This article was previously featured on VoyagePhoenix. You can also read it here!
Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylie Ricks.
Hi Kaylie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
To be honest, starting and running my own business was never my plan. I did exactly what I was told to do growing up. I went to college for four years, graduated, accepted my first job offer in the corporate world, and worked three years for the same company. Yet, slowly but surely, the thoughts of “there has got to be more to life” began creeping in.
I was not working in the field I got my degree in and, at the end of the day, I simply was unhappy. So I did what any normal 25-year-old would do. I quit my job on good terms, uprooted my life from Chicago, and drove across the country to start over in Phoenix, AZ, completely on a whim. I promised myself that I would take one full year off (a sabbatical, if you will) to figure out what I wanted my next chapter to look like.
After eight months of tapping into all of my passions, and let’s be real, watching my savings dwindle down, I decided it was time to get back out there. I was ready to do something that I loved. I started saving jobs to LinkedIn that aligned with my passions and booked a last-minute trip to Europe for a final hurrah before entering back into the workplace. This was all in March 2020… I think you know where this is going.
I was shortly sent back to the States from Switzerland due to a world pandemic and, let me tell you, when all your saved jobs on LinkedIn suddenly disappear overnight, you have to get creative. So, that’s exactly what I did. Little did I know that it was about to be the biggest blessing and craziest journey I’ve ever embarked on. Now, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
Each morning I wake up excited to get out of bed and work with the female-owned businesses I have the privilege of helping. I never imagined this would be my path and I don’t take it for granted. Helping dream-driven entrepreneurs achieve their goals and build strong online communities through copywriting and social media, all while recognizing their potential, is my business. It’s my baby. And I wouldn’t change anything about the path that got me exactly where I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Becoming an entrepreneur came pretty naturally to me, to be honest. I always grew up finding ways to sell a product. I would sell lemonade, make bracelets and negotiate.. a ton! In high school, I always was a part of the yearbook crew and wrote articles for the school newspaper, so when I got my degree in Journalism, everyone thought it was a no-brainer. But really, what I think the no-brainer is is the fact that I fell into entrepreneurship. It just makes sense. I like to call myself the “accidental entrepreneur” since I genuinely never thought this would be my path. But man, do I love it!
Since the moment I decided to become a Social Media Manager and Digital Marketing Specialist, I have been almost entirely self-taught. This has led to some struggles over the year, for sure. At the beginning of my business, I severely undercharged my services because there was no true standard to go off of. I did not know other SMMs or virtual assistants that offered what I did. I didn’t nail down my ideal client right away either, which led to some obstacles.
While I am now an advocate for investing in yourself, hiring a coach to lead you through this new endeavor, finding a mentor, or outsourcing some of the tasks you can’t keep up with, I simply did not know any of this when I started. Overall, starting my business has been a smooth road, but that doesn’t mean a speed bump doesn’t sneak up on me every once in a while. I don’t always have the answers and I am constantly learning. But I personally think that’s the fun of it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My business is all about promoting other women’s businesses by communicating with their audiences in the most effective way possible. For some, this could be auditing social media and managing their channels, working on their brand messaging, and writing blog posts and newsletters. Or it could simply be keeping up with their online presence through their email and DMs. I am an online business manager for entrepreneurs wanting to keep leads and customers warm while generating an income. I am known for taking stress off of my client’s plates so they can focus on the tasks they are good at. They shouldn’t have to worry or stress about every single aspect of their job. Teamwork makes the dream work!
I am most proud of the results I have been able to give my clients, which in turn has allowed them to make more money and find job satisfaction. I’ve increased one client’s audience on Pinterest by 5,097%. Another client’s Instagram following has grown 272% in the six months we’ve worked together. Social media is a necessity in order for businesses to thrive. I help curate this content for my clients so they can excel above and beyond. I genuinely and wholeheartedly care for my clients – for their wellbeing, their boundaries and their successes. Most importantly, I want them to succeed. I take them one step further, which I think at times sets me apart from others.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Great question! I am a firm believer that there is room at the table for everyone! If you are starting out on your entrepreneurial journey, I would love to connect with you! If you are seasoned, I’d love to network with you. I’m all about collaboration over competition, so please come follow along over on Instagram (@kayliericks12). I do run my business virtually solely for the purpose of traveling the world while also making a living. So, if you don’t want the travel bug to bite you, I may not be the best person to follow!
If anyone would like to work with me, they can contact me personally at hello@runawaywithkay.com. I would love to take on more clients from the Valley. No matter where you live or work out of, I am here for all your social media, copywriting and marketing needs. I hope you’ll allow me to become your new virtual business BFF!
Follow along with Kaylie on all the platforms:
Instagram | Website | Linkedin | Facebook | Pinterest | Podcast
