Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Ebert.
Anna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I had an accidental start in social media back in 2008, thanks to the Tempe-based company I was working for as a marketing writer. It was serendipity. The ability to use social media to tell a business’ story and create human connections paired well with my journalism background, and that’s the path I followed in my next few corporate positions.
Like all good things, FunnelCake Social Media started on the back of a napkin over lunch with my now business partner, Nicole Mueller. We both recognized a need and wanted to offer something different for people who were just starting out in business, to help them dig in and learn how to extend their brands into the social media realm.
Over time, those resources have evolved from online classes to also including in-person workshops and classes, and expanded to include established businesses that were also looking for similar resources. We work really hard to be perfectly matched with our clients, especially the limited portfolio of full-time social media management clients we have–our approach isn’t a fit for everyone.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think any entrepreneur will tell you it’s been a smooth road. (If they do, they’re lying.) It’s like baking a cake without a recipe. You do a lot of testing, you get batter all over the kitchen, multiple cakes fall or taste horrible, and then little by little you start to see your cakes come out a little better each time. But, in this market, that’s not enough; you have to continuously evolve as social media platforms are constantly changing and anyone can consider themselves a social media expert.
Just like any other business, I’d venture to say some of our struggles have been the same: Determining which of the many hats you wear that you’ll keep or outsource you (accounting for us!), figuring out when to add to our team and striving for the ever-elusive work/life balance. Our struggles are also very important to us, especially working in the social media industry. That’s why we’re very open about sharing our unfiltered (literally) realities and struggles on our FunnelCake social media accounts, especially Instagram, because, like any other business, no day is perfect. And we share in that day-to-day business and social media learning curve just like anyone else.
To that end, I’m certainly not the first to point out how Phoenix has become an amazing launching ground for businesses of all kinds, especially in the last few years. We have a phenomenal support network with ever-growing resources available, especially in the form of community groups, incubators, and collaborative workspaces. We’re grateful to have been welcomed by some of those groups both for help with our own business and also in the form of partnerships for the educational resources that we offer. What I especially love to see is that these resources are increasingly spreading beyond the Central parts of Phoenix and into other areas in the Valley for more businesses to access.
Selfishly, from the perspective of a company without a physical office (or traditional desk!), I think Phoenix has so many options for nontraditional office people with co-working spaces, independent coffee shops, and community spaces–and it doesn’t hurt that the weather makes working outside on my yoga mat possible!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with FunnelCake Social Media – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Spoiler: We’re not a bakery! (I’m lucky if I can boil water most days; the company’s name is a nod to our Midwest roots and the rural farming communities we grew up in.) We believe that businesses know their business the best, and that’s what makes us different than a traditional agency. Selfishly, I’d love to manage social media for all kinds of different companies–I love the challenges, learning about the businesses and being part of that story.
Realistically: Many businesses don’t have the budget to have a robust in-house marketing team, or to outsource to a traditional agency. Nor do I think that’s the best fit for many businesses because they know their story best. We empower you with the tools and skills to navigate social media and share that story on your own, without diluting it with a middleman. That can take a variety of shapes, from teaching social media classes around Phoenix on specific features, or spending a few months working directly with a business to set up their systems and processes.
As much as we love working with them, our goal is to hand social media back to the business and watch them succeed on their own. Now, we realize this approach isn’t most business’ cup of tea, but we work with people who are usually small teams, if not a team of one and want to learn how to take the reigns. Education is one of our core beliefs, and the education side is ultimately what we strive to provide.
A typical day for us can include a call with one of our clients from across the country, writing day-to-day social media content for them, helping other clients with long-term strategic planning and staying up-to-date on the latest social media updates to better support the businesses we work with and the classes we offer.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
With the ever-changing nature of social media, our class content is always evolving, both in relevant topics, updated information, accessible pricing and ways we deliver it. Stay tuned for more details in early 2019!
Contact Info:
- Address: PMB #638 4802 E. Ray Road Ste 23 Phoenix, AZ 85044-5417
- Website: www.funnelcakesocialmedia.com
- Phone: 480-788-0652
- Email: info@funnelcakesocialmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnelcakesocialmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FunnelCakeSocialMedia
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FunnelCakeSM
Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
