but just really

212

struggling to outsource and find like

the right way or people to work with.

213

I also got diagnosed with ADHD.

214

And that's really made me think a

lot about how my brain works and

215

then how that actually impacts

and feeds into my business.

216

Both with my psychotherapist,

who is the one that diagnosed me.

217

But also with ADHD coaches

business mentors who specialize

218

in working with women with ADHD.

219

That was really important

to me to understand.

220

Not just from a personal and a home

life side about how I can manage

221

my ADHD better, but also like how

I can take my huge strengths that

222

come from ADHD into my business.

223

But, and also support my areas of sort

of blame this or the areas I struggle.

224

So that was really, really

massive understanding my ADHD

225

and also understanding then

how it can impact my business.

226

For me, what I've learned is

that I Hugely capable of taking

227

on a lot of information in

quite a small amount of time.

228

I, my brain works incredibly

fast and I can get done.

229

In a morning of what most people

probably take a couple of days.

230

When I get into my hyper-focus zone,

I can achieve incredible, things.

231

My brain is very good with numbers.

232

I I really enjoy learning new systems.

233

And setting them up.

234

I don't don't enjoy maintaining

them, but that's a different story.

235

So what I I'm really good

at is being a generalist.

236

And learning lots of systems and

being pretty capable across the

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operations side of my business.

238

So what I've done a huge amount of this

year is set up automations in my business.

239

Because I know that once I set them

up, I can then have them running

240

and I'm not relying on anybody else.

241

So that was my first thing that I did

when I kind of really dug into it.

242

Is that.

243

Actually for what I was using

personally, I was using a VA for

244

a lot of that could be automated.

245

I did get some support, so it

was a more of ad hoc support.

246

So, what I've realized for me

is that working with someone on

247

like an ad hoc basis or for very

specific thing works really well.

248

So I'm getting someone to set up my

Day four, my onboarding process, for

249

example, that is incredibly useful

because for me, automation is really,

250

really key to my whole business.

251

Now this idea of getting specific

support and things is something

252

that kind of really came to

the front of my consciousness.

253

When I went to a day

on ADHD back in April.

254

Now I had Hannah Miller

255

he was co-hosting that

day I'm on the podcast.

256

A while ago to definitely

dig out that episode.

257

If you're interested in.

258

Understanding your strengths and

kind of how you then work best

259

because, because what she does

and how she works is incredible.

260

And there was this analogy that

really, really stuck with me.

261

And to be honest, it's shaped my

whole kind of growing a team ethos.

262

Essentially, what she talks about is that.

263

When we're at school and our whole

lives, we're brought up to believe

264

that we should be really rounded.

265

So if there are things that we're

not very good at, then we should work

266

hard and improve ourselves . Rather

than focus solely on the things that

267

we're good at and then have deficits

of things were not so good at.

268

And it's really interesting because

that's what we really encourage

269

our children to do, you know?

270

Oh, you're struggling with math.

271

Well, let's get you some extra support.

272

Let's get you a tutor,

273

now the approach we were talking

more about, and I'm not necessarily

274

saying that this is right or wrong,

but it's just a different view on it.

275

Is.

276

Actually, if you're really good at

English, let's get you a tutor in English.

277

Let's help you Excel at something that

you love and are really, really good at.

278

Let's give you that huge strength

and super power going forward.

279

Anyway really stuck with me.

280

So the way we talked about this

was instead of being a circle and

281

being rounded and good, everything,

a very kind of even and smooth.

282

Actually what most people are, is a

star where you've got these spikes

283

of things that you're really good at.

284

And then like low points, if you like

of things that you're not so good at.

285

And the key for me, what really

transformed my whole view of it was

286

that I was trying to be a circle.

287

And then I was trying to get like a

smaller circle to fit inside my circle.

288

So two generalists.

289

I was trying to kind of cover everything

and then get someone to come in and sort

290

of cover what I was doing on top of it.

291

And the problem was is that

because I'm pretty competent.

