This is a little different post for me. I normally write “How to” posts about Facebook or sometimes a little Pep Talk from Grandma Mary. Or some fun and wacky interviews from Grandma.
But this post is more of a love letter.
About 3 years ago, my friend, and co-author Phyllis Khare and I realized that we wished there was a course about starting a business as a social media consultant. We had NO idea what we were doing when we started our businesses and had wished there was more guidance around how much to charge, what services to offer, and how to manage your time.
So we decided to create one. We wanted a combination of business advice for the solopreneur and the hands on advice of how to help your clients grow their social media sites.
So that’s what we built. We had modules for how to get new clients, how to manage your money, what social media tools to use (without breaking the bank), and even threw in some other essential things like email marketing and advanced social media tactics.
I had started my online business 7 years ago to be able to stay home with my 2 young boys and wanted to put all of my knowledge about how to start a business into a course to benefit others.
But along the way, the course got out of our control.
I don’t mean things got unruly or chaotic. What I mean is that our students took over. They started teaching. The course stopped belonging just to Phyllis and I. It began to belong to all of us.
It seems like every week I hear stories that make my heart stop and fills my eyes with tears. The woman who’s son has Cerebral Palsy and is now able to stay home with him and earn a living. The woman who said that because of Social Media Manager School she was able to keep her home. The man who said the material in the Premium section of our school saved his job. And all kinds of testimonials from our students.
And then this just happened in our group yesterday:
I have to thank Lisa and Mary for helping me back in March with a new client. I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t have access to her FB Biz page and you ladies chomped at the bit immediately to help a newbie like me solve the problem. It meant the world to me.
You all asked me to update you all on my progress and I am happy to report that I am now writing her blog, will be shooting videos for her business (I do video production too) and have cleaned up her FB page. We went from 11 FB likes to 125 in less than a month. I am ecstatic and so is she! Thanks again ladies for everything you did me. Also thanks to Andrea Vahl and Phyllis Khare for creating a legitimate SMMS and FB group that really over-delivers on its promise to be THE GO-TO SOURCE for SMM. ~Keema Mingo
So what has happened is bigger than Phyllis and I. It has a life of its own.
We never dreamed we would be blessed beyond measure with the BEST group of students, teachers, and friends on the internet in my opinion.
So this is a love letter and a humble thank you to all of you, Social Media Manager group. You have made this course the awesome place it is. I’m honored, along with Phyllis, to be a part of it.
A group of us at Social Media Marketing World 15
More of us at SMMW15
SMMS Students meeting up 2014
Meeting up with Sunita and Nora in Singapore
Meeting Liz and Janet in London
It’s been an honor to meet so many of our group over the last few years all over the world.
What has made this place magical is our Facebook Group. That’s where connections are made, partnerships are formed, and help is freely given.
I love the warm welcomes as we start a new group of students.
But the best part is it’s a tribe. We all get it. We celebrate and commiserate because it ain’t always easy.
And I could go on and on about the magic of our group. I so appreciate each and every member and their contribution.
Because what I know is that I’m no longer the teacher. You are. You have given me and Phyllis so much. Thank you.
And just as a PS. If you are interesting in joining us, we open our doors twice a year – Social Media Manager School. Our doors are currently open and classes start October 8th. As so many of our students say, and I know deeply, you’ll love it there.
awww…you guys created a magical place! happy to be part of it!
I am so happy to be a part of this group, not only for the company I work for, but for my future development as an individual. I look forward to learning, sharing stories and receiving feedback!
This is truly an amazing group! The connections, the information and the love are so great. I am so grateful to be part of such an awesome community!
Well crap you got me to tear up Andrea. It has been an incredible journey to be part of this family. I say family because we’ve been there for the celebrations, the disillusions, and even the rants. I am proud, humbled, and blessed to be part of this incredible family. Thank you Andrea and Phyllis for creating this. <3
Honored to be a part of this amazing group Andrea & Phyllis and all the incredible, savvy, giving people who joined you in this journey.
This is the best group of people EVER!! Is is definitely an amazing group and a fantastic course!!! You’re blog says it all so well!!!
