Creative Law Shop® Customer Highlights: Cali Waege
Meet Cali, a Pinterest Marketing Strategist who found her niche working with creative entrepreneurs to make the most of their digital marketing and to help their businesses expand. Check her out on her website.
Name: Cali Waege
Company Name: The Halcyon Hive
Industry: Digital Marketing specializing in Pinterest
Years in Industry: 3 years
Location: Minnesota
Website: thehalcyonhive.com
Instagram: @thehalcyonhive
How long have you been in the industry/practicing your craft?
I’ve actually been doing it full-time for just about 3 years now, but I “side-hustled” for a little while before that. Also, I started using Pinterest way back when it was brand new and invite-only!
How did you get started in the industry?
Prior to being an entrepreneur, I was in retail management. I started out with Macy’s during the recession when I couldn’t find another job after graduating from college. I quickly rose up the ladder into management and eventually went to work for Target. However, during that time, I had two kids and I was beginning to struggle with the fact that I was missing out on things because I had to work many nights, weekends, and holidays. It was getting to the point that I was struggling with anxiety and depression so that was when I decided to make the leap. It was incredibly terrifying, but the best decision I’ve ever made. Initially, I started out in more of a Virtual Assistant type role helping a few clients with miscellaneous things. I discovered I really enjoyed marketing and Pinterest marketing specifically. So over the past couple of years, I have fully niched down to focus just on helping creative entrepreneurs tap into the power of Pinterest for their businesses.
What industry changes have you seen since you began? How have you adjusted to those changes along the way?
Digital marketing is constantly changing and especially Pinterest since it is growing at such a rapid rate. I pride myself on constantly staying up to date on the latest changes and trends on Pinterest. I then share any info I get with my clients and my audience. One of the biggest changes I’ve seen with Pinterest this past year is them going public. This was a big concern for bloggers and other businesses that relied on Pinterest for free, organic traffic. By focusing on your SEO and consistency, you can still see organic success (though it may take more time). However, I began to see a growing interest in promoted pins for amplified results. I invested in a course and a coaching program to sharpen my skill set here and now I have been running Pinterest ads for clients with results like 6,000% Return on Ad Spend!
Are there any mistakes you made early on in your business that you learned from/ what taught you the biggest lesson when you began your business?
I struggled a lot at the beginning with imposter syndrome (and still do some days!). When you are new, it’s natural to scope out what other people in your industry are doing and they all seem to be doing it so well. But, I have since learned that my audience may not have even heard of any of these other people! We all bring our own voice/personality to our content and our businesses. We just have to remember to focus on that and our audience will show up for us.
What advice would you give to another entrepreneur in the creative industry?
Start building your audience right from the beginning. I made the mistake of not focusing on my email list until more recently which I realize was a missed opportunity. If you show up, provide value and personality, people will be drawn to you. Remember, you are the expert in your industry. Even though you may be sharing something small and simple to you, it could be a game-changer for someone who doesn’t know your craft. Don’t focus on your Instagram follower count, rather, focus on building and nurturing your email list.
What was the biggest quantum leap you made in your business?
That’s a tough one because there is not one big thing that stands out….yet. I’ve had a ton of mini leaps and bounds (i.e. getting booked out with a waitlist, raising my rates, etc.) and I absolutely love what I do now. However, I am still learning and fine-tuning my systems and workflows. 2020 is going to be a big year for my business - I’m relaunching my website along with some courses and digital products so circle back at the end of the year and I’ll let you know! ;)
