Interview with Mo Muir
Mo Muir - Insta Glow Club
I am a freelance Social Media & Marketing Manager and Canva designer from Glasgow, Scotland. A mum of two little ones and a dog, I am a veggie and self-confessed Diet Coke addict (it’s a problem!). I LOVE all things Canva and design as well as Instagram - I could scroll reels for hours and not get bored. I am passionate about meeting and supporting small business owners and helping them to harness the power of digital and social media marketing as well as creating a strong brand identity to help elevate their brand.
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What inspired you to start your own business, and what challenges did you face in the initial stages of entrepreneurship?
I started my business in 2020 during lockdown. I was also on mat leave having had my first baby and planned to return to my job part-time so I thought this would be a great “side hustle” to help make up for my loss of earnings. I hoped maybe one day to be able to give up my job to focus on the business but honestly, this was not a goal, it was a “maybe at some point”. But, in the end, I managed to build the business up quickly meaning I didn’t have to return to my job at all. Fast-forward to today and I now have two children and run my business around my own hours, from wherever I want – the dream!
How do you maintain a work-life balance while running a successful business?
I must admit, I am no expert at this! I am still trying to figure it out, but I am getting there. Setting boundaries (for yourself and with clients), learning to say no (not something I find easy!) and having a separate work mobile have been instrumental in me finding the right balance. I admittedly, do find it hard to switch off from work, which I think comes hand in hand with working for yourself and from home – there is no separation of work and home life!
Can you share a significant milestone or achievement that you are particularly proud of in your entrepreneurial journey?
Apart from juggling two young children and a business which is an achievement in itself, I think selling out our first Social Media Workshop event last year was a highlight! Myself and my business bestie Kirsty, who also runs a Social Media Marketing Agency, hosted the workshop and had over 60 entrepreneurs come along to learn about how to market their businesses using the power of social media. It was a fantastic event and we absolutely loved doing it – we would love to do more!
Have you experienced any gender-related obstacles or biases since starting your own business?
Honestly, no! In saying that I mainly deal with fellow, like-minded women in business, so we are all in the same boat and on similar wavelengths.
How do you empower and support other women in business?
I am a big believer of community over competition ALWAYS! I genuinely love connecting with other women in business online and in person. I always try to be friendly, help, support and big-up women running businesses – we are all queens and deserve all the credit!
How have you found marketing your business – has it been easy for you, or have you found it quite difficult?
When I started my business, I worked hard to put myself out there, marketing my business online and networking online and in person. It paid off as it attracted followers, a community, and clients. Nowadays, my main issue with marketing is finding the time as I have two young children and a husband who works away from home for weeks at a time, so marketing my own business often falls to the bottom of my very long to-do list. I am lucky enough to still be busy with my regular clients, word of mouth and the fantastic community I worked hard to build on Instagram. One day I will have time to put all my new marketing plans in motion. I have realised that it’s ok to take the pressure off and make goals more long-term - not everything can be actioned straight away, and that’s ok! Sometimes it’s ok to just hit pause and enjoy where you are.
What are your main marketing activities, and what do you find works best for you?
I have a mailing list which I have built up over the years through offering freebies and promotions. I also post regularly on Instagram which is my go-to social network and where I have found most of my business and clients from over the years. I find a combination of these two works well for where my business is at just now but in the future, I have plans to start a podcast and run more in-person events and workshops. Online marketing is fab, but you can’t replace making connections in person!
Can you discuss a time when you had to pivot or adapt your business strategy?
Probably right now! I am at a point where I have not long returned from mat leave having had my son in July last year and I am re-evaluating where I want to be and how I want my business to look in the future. I’d love to focus more on offering digital products and courses which is part of my longer-term plan. In the past, I pivoted from being a general VA (Virtual Assistant) to being a dedicated Social Media & Marketing Manager offering social media marketing, content creation, email marketing and blog writing as well as my Canva design services. This pivot happened naturally as my VA clients were focusing more on social media and less on admin tasks and I realised that this was the area I was passionate about (and good at!). I did a big re-brand, renamed the business, and revised my overall content & marketing strategy. It was a process which took time but worth it!
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations for your business?
As mentioned, I’d love to host more in-person workshops & events and start to focus on selling online courses and digital products. I’ve also dreamed of starting a podcast for a long time so at some point, I’d love to make that happen! But for now, I am just focusing on my lovely clients and family, I feel very lucky to do what I do and have the flexibility to be there for my kids, travel and work to my own schedule – I’m living my dream!