Thank you and Phyllis for not allowing the idea to be just that. You both birthed something amazing and we love you both for doing so and continuing to allow this to grow. Let’s be more organized in the coming year about maybe having something live that invites all SMMS to meet and hang out. I’d love to meet you all in person already 🙂 I’m jealous seeing all these awesome pics I’m not in haha.
I LOVE this group! Everyone is super supportive – and of course our awesome leaders Andrea and Phyllis started it all. The course is amazing – and the group is the icing on the cake!
I know we have to meet! And Stephen – I just heard about what a nice thing you did for Marge – you rock! Thanks for being such an amazing part of this group!
Yay!!
Awesome Alan – glad to have you here!
{{Group hug}}
Especially the rants Raquel 🙂 Great to meet you IRL
EVER! 🙂
Thanks so much Kristy – one of our fab long time members 🙂
Aww thanks Kelly!
A Social Media Manager’s life can be very lonely sometimes, particularly when it comes to new trends and changes that the regular folk do not get or it takes them forever to transition into. This Group makes this lonely life a lot better. I know that if I have a question, I will get a response immediately, when sometimes the answer will determine a lot of time wasted or not. Furthermore, I learn so much from the questions that I never made and all your feedback and caring for others. My passion is Social Media for Good and this is a perfect example of how it works! thank you Andrea and Phyllis and all the members of this amazing group!
Cecilia
Thank you Andrea for that great article, and for all that you and Phyliis have done to build such a great family.
Hands down the BEST Facebook Group! We are all so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group and can’t thank you enough for creating such an awesome place to be!
PS The Social Media Manager School is the place to be if you want to rock your Social Media world!
Hands down, becoming a part of Social Media Manager School was the best investment in my business and myself that I have made. It truly is the best community of amazing men & women. What a wonderful thing you and Phyllis have created. Can’t wait to meet some of you in person sometime soon 🙂
This group is amazing. I asked a question about a Facebook ad not long ago. I shared the responses with my client. She couldn’t believe the level of expertise of one group of people. She said it was PRICELESS and I agree. Thank you so much for the course and for the Facebook group. I’m getting ready to do my first Social Media class. Couldn’t have done it without SMMS.
Thank YOU Bob – so great to meet you IRL at SMMW!
Thanks Cecilia – it can definitely be isolating! So glad to have you a part of our group!
Awww thanks Denys!
SO glad to hear Angela! xoxo I’m hoping to make the trip to your part of the world sometime soon!
That is awesome Janis! Glad to have you part of the group!
I second what Angela said – Social media Manager School was the best investment I’ve made! As you just shared Andrea, it’s far more than just the teaching modules. Apart from the amazing amount of knowledge you share in the modules, touching every facets of a SMM’s work, there’s also this amazing group of people interacting on the private FB group. Sometimes you see FB groups that is used only for self-marketing and otherwise it’s dead. Well, this group is NOT about self-marketing and once you post a question, there are tons of responses within an hour. And it’s not a wonder this is such an amazing group. Amazing people like you Andrea and Phyllis attract amazing people. I’m so grateful for this space you created and if there’s anyone out there who sees social media marketing as part of their business offerings, don’t hesitate, jump on Andrea’s offer to be part of this…
Well im new this intake to Social Media Manager School and cant wait to get started to grow my skills and take my business forward. And if all the comments here are anything to go by I made the right decision!
Yay! Keep me posted on your plans
Looking forward to seeing you in the group Caroline
Yes, it is definitely the go-to place for social media managers! But, it’s not that the group has taken the reigns and continued the galloping… it’s that Andrea and Phyllis have CREATED a warm and welcoming environment where everyone feels at ease with their questions, comments and helpful banter that makes SMMS feel so special. Also, many of us have met Andrea and Phyllis – because they make the EFFORT to meet those in their SMMS! When I went to Social Media Marketing World in 2014, Andrea went out of her way to find me at the conference to meet me and spend some time with me! Phyllis and I worked together with San Francisco Bay area students to put together a mastermind group! Both of these women are extraordinary not just because they put together the SMMS, but because they pay it forward! Your success is their success and it makes them genuinely happy. I think they will always continue to be successful because their hearts are in the right place.