JANE Hillsdon’s business world revolves so heavily around social media that her business awards acceptance speech started on that exact note.
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When called as the 2014 Woman In Business award winner, she sat open mouthed before making her way to the stage, slowly leaning and catching her breath, and started: “OMG, smiley face, smiley face, 'Like'; which is Facebook for 'I am very surprised to receive this award as you can probably tell and I haven't planned anything to say.”
But as the weekend wore on, it became clear to this dynamic 38-year- old found out that her impact on the community she calls home was much wider than anticipated.
“I have had so much good feedback since Friday night, ironically a lot of it on social media,” she said.
“We moved here from Sydney seven-and-a-half years ago to find a more relaxed and child-friendly environment and it has worked out beautifully.
“I have had the business [Dragonfly Marketing] operating for most of that time but its only in the past two years that I’ve started to step it up a gear.
“I was a sole trader but now I have two staff.”
The mother of three is an active member of the Hastings Business Women’s Network but her colourful outlook and attire light up most networking events around town.
It’s a big part of her success.
“I have always enjoyed marketing however adding the prospect of developing a two way relationship with you customer instead of shouting a message at them, just resonated with me,” she said.
“I believe I’m an innately quite social person so I just ‘get’ this kind of approach to selling.
Starting a small business from scratch is certainly not for the faint hearted. In any one week I can be challenged, invigorated, motivated, excited, disappointed, defeated and victorious.”
Finding the right balance in her busy life is an ongoing challenge.
“I have three young children, a husband who also works very hard, I love to train for triathlon races and am always up for a social gathering.
“Every now and again I momentarily fall in a heap but it never lasts long. Truth be known if I wasn’t as busy as I am I’d be bored, it’s just the type of person I am. I’m sure at some stage I’ll have to achieve a bit more zen in my life but until then it’s full steam ahead!”
Jane says that modern marketing is as much about understanding your customer and telling their story, as it is about using the social media platforms to deliver the message.
“The key to marketing is to have a solid understanding of who your customer is.
“It’s so important to know your customer and to know exactly what their problem is – you can’t solve the problem unless you know exactly what it is.”