30: Online Community – Interview with James from Social Savanna

Today we feature James from Social Savanna who runs an Internet community.

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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

I’m 30 and from the UK. I’ve been running my own software company since I was 22 but before that I worked in call centers, retail and fast food. I failed at school, didn’t go to university and started working at 13 part time but full time as soon as I left school at 16, working my way up to management in several jobs. When I was about 21/22 I was working for a call center and got the opportunity to buy laptop salvage from insurance companies at a good price. My boss at the time was an inspiration to me so I thought *beep* it and took the leap. As the supply ran dry and legislation changed I fell back to my love for programming (something I’d been doing since I was 8) and started picking up work from freelance sites where I’ve grown my main business ever since.

How did you come up with the name?

This was actually the community, I held a poll for a name. We took all the suggestions and combined them until we had “Awkward Savanna” but the community hated it, so quick change of plan and made it “Social Savanna”.

What are the main features of the site?

– Chat (think MSN but pumped up)
– Discussions
– Video chat
– Private messaging
– Micro Feed (Feed of imgur, reddit and site activity)
– Kitty cam 🙂

What did you do at the beginning to achieve a critical mass of users?

I didn’t really do anything directly. The site was originally intended for the imgur.com community. In Dec 2013 I asked them if they wanted the site (after other people had failed to deliver) It was a resounding yes and as I made the designs and developed the site I kept the community informed by posting about it. When we finally launched we got thousands of people flood to the site, I stayed up making changes until the early hours of the mornings and gave mod powers to people I trusted within the community. After that, aside from a few front page imgur posts, it’s been members talking about the site and inviting their friends.

What is your strategy to keep users coming back?

I hate the word strategy, it sounds like the members are just a number to me which is far from the truth. They’re like a family to me and like a family to each other. People come back because of the friendly, fun and relaxed environment the community provides. It’s all about being social, they chat, play and even meet each in real life. I just focus on making that a reality, engaging people and always having an open door to anyone who wants it.

What inspired you to start this business?

I always struggled with the idea that there was a wage ceiling. There came a point where I would work 48 hour straight shifts of my own accord to meet targets and to my mind, it didn’t make sense that no matter how hard I worked – I’d only get paid what I’m paid. I couldn’t work harder and get paid more but I could always be paid less. It made no sense, so I decided to try things my way.

Does your business generate enough money to support you?

Right now, no. I’m looking at contract work to re-invest into the business and myself.

Any books about entrepreneurship you can recommend?

I’m not a big reader, but I have read Richard Branson’s The Virgin Way it’s truly inspirational. I also recommend Everything That Happens to Me is Good by Geoff Thompson, it’s a collection of his older blog posts but there is some great material in there.

What are your future plans for the company?

I want Social Savanna to be a bridge between online socializing, gaming, chatting etc and the real world with regular global meetups and events. I want to create something truly social in a world where we’re all content to stare at our phones and ignore the people around us.

Outside of business what do you enjoy doing? How do you recharge your batteries?

Mostly I game, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of developing so I work outside of work 🙂 usually developing features for Social Savanna or fixing small bugs, winding up people in the community etc. Most of my friends are married or with families now so I see them when I can and we’ll go pub / bar / club. Occasionally I’ll go to the cinema but I prefer watching movies at home.

To start chatting head over to Socialsavanna.com!

29: Interview with Digital Nomad & Blogger Lulu Anderson

Today we feature another digital nomad, Lulu Anderson from the US shares her tips to travel the world.

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Tell us about your background and what business you run!

I went to school for Cardiopulmonary Exercise Science in Boston, then worked in biopharma for 4 years. Around that time I realized that I had no creative outlet and quit, cold turkey, moved to Texas and started working at lululemon selling stretchy pants. From there I moved back to Boston and began my current career of digital and social media marketing. This past October I quit another job with no backup plan while on a “3 week vacation” with then boyfriend. I now work as a digital nomad with a few clients around the globe.

What would you say is the most cost effective way to market your product?

