What I love most about working on my business is the freedom and flexibility it provides. I have the opportunity to be creative, work with diverse clients, and continuously learn and grow.🚀

I initiated my side hustle out of necessity and a desire to improve my financial situation. Coming from an average family and struggling financially, especially with three kids to support, I was motivated to find ways to generate income.💸

My early experiences in selling products taught me valuable lessons about entrepreneurship. However, it was the shift to digital marketing that truly sparked my side hustle.✨

When I started, my primary goals were to improve my financial situation, provide a stable future for my three kids, and achieve independence through entrepreneurship.🎯 

Initially, my focus was on finding immediate ways to generate income and learn from each business venture, despite experiencing multiple failures. 

Over time, as I transitioned into digital marketing, my goals evolved. Today, I aim to grow my agency, provide exceptional service to both local and international clients, and help other entrepreneurs succeed.🙌

While financial stability remains a core objective, my goals have expanded to include building a reputable brand and fostering long-term relationships in the industry.🤝

“It took us several years to know who we would like to serve. And right now we are happy that we’re able to find a problem here in the Philippines and that’s one thing we’re working on. It will solve a bigger problem here and definitely help our country.”🔥

One early mistake I made was not thoroughly vetting clients before taking on projects. This led to a few instances where I invested a lot of time and resources into work that either went unpaid or was undervalued.🚫

From this, I learned the importance of setting clear expectations, establishing contracts, and ensuring mutual agreement on deliverables and payment terms upfront.

Another one is that, Ryan and I we wish we knew more about the process so we could have done a better system when we started in 2021. We failed on that.🚩

So we restarted recently and that’s really important – the process of onboarding a client, how do you assess a client, how do you know that you are a right fit and how will you be able to help the client.

You have to put these systems in place before being a digital marketer or owning an agency. It’s very important to have a process.🔎

When I was starting, financial instability was a constant worry especially with a family to support. I addressed this by diversifying my services and gradually increasing my rates as I built a portfolio and gained more experience. Creating a financial buffer through savings also helped mitigate some of the stress.💵

It took about two years to see consistent monthly revenue. Initially, the business brought in a modest and inconsistent income, especially as I faced several failures with my first few clients.

But as I gained more clients and honed my services, it began generating a stable and growing income. At that point, the business was bringing in a reliable monthly revenue, which allowed me to invest further in its growth.🚀

Initially, I struggled with balancing my time between learning new skills and managing client work. Investing in continuous learning through online courses and seeking mentorship helped bridge my knowledge gaps and improved the quality of my work.⬆️

My advice is to never stop learning. The freelance and entrepreneurial landscape is constantly evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends, tools, and skills is crucial.💡

Invest time in courses, workshops, and reading industry-related content. This not only enhances your expertise but also makes you more competitive and adaptable in the market.🙌

Building a client base from scratch and gaining trust in a competitive market were significant hurdles in this business. Networking, leveraging social media, and providing exceptional service to generate word-of-mouth referrals were crucial strategies for acquiring and retaining clients.🤝

One of my proudest achievements was securing a major international client who entrusted me with their comprehensive digital marketing campaign. This project not only boosted my confidence but also significantly increased my business's visibility and credibility.👀

The success of this campaign led to multiple referrals and long-term contracts with other clients, solidifying my reputation in the industry.

We have one follower in TikTok, she came to me and then I felt we were not a good fit that time. We serve businesses with at least $20,000 a month and she was just starting that time.🚀

Nonetheless, we gave her advice and she followed it, and she went viral, gained millions of views on her content and she had so many investors for her business. We felt so happy with that.✨

The ability to directly impact my clients' success and build meaningful relationships is incredibly rewarding.🌟

Running a business can be lonely and stressful. I cried almost every night when I had my first client in the U.S. Balancing being a mother and a digital marketer that time, it was hard. And I broke down in front of my client. She understood me and that’s an experience I will never forget.

I deal with stress and loneliness by connecting with other entrepreneurs and joining professional groups to gain a sense of community and support. Building a strong network can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and valuable insights.🔗🤝

Join communities like Fud, attend industry events online or offline, and engage with others in your field. These connections can provide support, advice, and potential clients.

I also ensure I take regular breaks, exercise, and spend quality time with my family to recharge. As my business grew, hiring team members to share the workload helped reduce burnout and allowed me to focus on strategic aspects of the business.💡

My current routine is structured to maximize productivity while allowing time for personal and family activities.

Typically, I start my morning with personal time, including exercise and breakfast with the family. This is followed by reviewing and planning the day's tasks. I focus on high-priority tasks and client meetings from late morning to early afternoon.🌤️

I aim to work around 8-10 hours a day, five days a week. However, as an entrepreneur, there are times when I may need to put in extra hours, especially when handling critical projects or meeting deadlines.⏰

To prevent burnout, I ensure to take weekends off or significantly reduce work during those days to recharge and spend time with my family.🔋

Maintaining this routine helps me stay productive while ensuring I am present for my family, striking a balance between professional and personal life.

I also make use of productivity tools to manage my time effectively and delegate tasks where possible to maintain a healthy balance.

Yes, several tools and resources have become indispensable for managing my freelancing work and business. And these tools have been critical in streamlining operations, improving productivity, and maintaining a high level of service for my clients.💻

1. Project Management Software (Trello/Asana): These tools help keep track of tasks, deadlines, and project progress, ensuring everything stays organized and on schedule.🗓️

2. Communication Platforms (Slack/Zoom): Essential for maintaining clear and efficient communication with clients and team members, especially for remote collaboration.📲

3. Financial Management Tools (QuickBooks/FreshBooks): These tools streamline invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting, making it easier to manage finances.🧾

4. Digital Marketing Tools (HubSpot/SEMrush): Crucial for planning, executing, and analyzing marketing campaigns effectively.📈

5. Learning Platforms (Udemy/Coursera): Continuous learning is vital, and these platforms provide access to a wide range of courses to stay updated with industry trends and skills.📚

What inspired me to join Fud as an Expert and Mentor is my passion for helping others and sharing the knowledge I've gained throughout my entrepreneurial journey.🔥

I understand the challenges and uncertainties that come with starting and growing a business, and I wanted to be a source of support and guidance for others navigating these waters.

Being part of a community where I can contribute to the growth and success of fellow entrepreneurs and freelancers is incredibly fulfilling. I believe that by sharing my experiences, insights, and lessons learned, I can make a positive impact and help others achieve their goals more efficiently.💫

Joining Fud allows me to give back to the community and continue learning and growing alongside other motivated and talented individuals.💎

I think Filipino digital marketers and VAs should be heard. Fud is a very good platform for us to be heard and see what we are capable of. I believe in our strength here in the Philippines.🔥

If I could go back and give my past self one piece of advice before starting my business, it would be this: 

"You have no one to back yourself up but yourself. You have to be better and at your best every single day, and you need to learn how to duplicate yourself."

This means constantly improving your skills, knowledge, and mindset. Be prepared to take on multiple roles and responsibilities, especially in the early stages.

The ability to duplicate yourself—whether through delegation, automation, or creating efficient systems—is crucial for scaling your business and maintaining balance.✅

Trust in your abilities, stay disciplined, and continuously seek ways to elevate your performance and extend your impact.🎯

Going through all these failures and tough times is something I’m proud of. I will not change anything that I did. I will always be happy and proud of the failures I had because those failures and pains made us who we are right now.✨