Tenant of the Month - The Marketing Steer

Holly is one of our newer tenants, and we sent her our ‘meet the tenant’ questionnaire so we could introduce her. She shares her top tip for setting up your own business - and if you are looking for some friendly local marketing help, we have her details below so you can have a look at her services.

Hello Holly, how would you describe what you do?

I’m a freelance Marketing Consultant working with a variety of business types, from small one-man bands right through to large creative agencies delivering projects for their clients. I work slightly differently from typical, single-specialism freelancers in that I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. So I use my broad experience to make sure that my clients always have the bigger picture in mind, no matter what kind of project they’re currently working with me on.

Why did you create your business?

I’ve spent a large part of the past 10 years working at creative agencies in the North and so many projects came in where I’d be thinking, “But why are you doing that when you could or should be doing this?”. While you can challenge a brief in that environment, you’re ultimately there to do the job the client wants whether you agree or not. I wanted to be in a position where I could work on the initial marketing strategy and take a more directional role.

Where does your business name come from?

It’s not that inventive, sadly! My last name is Steer and after a few rogue ideas, I decided that The Marketing Steer worked well enough.

Any defining moments that you'd like to share with us?

I’ve recently celebrated one year since biting the bullet and deciding to work as a freelancer which felt huge! The imposter syndrome was real when I first began but I’m in my stride now. That milestone gave me confidence that freelancing successfully can be a long-term option for me.

What do you love about running a small business?

I love the freedom it provides. Particularly in my line of work, provided I have decent wifi and my laptop, I can do my job from anywhere. Whether that’s from a cafe, campsite or even abroad. Even just the ability to take the afternoon off and get out to the Peaks if it’s nice weather. I’m aiming to make the most of it this summer with as many trips as I can squeeze in.

What do you like least?

The financial admin is the worst and the comfort of a regular payslip is not to be downplayed. Keeping records of receipts is just a pain, too.

Any tips for anyone thinking of setting up on their own?

Don’t overestimate your available working hours. I took on a lot this past year and it was hectic, but it’s difficult to turn down work when you’re suddenly out on your own. Equally, allowing time to build a network and find new work needs to be factored into your working week. Managing the balance is tricky and something I wish I’d been more aware of from the get-go.

What would you say to anyone else running/setting up a small independent business thinking about getting a unit at Harland Works? What works (or not!) for you being here?

I share a unit with 5 other freelancers, and it’s a perfect set-up for me. It gives me that social aspect of the office and helps me get into a good working mindset. It’s also a great location -  easy access to the station as well as great spots for meeting with clients. Running a business by yourself can be isolating so, if you can spare the cash, I’d encourage anyone to consider finding some pals to share a space with or even co-working.

What's your favourite social media platform and how do you feel it works best for you in building a relationship and community with your customers?

Despite working in marketing I’m fairly apathetic when it comes to social media. I do use LinkedIn to connect with business owners and share some of my work, but I prefer to meet and get to know people face-to-face wherever I can.

What do you love about Sheffield when it comes to community and building business relationships?

I’ve always loved being in Sheffield - the city, the green spaces and the people are always so welcoming. But I didn’t truly appreciate that until I started my business. Everyone is so supportive and always ready to share their tips and learnings. I think there’s a great mindset in Sheffield of supporting and working with local businesses too, which is lovely to be a part of.

How can people find out more about you and your work?

More info about the marketing services I offer is on my website at www.themarketingsteer.com

I’m also around on LinkedIn and love to connect with people there. My profile is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themktgsteer/

Or, for anyone interested in working with me directly please feel free to get in touch directly via email on holly@themarketingsteer.com