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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