Meet Jackie Murphy | Social Media Strategist & Marketing Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance is at the top of my mind quite often. Working solo and out of my house does not lend itself very well to having boundaries and traditional “hours of operation.” Throughout the 21 years I have worked for myself, I believe I have found the best balance, at this point in time.

I started my first business out of my house when my children were 2 and 4 months old. Seeking a creative outlet, I designed personalized stationery and took orders at home parties. This model allowed me to stay at home and raise the kids while building a business at a pace that suited my goals at the time.

As the business grew, I struggled to balance “work time” and “mom time.” I multitasked a lot. I had to remind myself of my goals. The business was very hands-on too, as I was printing the stationery and paper goods in-house.

Once both kids were in school full-time I was able to kick it into a higher gear since my business was established (5 years old) and I could focus on improving my systems and processes. It was much easier working while the kids were at school and then switching into mom mode after school.

When I phased out the product-based business for a service-based model, offering social media management and marketing services, my time became a lot more flexible. I was no longer tied to activities like printing, folding packaging, and shipping that required me to be home. I could work from my daughter’s volleyball practice, or the hotel when my son had a baseball tournament. The children were more independent and the personal demands were different. The work life balance was getting better.

Fast forward to now being an empty nester. I still work from home with a business that has continued to grow, but I now have a team. Having a team allows me to have a break from my phone. Social media never sleeps but I need to!

It took me some time to figure out the balance. I became more conscientious about being present and not take for granted the time I have with my family, especially after my kids grew up.

Two things have helped me maintain this balance.

When onboarding new clients, I have a welcome guide that communicates business hours and expectations regarding turnaround time. Establishing boundaries like this from the beginning (and adhering to them) has been a gamechanger.

I definitely have times of the year where it’s more challenging and super busy. A few years ago, I started to schedule a vacation or short getaway right after the busy time so I can decompress, relax, and recharge with my husband. I love traveling and scheduling short trips several times a year gives me a mental break.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the founder and owner Queen Bee Jackie Creative, offering social media strategy and management, marketing consulting, social media coaching, and creative services for small to medium sized businesses. Most businesses I work with are in Central Ohio, with some coaching and consulting clients in other states.

My background is graphic design so I have always freelanced design. I began managing social media for restaurants and bars in 2014 because I enjoyed it and most people back then didn’t know what to do. After years of contracting and stringing together clients and projects, in May of 2019 I focused more on the business and wrote up a plan. Throughout the years of freelancing I learned what I enjoyed, and how I liked to work. One of my goals was to have more predictability of income.

I started solo with five retainer clients that May. Fast forward to now (2024), I now have three contractors as part of my team, 90+ clients served, 34 active clients now including retainer, coaching and graphic design clients, and I am still working with three of my original clients.

Helping business owners and companies have meaningful online connections with their audience is my passion. Being social on social media is the focus, fostering community and relationships with my clients’ target audience.

For those that cannot afford to outsource their social media, or truly enjoy it, but need a coach, I offer social media coaching to help them level up their social media skills and integrate social media into their marketing flywheel.

I’m looking forward to the next five years in business and what they will bring. Being a business owner has its challenges, but the freedom it allows me is worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Friday night, I would take them to the Franklinton area for great food & cocktails and rooftop city views at The Junto Hotel. Then we would walk to one of the breweries in the neighborhood with live music outside, like Land Grant.

The next day we would eat breakfast Northstar before traveling a little out of Columbus to go hiking on one of the many trails at Hocking Hills. We might visit the Hocking Hills Winery or BrewDog in Lancaster on the way back to Columbus.

That evening we would catch some live music at Rambling House or Adelaide’s Gin Joint.

On Sunday we would visit the Columbus Museum of Art for free or the National Veterans Memorial and Museum., followed by a walk along the Scioto River.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I give a shout out to my mentor Shannon McKinstrie. She works with social media marketers and helped me implement processes and systems for work efficiency and client communications. Having her support has been a game-changer for my business mindset.

Website: https://www.queenbeejackie.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenbeejackie/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/queenbeejackie/