292

And I I quite enjoy a lot

of the ops side of stuff.

293

I ended up just getting

frustrated that nobody was ever.

294

Taking what I'd done and

taking it to the next level.

295

I realized was, is I really needed

to embrace my strengths and what

296

I was really, really good at.

297

And I loved doing it.

298

It gave me energy.

299

So my star.

300

And then get other people in to fill in

the triangles between the star spokes.

301

Now.

302

I started off doing that

with like ad hoc people.

303

So someone coming in

to do my DUP Saturday.

304

When I had my rebrand, I

worked with a graphic designer.

305

I worked with a, I worked with a

website developer, but actually

306

I worked with her for one day.

307

She created three to four pages

for me on my website, and then I've

308

been able to take that forward.

309

So rather than , throwing the baby

out with the bath water, because

310

actually I had a really good website.

311

It just needed, we sort of skinning.

312

With my new branding.

313

Is how can I get this specialist to help

me move faster and do what I can't do.

314

So the graphic design, the website

development, like the branding side of it.

315

The dub Solido, all staff.

316

I didn't have the knowledge of, and

I needed people with that specialist

317

knowledge to take me forward.

318

So that's what I've really, learned.

319

Is that.

320

I work best when I'm

working with specialists.

321

Who are focusing in on a really

small area of what I either

322

don't want to do or can't do.

323

Or just really want their focus

and knowledge and expertise on.

324

So that's essentially where

I got to after that ADHD day.

325

And it was such a huge

light bulb moment for me.

326

I can't tell you.

327

No, I should say as well.

328

In hindsight, I actually already

had been getting specific support

329

and I hadn't really clocked out.

330

I've always had an accountant because

I have a just huge fear that I am

331

going to totally mock up my finances.

332

And at some point, get myself into an

issue with the tax model or something.

333

So I've always had an accountant

again, specific support.

334

So since I've been doing the

podcast, which is nearly 18 months

335

now I've always worked with the

VA on getting these out because.

336

I can't even tell you what goes

on in the background to get one

337

of these out, but it's a lot.

338

So again, specific support, I

hadn't really clocked was that's

339

why it was working so well for me.

340

So I was already doing it.

341

I just didn't really realize.

342

And I think as well.

343

I just everywhere.

344

I looked, people had general VAs

and it just felt like, oh, well

345

that obviously is the next thing

that everybody else is doing.

346

So.

347

I probably need it.

348

That's why I should be doing.

349

But also, I didn't really know

what the alternative was what else

350

would be a good option for me too.

351

Outsource.

352

Over summer.

353

I really took a step back and started to

speak to the people I'm in my master.

354

I'm with my co-chairs

even just on Instagram.

355

I'm asking it, you know, people who

I'm chatting to in the DMS, like,

356

well, how do you structure your team?

357

What does your VA do for you?

358

Or like, how does it work?

359

And what ended up doing was kind of brain

dumping everything I wanted outsourced.

360

And what was taking up the most time.

361

What I, what was automated

and what could I automate?

362

What did I want to outsource?

363

And then what did I want

to continue doing myself?

364

And when I got to this point, what I

realized was with my VA going on mat

365

leave and not doing my social media

graphics anymore, social media was

366

becoming a huge pain point for me.

367

I had every intention every

week of posting consistently.

368

And every week it just didn't happen.

369

I just couldn't find the time or Headspace

to To post on Instagram in particular.

370

And.

371

And I, for a while I thought

it was a mindset issue.

372

I think what happened was

with the almost burnout.

373

Of the summer.

374

I had got to a point where I was

like, I'm not working evenings,

375

I'm not working weekends.

376

And actually I'm just going to

focus on like the critical things.

377

And I just realized that social media

just never fell into something that

378

felt critical which don't get me wrong

as a former social media manager,

379

and as a Facebook ads expert, I know

that I need to be posting regularly.

380

But I just couldn't fit it in.

