Raylynn Sleight noticed that many small business owners needed help with marketing, business development strategy, and also needed a strong support system – so she launched her business consulting firm in order to fill that void. Read our interview with the lovely Raylynn below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
My main platform for my personal blog has been mental health awareness and women’s empowerment. I’m a mental health warrior and fierce advocate for busting the stigmas. In my professional life I was a business banker for 5+ years and I saw a need for small businesses to feel empowered with legit marketing and business development strategy and a true advocate on their team. I want them to feel their individuality in business just as they do in their personal life. I just recently redid my webpage which includes a business blog and my personal blog that spurred my business. I focus on the theme “Let it be & celebrate you!” and every client is different and beautiful in their own way!
Tell us about your business.
beYOUdesigns is an edgy and fun, yet affordable small business consulting firm. Our mission is simple: provide masterminding, be a mentor and a marketing team-player for small and medium-sized businesses who may not have the means to obtain it otherwise. We LOVE to support and advocate for locally-owned businesses and will do all we can to help you be YOU and succeed in business!
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
I’m offering $10 off my initial consult for my masterminding and marketing game plan consultation. For $89.95 you get 3 hours of dedicated time to your business that includes a conference call to talk about you business, where you strengths and weaknesses lie and how we can come up with your game. You receive a copy of the marketing game plan that serves as a hybrid of a marketing or business plan and can be built on in the future. My website is www.beyoudesignsut.co and you can email at Raylynn@beyoudesignsut.co. Mention this post to get your $10 off!
Where is your business based?
Rexburg, Idaho.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
Pretty simple… thought up my name, reserved it with Utah’s Department of Commerce and got a Federal Tax ID number. I held on to it for almost a year before I actually started my business. Just knowing that I had it made it feel real.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Really putting my heart and soul into social media, my personal blog and learning the ins and the outs of the marketing and social media world.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Convincing people that it’s worth the money to have a marketing plan in place.
How did you overcome these challenges?
It’s all about education and massaging them in to comfortability with our plan. Every business owner is different and have different worries and wants for promotion. Talking it out and making sure we are on the same page is so critical.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
Talking with my mentors is really huge for me. I have a handful who I adore and look up to so much.
How did you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I do it differently because I want it to be special. I am big on consistency in voice, color palette and image. I encourage as much brand/logo recognition as possible when posting on social media. Every thing helps and I tell people that Target didn’t get their own color red by doing nothing to promote.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Dream big! Set goals, write them down, say them out loud and make shit happen! No matter where you land, you’ll always learn something new about yourself.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Dream big! Set goals, write them down, say them out loud and make shit happen! No matter where you land, you’ll always learn something new about yourself.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
I created my own hybrid of a marketing & business plan that I call the marketing game plan. It’s what we create at the beginning with my initial consultation and call. It serves as a starting point with me in the picture and then we have something to refer to as we start to implement our action plan.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @beyoudesignsut
Twitter @beyoudesignsut
Facebook @beyoudesignsut
Website www.beyoudesignsut.co
Hashtags #beyoudesignsut #letitbeandcelebrate
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“The Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes was by far the best book I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it for any female entrepreneur. Such sound advice for balancing personal and professional life.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’ve learned a lot about integrating different marketing techniques in to promotion along with a traditional website and social media. Recently learned a lot about podcasts and email management software. Both serve a purpose, but I also want to make sure I know how to guide my clients to know if that’s a good fit for their business model.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
Gathering more clients and freelance work. I’m a big networker and have been getting the word out there that I’m working towards doing this business full-time.