My blog and social media channels have been a great way for me to meet new clients. Additionally, never underestimate being at the right place at the right time!

What does still work in marketing and what is out-dated nowadays?

People are absolutely willing to read content. Good content, with clear messaging. Too many people are self-involved with the words they put down and don’t edit themselves.

Do you follow blogs of fellow nomads?

I don’t subscribe to blogs as much as I search for tweets with relevant keywords to whatever I am experiencing at that time (loneliness, health insurance…etc.).

What are the most frequent UX mistakes you see when you analyze websites?

I recently told a potential client that his website was dated and the colors made me feel like I was shopping for a gynecologist. It was true and now he wants to work with me. I tend to like minimally designed UX with a few simple CTAs; however, there are plenty of great examples of sites with many pathways that have been well thought out.

How does traffic from Social Media convert in comparison to other traffic sources?

Social Media traffic can be so niche targeted that I personally think it is always worth the spend. Google’s ad profile can be completely off base, whereas Facebook knows EXACTLY what pages you’ve liked and the demographics you have entered. It’s simple and you can pay based on whatever your favorite KPI is.

Would you say it is easier or more difficult to make friends with your lifestyle?

Since breaking up with the boyfriend (right after V-Day), I joined a coworking space called Dreamplex. I’ve met a lot of interesting and smart people through that as well as through WORK Saigon and digital nomad groups on Facebook.

Any tips you can give someone who wants to start to live like you?

I would suggest that anyone who wants to take the leap start with a savings account with at least $2,000 and enough clients to keep them occupied 10 hours per week. Something I did not have.

What would you say is the best digital hangout to learn more about digital nomadism?

Coworking spaces in Ho Chi Minh have been great. I’m excited to experience more in other countries.

You are in Vietnam right now. Tell us more about your experience there?

I left Boston to travel the world. Now I am in another big city at a desk 25-30 hours per week. This is not why I chose to live this lifestyle. The next stop will be a place with great wifi and NATURE! I want to work about 20 hours per week, 10 on my blog and social media, and then really kick life’s ass with awesomeness.

What would you say is a good country to start if you are new to this?

I was in Indonesia when I made the choice to quit my job but did not have great wifi until HCM so I never started making connections and gathering clients prior to this. HCM is inexpensive, the food is amazing, the wifi is strong – so this is a great option. I’ve also heard great things about Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta, Ubud, and others.

As a digital nomad you rely on the Internet. How reliable is it compared to the US?

The wifi is Pai, Thailand and Palawan, Philippines was terrible! Here in Vietnam I have no complaints and would say it is as good as my wifi back in the States.

How long have you been traveling the world and how has this changed your view on the world?

I’ve been a traveler since I was in my early twenties (31 now), but this is the first backpacking I’ve done over an extended period. My views keep evolving. I feel like I can go anywhere and do anything – but this feeling can be paralyzing at times. Ultimately, I am going with the flow and waiting for “signs” to guide my next decision. It’s currently looking like an opportunity might work out in Portugal!

How do you handle health insurance?

I need to start researching the insurance thing. I have a lot of bookmarks saved (specifically worldnomads.com) and I have the money. At this point I’m tempting fate! So far my biggest accident was a 2nd degree firework burn on NYE, which was resolved with burn cream and keeping it clean.

Please visit her website Lulakilla.com to learn more about Lulu.

28: Beef Jerky – Interview with Gregory Nemitz from Beefjerky.com

Gregory Nemitz sells Beef Jerky online since 1995 at Beefjerky.com. In this interview he’ll reveal what he has learned in the last 20 years of running the business.

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What kind of business do you run? When did you start it and where is it based?

Beefjerky.com is a sole proprietorship that began in 1995, at the dawn of the commercial Internet. It is a customer service oriented business. I take great pride in offering premium quality, fresh beef jerky at fair and reasonable prices. The price chart on the ordering page is easy to understand and gives a further discount with every additional bag ordered. I always mail the beef jerky in Priority Mail packages. My USA customers get their package in 2-4 days, the many International customers get theirs in 7 to 10 days. My office is in beautiful Southern Idaho.

