In the realm of entrepreneurship, the journey from a side hustle to a full-fledged business is fraught with challenges and opportunities. This transition is beautifully encapsulated in the story of Stephanie Cartin, CEO of Entreprenista, who shared her insights on the B2B Breakthrough Podcast with host Sharon Gai. In this episode, Stephanie reveals the secrets to scaling a side hustle, building successful partnerships, and harnessing the power of social media for business growth.
Table of Contents
Who is Stephanie Cartin?
The leap from side hustle to full-fledged business
Forging and sustaining successful partnerships
The power of social media and influencer marketing
Who is Stephanie Cartin?
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Entreprenistsa and co-founder of Socialfly. With over 11 years of experience in the industry, Stephanie has helped numerous brands grow their online presence and achieve success through strategic marketing campaigns. She is the co-author of “Like, Love, Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media To Grow Your Business,” and a recent recipient of the SmartCEO Brava award.
The leap from side hustle to full-fledged business
Stephanie’s entrepreneurial journey began with Socialfly, a leading full-service social media marketing agency. She and her business partner, Courtney, started Socialfly as a side hustle while working full-time jobs. After taking on a few clients, they realized it was not an after-work activity but could be an actual business. Eventually, they quit their corporate jobs to focus on their new business. Scaling organically, their agency not only topped Google search rankings but also garnered prestigious awards, demonstrating the transformative power of recognizing and nurturing the potential of a side hustle.
“So, because of that, many women started coming to us asking for advice and help. That’s actually how Entreprenista was born.”
Forging and sustaining successful partnerships
A cornerstone of Stephanie’s success has been her partnership with her co-founder, Courtney. Their complementary skill sets and open communication have been instrumental in their decade-long collaboration. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of having “fierce conversations” and setting clear roles and responsibilities, underscoring the value of external guidance from a business coach.
“Communication is key, whether it’s with a business partner, vendor, or team members… If you are going to have a business partnership, try to partner with someone who has opposite skill sets than you do, so you can really divide and conquer.”
The power of social media and influencer marketing
In the digital age, social media is not just a tool but a vital conduit for business growth. Stephanie advocates for a community-centric approach, emphasizing genuine engagement with audiences as a pathway to cultivating brand ambassadors. Her strategic insights into leveraging video content and staying abreast of platform algorithms provide a blueprint for mastering social media and influencer marketing.
“You don’t have to be an influencer on Instagram or YouTube with millions of followers to be an influencer.”
The journey from a side hustle to a successful business is not without its challenges. Stephanie and her business partner, Courtney, navigated this path by focusing on organic growth, leveraging their marketing expertise, and being open to learning from their experiences. Their story is a testament to the potential that lies in recognizing the value of a side hustle and having the courage to pursue it.
Interested in more insights from Stephanie? Tune in to the full episode of the B2B Breakthrough Podcast for a deep dive into entrepreneurship, partnerships, and social media strategy. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!
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