381

And so I decided that that

is the first thing I wanted

382

outsource was my social media.

383

So found myself turning

really to my network.

384

Who else is using a social media manager?

385

I haven't got any recommendations.

386

You know, what I'm looking

for is specifically probably

387

Instagram support at the moment.

388

And actually what I found was an

amazing social media manager, who

389

also works with other clients who also

that was actually a really big thing.

390

Is that working with somebody

who understood the challenges

391

I had, the way that I worked.

392

Things I would find difficult things

that she could help me with and

393

also things I'd be really good at.

394

So that was the first person I

started working with and the way

395

that we work means that when she

works, doesn't really matter to me.

396

And I've realized that this is something

that I didn't take into account

397

enough when I was thinking about VA.

398

So for my social media manager, the

key really is that she understands.

399

My business, she understands not

Facebook ads specifically, but

400

more sort of the coaching training,

onboarding to group programs.

401

One-to-one so high ticket services.

402

Matt was really important to me.

403

Like the style that I wanted to use.

404

Also that she was really good at graphics.

405

That was really important to me because

obviously I've just had my branding and

406

I wanted someone to be able to take

that on and really kind of develop it.

407

So that's worked really well.

408

The next thing I moved on to was a VA.

409

I, because I was like, right, come on.

410

Say fee to get.

411

Now that you've put your social

media sorted, there's still lots

412

of admin that you're doing that you

need to kind of get off your plate.

413

Because all of my systems are set

up pretty much in dub Saturday.

414

And so we needed some that was pretty

confident with ups our day, but I

415

already had everything built out.

416

All my workflows built out.

417

I didn't really need someone

who was a dumpsite specialist.

418

Because often what I found was that

people who had dumpsite specialists.

419

Only dude.

420

I'm sorry.

421

And that's really not what I

needed because I use loads and

422

loads of different systems.

423

And on that point I use loads

and loads of different systems.

424

So I need someone who's pretty

confident picking up systems,

425

learning them themselves, if they

don't know how to use them, but also

426

understand lots of different systems.

427

So that was really my criteria.

428

When I went into looking for a VA.

429

And also in my head, you know,

I like working with women.

430

. I like working with, you

know, people who have kids.

431

I was like, you know, that

would probably be great as well.

432

Cause you know, they understand

the juggle and everything.

433

So I found someone on Instagram

and she was really, really lovely.

434

And we started working

together early August.

435

Then it came to sort of mid, mid to late.

436

August and she sent an email saying.

437

That in September, her children's nursery

and school was changing and say what she

438

was doing was changing the way she worked.

439

And it wasn't until I read her

email, I realized how important some

440

things were to me that I hadn't even

known that were important to me.

441

So when I started working with

her, she worked four days a week.

442

Nine until two.

443

And that was great.

444

And then we'd set out our weekly,

monthly tasks and then I would

445

send her like ad hoc stuff and

she would do it over the week.

446

And what her change

was, which is obviously.

447

Totally within her.

448

Right.

449

And totally.

450

I totally support the fact that she was

changing her business to work for her.

451

But what she was changing it to

was working three days a week.

452

So Tuesday to Thursday and Nine

til four so slightly longer.

453

And then she would only be

doing my work on a Tuesday.

454

Now for me.

455

That just doesn't work.

456

And I realized the reason

it doesn't work as well, a.

457

I don't want Fridays.

458

So when I'm thinking about

my team, I actually quite want

459

someone who works Fridays.

460

The second thing was I.

461

Love the idea of being

incredibly organized and getting

462

everything over to heartful.

463

Hope my time's not on a Tuesday,

but the reality is that's

464

probably not going to happen.

465

And I could feel that that was

going to add extra stress on me.

466

It wasn't going to take stress away.

467

It wasn't going to feel easy.

468

It wasn't going to feel.

469

Like, oh, this is like taking

such a weight off my mind.

470

It was going to feel like, oh God, I'm

going to have to make sure that I've

471

got everything to her for Tuesday.