What inspired you to start this business?

In 1995 the commercial side of the Internet was just starting. I had been occasionally making beef jerky since 1980, mostly for family and friends, and for Christmas presents. Everyone loved my family recipe for black pepper beef jerky. I had a tech friend and we had been talking about how the Internet just might amount to something someday. We thought we should get involved somehow. A few weeks later I woke up one morning and it was sharply clear to me that I needed to buy www.beefjerky.com that day, ASAP, or I might not get it! I called my friend and told him to originally register the domain for me, right now. So for $70, that is how I acquired www.beefjerky.com and started my beef jerky business.

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What keeps you motivated to keep working on your business?

I really enjoy operating my Beefjerky.com business. I like that my customers are getting fresh, healthy, and delicious beef jerky from me. I keep the production cycle short so all the jerky is sold while it is still very fresh and tastes at its best. I like that it is a healthy product that is high in protein. It is helpful for people on Paleo, or who choose to eat low-carb to lose weight and get healthy. Not many people realize that Beef Jerky is an incredible source of protein. A lot of the people who buy the beef jerky are athletes or are sports teams who are looking for a tasty snack that is high in protein to help build muscle. It is the perfect snack after a long day of practice or training. And it tastes great as well!

Do you have unique flavours?

Beefjerky.com has six flavours. They are unique takes on standard, well-known flavor styles. Some jerky webshops have so many flavor choices it is a chore to decide. With only six excellent variations, Beefjerky.com makes jerky shopping simple. My two most popular flavours are Final Frontier Black Pepper Jerky and the Original Hickory. Both of these have deep roots in traditional, old-fashioned beef jerky. My Final Frontier has large grain, cracked black pepper and lots of it. For some people it is too much, but it is very easy to rub off the extra, to make the level of pepper just how you like it. The Original Hickory is a very old school flavor that can bring back childhood memories of early jerky experiences. These two flavors are sugar-free. My other four flavors are Honey Teriyaki, Ring of Fire Hot Red Pepper, Whiskey BBQ, and Sweet & Spicy.

What would you recommend new entrepreneurs? How to get started?

The most important thing to a new entrepreneur is carefully choosing your market. Your market must have enough potential customers to make your startup investment of money and work pay off in a reasonable amount of time. Beefjerky.com’s market for beef jerky is easy to define, it is: humans with teeth. Almost half of everyone really loves good beef jerky.

What would you say is the hardest part about running a business?

The hardest part of Beefjerky.com is keeping up with the ever-changing Internet. It is a consistent learning environment to know how to apply corrections to SEO, website styles, and new cross-platform functionalities. It is a constant SEO balancing act to keep Beefjerky.com on the first page of the Google results. Another issue is the changing landscape of international laws about importing beef jerky. For example, the United Kingdom completely prohibits the importation of my beef jerky. Growing the business is also a challenge. I look for opportunities to cross-promote my customer list with other Internet business, bulk orders for events & promotions, and new ideas.

Do you have a Unique Selling Point?

The main USP is FRESH; I sell fresh beef jerky. The jerky in your local store, gas station, etc. can be several months old. Beef jerky really tastes best when it is very freshly made. All the marinade ingredients still have their fresh &, popping flavors that accent the beefy goodness. I really try to keep the production-to-sales cycle at just 2-3 weeks, so the beef jerky is less than a month old by the time my customer eats it. Go to your local store and compare prices, even with shipping, my prices are not crazy high. Also, some people like the Astronaut involvement with my Final Frontier jerky. Beefjerky.com’s Final Frontier Beef Jerky has flown to space five times on the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, and Progress rockets.

What are your future plans for the company?

My main focus moving forward is to keep on improving traffic and conversion to sales. Beefjerky.com is one of those things that once you hear or read about it, the concept sticks in your mind as sort of, “Of course, I can buy beef jerky on-line. I never thought about that before!” Increasing traffic is all about acquiring more of the public’s mind-share. Then my focus is on improving the Beefjerky.com website to better convert all that new traffic into new customers. That is the other end of gaining more mind-share. Both work together in harmony to grow sales exponentially.

