Shannon Cherry has helped businesses increase their traffic, fill seats in programs and get more profits. An award-winning publicist and published author of four books – three of which are Amazon bestsellers, Shannon was named BusinessWeek’s top 60 business bloggers in the world & top 30 PR bloggers, as well as Fast Company’s top 101 women to watch in social media.
Read on to see how this work-at-home mom’s journey began.
Tell us a little bit about Cherry Communications and how you got started.
Well, I started Cherry Communications in 2002 after abruptly quitting a job only after three months. The boss of that PR firm was verbally abusive. He believed that you could get the best from people by being demeaning. Three months into my job, he called me to talk about ‘only getting the client on Good Morning America.’ ONLY! So I quit. Crying and upset, I told the story to my husband. I wondered what I would do. He handed me a piece of paper. On it was my first domain name to start a website because he felt I could do it better on my own. And Cherry Communications was born.
It’s now grown into essentially two companies: Cherry Communications, a creative marketing and PR firm, and Be Heard Solutions, an information marketing company for people who want to learn creative marketing and publicity.
What did you do before launching your own business?
I worked for a couple of major public relations firms. Prior to that, I was a TV anchor and reporter.
How many hours do you work a week and how much is spent in your home office?
I work about six hours a day, four days a week – on average. And most of that is spent in my home office.
How did you fund your business?
Luckily, to start, all I needed was a computer, an Internet connection, and a phone – all of which I already had.
How would you rate your success from 0–10?
I can’t rate my business success. Like everyone, I’ve had some ups and downs but overall the goal has been to increase revenue by 30% each year. Almost every year that goal has been met or exceeded.
How do you manage all of your personal and business activities?
First, I clearly understand there’s no such thing as ‘balance.’ Once I realized that a few years ago, after having my twin girls, it became much easier to manage. The key for me is planning. I plan and have lists for everything. I know what I’ll be doing 4-6 months out in my business. It makes a huge difference in my life to have a roadmap per se.
What are your favorite websites or blogs?
- Solo-e – a great resource for solo entrepreneurs
- Pandora – great music to listen to while working
What marketing advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
Remember that marketing is not a one-shot deal. You can’t try a tactic (such as press releases, article marketing, advertising) once and because you didn’t see results, think it doesn’t work for you. Consistency brings the best results.
Thanks, Shannon Cherry for sharing your work-at-home journey!
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