472

And then I think my biggest concern was,

but what if something comes in, like,

473

what if I need a client onboarding?

474

And that comes in on a Wednesday morning.

475

Like, it's not the end of the world if

that happens on a Thursday afternoon, but

476

I can't wait all the way to a Tuesday.

477

And that's what my real issue was.

478

So I got this email and I felt

this like, oh God, I don't think

479

that's going to work for me.

480

And what was so interesting for me.

481

And this was a massive light bulb

moment for me, but my immediate thought

482

was, oh, well maybe this is just

what, this is just the way VA's work.

483

Maybe this is normal.

484

Maybe this is what everybody else does.

485

Maybe I just need to

get on board with them.

486

So I messaged my coach and

posted in my mastermind group.

487

Oh, like, how do you guys wait with

your VA's or is this normal maybe I

488

just need to suck it up basically.

489

Like maybe this just is how it has to be.

490

And then I don't really, I

don't know what happened.

491

But at some point.

492

Maybe somebody said

something or I don't know.

493

I just had this moment of like, Safie.

494

You are running.

495

You are running your business.

496

And you get to decide what support

you want and how you want it.

497

Now it might be the allocating

a time to do your work.

498

Once a week is normal.

499

It might be that a lot of VA's, work

part-time and a lot don't work Fridays.

500

But that doesn't mean

that every VA does that.

501

And it certainly doesn't mean

that you have to settle for it.

502

Like.

503

I think I'm still going through this

transition of seeing myself as like

504

separate to the business as a CEO.

505

So actually I just had

this massive moment of.

506

I can get whatever support I need.

507

And that doesn't have to just be

based on someone else's business.

508

I can find someone who is happy as part

of that business to offer me why need.

509

I think it's a bit of a

boundaries thing as well.

510

Like I like to please, people

like to start it with this woman.

511

She was really, really lovely.

512

I really enjoyed working with her.

513

And it was a real shame.

514

I was like, oh, maybe I can make

it work, actually no other.

515

As the CEO of my business, I need

to be really clear on what I need

516

and how I need it and not just go

with what works for other people.

517

And I just think in hindsight,

that's what I've done a lot.

518

Is try to work into other people's

systems and approaches and not

519

thought really about what do I need

and what does my business need.

520

So I spoke to her and we had a

lovely conversation and, you know,

521

we parted ways and it was fine.

522

By felt like, oh my gosh, I'm kind

of back to the beginning again.

523

So I then took myself back to

this star analogy of right.

524

You really need to think a

bit more specifically about.

525

What you want.

526

And I realized actually, what

was taking up a lot of time.

527

Was the Facebook ads work, but not

necessarily the strategic high-level

528

work more like going into half.

529

Facebook ads manager and

setting up campaigns.

530

It's kind of the difference.

531

Between the social media management

of writing the caption and creating

532

a graphic versus the scheduling.

533

It's like the scheduling part

I really needed help with, of

534

like a Facebook ads equivalent.

535

So I decided that actually I wanted to

work with another Facebook ads managers.

536

They have them.

537

Come into my business Now in

the Facebook ads world, what's

538

quite normal is white labeling.

539

So almost more of an agency model

where you hand over like whole

540

accounts for somebody to manage that.

541

Isn't why I wanted and probably for the

first time ever, I was like, I don't

542

really mind that that's, that's not

normal and that's not what most people do.

543

I want someone to give me like X amount

of hours a month to help me with this

544

sort of, kind of like a Facebook ads, VA.

545

So I went out to my network and

found a really incredible woman

546

who is now helping me with that.

547

And that specific help

is just incredible.

548

It's helping so much.

549

And then the final step was

looking at this sort of Viet.

550

Do I need a VA?

551

Can I just carry on if I am.

552

And then I spoke to a friend who

also run through in business and

553

she had just hired an OBM, which

is an online business manager.

554

And it's sort of like the next step

up from a VA, I guess it's someone

555

who is almost like your ops manager.