What’s your favorite app?

Fount Connecting Entrepreneurs is the app that I use to connect with other entrepreneurs. It helps me with taking Beefjerky.com to the next level.

To learn more about Greg’s beef jerky please visit Beefjerky.com.

27: Fruit infused sparkling waters – Interview with Hugh Thomas from Ugly Drinks

Today we feature Hugh Thomas & Joe Benn from Ugly Drinks who run a brand new UK based company which sells natural soda drinks.

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What kind of business do you run? When did you start it and where is it based?

Ugly Drinks is a new company that launched in 2015 and co-founded by myself (Hugh Thomas) and Joe Benn. Ugly (initially) is a range of 100% natural, fruit infused sparkling waters. We have two flavours; Lemon & Lime and Grapefruit & Pineapple. We launched these drinks in stores on January 7th 2016, so we are just getting started!

What inspired you to start this business?

We began to learn more and more about the impact of sugar and sweetener on the UK. We saw a huge impact on the health of the nation but also on the happiness and productivity too. Too many people are drinking too much sugar and sweetener and we wanted to create a product that made you feel good without being overly sweet or sweetened.

When we looked at the drink shelves, we realised that it is very difficult to find something with flavour but without sugar or sweetener, so we set out to create something that ticked these boxes. Infused sparkling water was our solution to traditionally sugary and sweetened drinks and we were very excited to launch our all natural product in January.

Ugly is a great alternative to traditionally sugary or sweetened fizzy drinks as it contains no sugar, no sweetener and no artificial ingredients, but all the refreshment of a cold canned beverage!

How did you come up with the unusual name of the business?

We’re glad you think Ugly is an unusual name (that’s part of it!). Too many products over-promise and under-deliver with their names and we didn’t want to do this. Drinks that promise to make you smarter, grow taller or make your hair curly…that’s not right…right? We wanted to make a product that was beautiful on the inside and Ugly on the out. Ugly is just sparkling water but infused with fruit. If that makes us Ugly…then so be it!

How many people are involved in your business?

The team is currently 4 people and we are based in a small shipping container in Elephant and Castle. Feel free to pop by and say hello if you’re ever in the area!

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Why did you choose Elephant and Castle as your headquarters?

Elephant and Castle is a hidden gem. Our office is a shipping container in the super creative Artworks community and we love being a part of it. The location is great for getting around London and that’s important for us as the team is out and about everyday.

What is actually inside your drinks? What do you think of Stevia?

We use the essences and oils of the fruit to infuse the sparkling water. There is no fruit juice in the product. This means our drink is unsweet. Stevia is an interesting product and we are interested to follow its development. For us, we were interested to create a drink that wasn’t sweet at all, and introduce a new type of beverage to UK consumers.

What marketing strategy will you use to get the word out?

We are all about creative disruption. Whether on pack, in-store or in your office, all of our marketing activity will be fun and head turning!

Where can I buy Ugly drinks?

We are currently stocked at Selfridges, Whole Foods Market and over 150 leading independents in the UK. Additionally, we have a website that sells our product and we’ve created a special code for you guys (20% OFF) : UGLYDELP.

What are your future plans for the company?

We are driven to make healthier drinks accessible to as many people as possible, so we will continue to try and get Ugly in more and more stores across the UK. We genuinely believe people are sweet enough already, and that they should have sugar and sweetener free alternatives available! Hopefully Ugly can lead the charge in this area and we look forward to more brands joining us along the way!

In the future, we will also look to introduce more flavours to UK stores and maybe one day (if things go to plan!) expand beyond these shores!

Are there any blogs, podcasts or Facebook Groups about entrepreneurship you follow closely?

We love loads of these! Tim Ferris & Gary Vaynerchuk produce amazing content. The team at Hiut Denim and The Do Lectures continue to inspire (daily) and the book The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday is a must read for any entrepreneur.

