Today we’d like to introduce you to Betsy Long.
Hi Betsy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
B. Long Socials is definitely a mixture of divine timing and good old-fashioned hard work. I have worked at my other job at a local gym for almost 20 years. For 15 of that I was working out of the gym as a massage therapist. During one of my appointments, a client asked me what my plan was when my massage career ended, and I realized I had no clue. The average career of an MT is 10-15 years, so I started to feel the pressure to figure that out. I had been working on the gym’s social media accounts for about 6 years at that point and realized that was probably my favorite part of the job. Around the same time as that original conversation, another client of mine told me that they were starting their own business. I offered to run their social media pages for free, in return for them allowing me to use their accounts as part of my portfolio/experience moving forward. Success with that business turned into word-of-mouth referrals to two other businesses, including our first paid account, thus officially starting B. Long Socials, LLC.
Once established, I brought on the brilliant Bridgette Harmon, who is a longtime friend and former co-worker, who specializes in photography and design, as well as content creation and account management. My sister Katie, a CPA who has always been the more organized of the two of us, also graciously joined in to keep us in line as CFO. Together, 2.5 years after starting that first account, we now manage accounts for 10 businesses along with doing a la carte photography, design, and social media consulting.
In 2024 we were lucky enough to secure a spot in Downtown Snow Hill Md to give ourselves an office space as well as a space for small events to bring the community together. We rent our space for meetings, small events, and as a co-working space for people who are looking for a change of scenery while working remotely. We also host DIY events, open our space to vendors during downtown events, and try to bring fresh and fun social experiences to town. We value social media and all that it offers to small business – but we also value in person social experiences and I believe the office space really gives us the opportunity to combine the two.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I dont think any small business or entrepreneur would say that it’s a smooth road. Starting a business from scratch is hard enough, but at one point I was trying to grow the business while working two other jobs, along with basic life and family responsibilities, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Finding that balance where I could grow the business enough to bring in enough money to finally let go of one of the other jobs but also maintain the quality of life and work was a challenge. Something is getting neglected and it was usually my family, and myself. I think that balance is a lifelong journey but I am happy that it is something I can focus on more now that the business is more stable. After bringing Bridgette on a lot of that improved, and we worked together before this so I feel like although we still have the same struggles as most co-workers, we fell into a rhythm pretty quickly. That’s not to say that there aren’t still late nights and early mornings/weekends that get sacrificed, but that is just part of the deal!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
B. Long Socials is a Social Media Management company. We specialize in social media solutions – managing your socials with authentic engagement & collaborative content. Our services include:
– Page Management (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)
– Content Creation
– Consulting
– Logo and Merchandise Design
We also offer our cozy, aesthetic office space in Snow Hill for events, meetings, and co-working. We host 10-12 social events in our space per year for social opportunities and connecting with others.
The thing that sets us apart is a genuine respect for all of the businesses we work with. We are willing to so the work to get to know you, your business, and what drives you. We refuse to churn out generic content just to have something to post. We want everything we put out into the world to authentically reflect the business and the people behind it. Your passion is our passion.
The thing I am most proud of is the variety of brands that we successfully represent. We are not restricted to a certain type or category of business. Being flexible and treating each client as an independent job allows us to run social media that reflects the businesses vision, not just our own.
What I want everyone to know, especially business owners, is that social media can be extremely beneficial to your marketing efforts. Our services can help you get started, offer insight on what might work best for you, and also take things off of your plate. You can run your business knowing that the social media is handled.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My mom has told me that I was speaking in full sentences by age two, and I believe I just never stopped talking after that! I remember always wanting to play “office” or “school”, and I imagine I always wanted the role of boss or teacher. I was either a natural leader, or just have control issues, call it what you want. I do know that I have always wanted to help people, and that has followed me into adulthood.
Pricing:
- Custom based on Client needs
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b_long_socials?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552811909350