556

So it's someone who is not just

doing what you asked them to do.

557

It's much more strategic.

558

It's much more systems.

559

Focused.

560

And so that's why I've ended up doing.

561

I'm working with an online business

manager who started last week.

562

So it's all very new and I'm kind

of acutely aware now that I have

563

quite a lot of people helping me.

564

And they're all very new to it.

565

So at the moment, I'm still doing

quite a lot support to make sure

566

you know, they understand how it

works and how we can work together.

567

And I'm starting to think

about as well, like, right.

568

Okay.

569

It's all very well getting lots

of specific support, but how do I

570

manage that overall as a business?

571

And make sure that everyone is kind

of singing from the same sheet.

572

And I don't know, not spending loads

of my time managing loads of different

573

people, because that's the flip side of

having what, you know, one generalist

574

in your business where you just work

with them and they know everything.

575

There says lots and lots of different

people, and I'm kind of trying to make

576

sure they're all on the same page.

577

At the moment it's going really well.

578

But it is very, very heavy days.

579

So that's where I'm at with it.

580

And I now have an accountant.

581

My podcast, VA social media

manager, Facebook ads, VA, and

582

I'm an online business manager.

583

Which is quite a huge shift

from this time last year.

584

Where I just had my accountant.

585

So that is.

586

Massive change.

587

And to be honest, I wasn't

ready for all of this last year.

588

The understanding I now have of myself,

of my business, of where I'm going

589

with my business of what I want to.

590

Do with my business is hugely different

to where I was this time last year.

591

And I'm definitely not saying

that, everybody needs to get

592

their social media manager sorted

first, or you have to have an ABM.

593

I guess what I'm saying is.

594

If you're struggling to find support

or grow a team or something, doesn't

595

feel like it's working for you.

596

I guess my advice is.

597

Take a moment to think about

what would really, really

598

help you out in your business.

599

And don't be afraid to find that person

because they will be out there if you

600

need really specific help on one thing.

601

And it's just a couple of hours a month.

602

Someone will be happy to do that for you.

603

If you want someone to come in and

help you across loads of different

604

things for quite a few hours a

month, like that's also, okay.

605

You don't have to have.

606

A VA.

607

There are people out there that

will help you with whatever

608

you need in your business.

609

And I just really encourage you to try

and work out what that is that you need,

610

and then finding that right person.

611

Don't be afraid to have

calls with multiple people.

612

When I had my Facebook ads.

613

VA that I was looking for, I N I

talked to three different people

614

and for various reasons based on

their experience when they were going

615

to be available, to do the work.

616

Other accounts that they manage, you

know, could they bring in other expertise

617

that was going to help my business?

618

There were so many things I considered

, and really don't be afraid to

619

ask how they work when they work.

620

Because that was something that I

just really didn't dig into when

621

I was speaking to people before,

just assuming that they were going

622

to be flexible interestingly, now..

623

So just think about, what

you need for your business.

624

And what would be really

helpful would probably would

625

be my advice from this episode.

626

So I hope you found that useful.

627

It was a a little bit of a windy road.

628

That one, I would call this possibly my

most ADHD episode, because I've just

629

verbalized everything's in my head.

630

I hope it was useful

in one way or another.

631

And I would absolutely love to

hear your takeaways and anything

632

you've kind of got from it.

633

Or any questions you've got, I'm more

than, more than happy to answer them.

634

Just come over to Instagram and DM me.

635

I will put the link in the show notes.

636

Thank you so much and have a lovely week.

637

Thank you so much for

joining me this week.

638

Before you go, make sure you

subscribe to the podcast so you

639

can receive new episodes every

Tuesday when they're released.

640

And if you enjoyed this episode, I'd

love for you to rate or leave a review

641

wherever you are listening to it.

642

It only takes a few seconds, but

it really does make a massive

643

difference to new people finding me.

644

Thank you again for joining me, Sophie,

in this episode of Lionheart Marketing.

645

See you next time.