To learn more about Ugly please visit Uglydrinks.com.

26: Songwriting & Tuition – Interview with Musician Amy Clayton from Actually Amy

Today we feature our first musician – Amy Clayton from ActuallyAmy – enjoy the interview!

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Tell us a little bit about yourself! What inspired you to become a musician?

My name is Amy and I’m a freelance musician and run my company ActuallyAmy Songwriting – we specialise in workshops providing children and young people with a way to develop their creative and expressive skills through songwriting.

I always loved my instrumental lessons over academic subjects in school.  In secondary school I felt I didn’t really fit in as core subjects like science and maths didn’t enthuse me, music was the one subject that ignited my passion, although I did enjoy creative writing and loved the teamwork aspect of sports.

In piano lessons after a couple of years my teacher encouraged me to play in National Festival competitions in duet and trio categories. I realised that playing music can be a social activity; it gave me an expressive outlet that I could share with other people (I’d always played the piano as a soloist) having a sense of community in music was an important turning point for me.
In addition, my first clarinet teacher was a big inspiration to me, I looked up to her and remember how she produced such a beautiful tone so effortlessly – I wanted to be able to play like that! She encouraged me so much and helped me believe I could better myself every day. My lessons were enjoyable and challenging too.

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You are a clarinettist as well as a pianist. Was learning the second instrument easier?

Yes it was, I began learning the piano first; it gave me a strong grounding in harmony and is technically more challenging than a solo instrument, so this set me in good stead for the clarinet.

Outside of teaching, how do you improve your own craft?

I feel that encouragement sits at the core of what I do. It’s impossible to draw any kind of enthusiasm from a young person (or adult!) to do anything musically unless they are in a safe, relaxed environment where they feel comfortable and able to take creative risks.
I guess it comes quite naturally to me to encourage people around me, be it friends or even someone I’ve just met – it builds trust and that’s a powerful connection. I love to find out what puts fire in peoples hearts, because that’s where they’re truly shining when they know.

Do you have a unique teaching approach?

With a young person for instance, I wholeheartedly believe that the key to getting the most from a person musically is getting down to the same level, where they can relate to you as an equal. I strive to become childlike in my curiosity towards their learning, frequently asking why and being open to their ideas.

Through a combination of encouragement and gentle challenge they can then see their progress, which excites them to want to do more.
Also, taking the time to reflect on efforts and explorations is something very powerful… If we did this from the get go our young people would be more likely to grow up to be more grounded, authentic adults.

What would be your advice for people who want to become full time musicians?

If you have the dream to craft a living in the music industry, do not limit yourself! I fully believe that if you want to do something… Give your whole self to your dream… You absolutely can’t be half hearted in something that important.
Dream big and make small steps every day towards where you want to be, use your curiosity by speaking to people who are doing what you want to do and where you want to be.

The best piece of advice I was ever given, regardless if it is paid or not, was to take every opportunity that comes your way in the first five years of your career.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” or, in better terms, “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you”.  The more people you meet and create lasting connections with, the steadier the growth of your business will be. Knowing lots of people in your industry means you will have a higher rate of referrals and recommendations. This applies to whether you are a performer, composer, facilitating workshops or something else.

When you first start, it will be necessary to supplement your income with teaching as this brings in a steady income and will set you up for whatever area you wish to go into – or to build a full time teaching schedule.

What impact do you believe music has on the people you work with?

From my experience, learning music gave me an outlet, somewhere I could be myself and stop trying to fit in to the social pressures of how I was expected to perform in school.

For the young people I work with in my songwriting workshops, it’s massive. They are able to creatively express themselves in a way that they may not have had the confidence to do before, they have a platform to be able to express their emotions. Young people become more tenacious, team orientated and able to think creatively. Often there is a hang up making sure they give the ‘right’ answer, but music is subjective, a place open to artistic expression. The most beautiful shift I have noticed is in a child’s thought process when they realise that their contributions are completely valid, no matter how big or small.

To learn more about Amy please visit Actuallyamy.co.uk.