Heba Shaikh, the founder of the media agency Seen Socially, joins us to discuss the unfiltered realities of building a business. Heba details how being made redundant after only three months at a job in the UK led her to launch a full-service media agency, offering social media marketing, content creation, graphic design, and more.
Follow Heba Shaikh:
Website: http://seensocially.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seensocially/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heba-shaikh-a57912143/
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Instagram: / foundersmindsetunfiltered
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01:02 - Welcome & Introduction
01:28 - Introducing Heba Shaikh and Seen Socially
02:08 - The Journey from Redundancy to Business Owner
02:15 - Background in Fashion Design in India and Dubai
03:41 - Getting Made Redundant After Three Months
04:25 - Turning a "Stupid Hobby" (Editing Reels) into an Agency
05:34 - The Feeling of Achievement as a Founder
06:14 - The Worst Times Are a Blessing
06:56 - Explaining CAD Drawings and Tech Packs in Fashion
07:49 - Working with a Couture Fashion Brand in Saudi
08:30 - Family Background in Manufacturing for Primark & Dorothy Perkins
09:30 - The New Startup Package Idea (Pre-Launch Services)
10:33 - What Really Got Heba into Social Media: Creativity and Storytelling
11:11 - The "One Day, One Shoot, One Month of Content" Service Explained
12:00 - Instagram Demands Quality vs. TikTok Demands Quantity
13:38 - Why Startups Need Good Content
14:40 - The Core Difference Between Instagram and TikTok
15:38 - How to Film 20 Videos in One Day (Batch Content Strategy)
17:03 - Planning is Everything for Content Creation
17:42 - How Long Planning and Prepping Actually Takes
18:28 - The Importance of Props, Lighting, and Shot Lists
19:27 - Comfortably Filming 20 Pieces of Content in One Day
20:40 - Why Planning is Key and What You Pay the "Big Bucks" For
21:16 - The Long Process of Editing Content
22:38 - The Biggest Challenge: Hiring Employees in India
24:53 - The Account Manager Working for "Other Clients' Work"
25:23 - The Real Reason for Hiring Remotely: Money
26:45 - Why the Business Isn't Growing (Heba Does Most of the Job)
27:01 - Strategies for Hiring in the UK (Apprenticeships/Internships)
28:30 - What Heba Needs: A "Second Me"
29:58 - The Unfair Expectation of Hiring One Person for Two Jobs
31:55 - The Client Who Said, "You figure that out."
34:03 - The Importance of Open Communication in Client Relationships
35:15 - Pushing Through After Losing the Biggest Client
36:58 - Planning to Hire Her Husband for Finance and Sales
38:04 - The Fear of Losing a Client Due to Money
39:39 - The Need to Put Egos Aside and Grow the Business
40:32 - The Worst Thing About the Industry: Hiring (CVS, Firing, Not Being Able to Rely on People)
41:21 - Unfiltered Hiring Advice: Why Hiring Women from India Has Been So Hard
43:01 - Recommendation: Hire Men (Cultural Difference)
44:17 - The Best Thing About the Industry: Free Food and Gifts
45:16 - Why Your Social Media Image (Digital Footprint) Matters
46:53 - An Example of a Brand with an Amazing Digital Footprint: Odd Muse
48:15 - The Power of Showing Vulnerability and Behind the Scenes
50:46 - Dealing with Overwhelm and Crying
51:24 - What Services Cost: Why Social Media Management is £2,000-£3,000
53:19 - Aggressive Community Management for Brand Awareness
54:48 - Creating Custom Packages for Startups with Small Budgets
56:17 - Using a Social Media Calculator to Determine Pricing
57:35 - How to Start in the Industry Today (Learning, YouTube, Free Services)
58:56 - Equipment: Why a Smartphone is Better Than a Professional Camera
59:30 - Why Professional Content Performs Less Than iPhone Content
01:00:52 - Funding the Agency and Equipment
01:02:18 - Quitting the 9-to-5 to Focus on the Agency
01:03:49 - Is Batch Content a Creativity Killer or Multiplier?
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