EP# 66: Rising from Layoff to Digital Triumph: Emily King's Journey and Secrets to Small Business Success

What makes  Emily King with Wheel Horse Digital a good neighbor?

What if you could turn a pandemic-induced layoff into a thriving business? Emily King did just that, and she's here to share her inspiring journey from a side hustle to a successful digital marketing microagency. Join us as Emily, the founder of Wheel Horse Digital, talks about the essential elements of a modern, effective online presence and how her agency stands out with personalized service that larger firms often overlook. With expertise ranging from website design and SEO to email marketing and promotional design, Emily reveals the key strategies that can elevate small to medium-sized businesses in today's digital landscape.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Emily opens up about her life as a new mom and hobby farmer, offering a glimpse into how she balances entrepreneurship with family and farm life. Her story is a powerful reminder of resilience and the unexpected opportunities that can arise from challenging times. Tune in to hear Emily's insights on navigating the digital marketing world, maintaining a fulfilling work-life balance, and the unique, neighborly touch that sets Wheel Horse Digital apart. Get ready to be inspired and learn valuable tips that could transform your business.

To learn more about Wheel Horse Digital  go to:
https://wheelhorsedigital.com/

Wheel Horse Digital
(978) 384-0185

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Liz Lemon.

Speaker 2: 0:10

Welcome to Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of some digital strategies designed for growth? Surprisingly, it might be closer than you think. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing your neighbor, Emily King, with Wheelhouse Digital. How are you today, Emily?

Speaker 3: 0:25

I'm good. How are you Liz?

Speaker 2: 0:27

I'm great. We're excited to learn all about you and your business. So please tell us about Wheelhorse Digital.

Speaker 3: 0:32

Sure so. Wheelhorse Digital is a digital marketing microagency, so we work with small to medium sized businesses on everything from website design to SEO, website hosting and maintenance, email marketing and even a bit of like promotional design work. Our goal is to be like a one-stop shop for all your marketing needs and also keep that small agency feel so you're not just a number as with some larger marketing agencies.

Speaker 2: 0:57

That's super important. How did you get into the business?

Speaker 3: 1:01

You know, for me it started during COVID. I was laid off from my full-time job and I'd been dabbling in web design for a few years and I decided to kind of, um, you know, just keep that business going. And um did some you know work for friends and family, and then it just kind of grew from there. So now, four and a half years later, um, we're a team of two and a half, um a lot of some contractors that we pull in with very closely when we need them. So, yeah, we're a team of two and a half, and I say that because we have a small team, but we also have a team of contractors that we work with very closely, that we've worked with for years just to make sure you can have all of your marketing needs met without having to go to multiple agencies.

Speaker 2: 1:42

That's important for sure. What are the myths and misconceptions within the industry of digital?

Speaker 3: 1:49

So one big thing that we see a lot is people thinking that they don't need a website, or their old website is fine. But in this day and age, you know, everything is online. People are looking at things on their phones, so you really do need to have a fast, attractive website that is, you know, great on mobile devices and all types of devices, so that, no matter what people are searching for, your website shows up for them and it is, you know, easier for them to navigate and easier for them to find what they're looking for.

Speaker 2: 2:19

Right, that's important because there are so many different ways to access online and digital, that that's that's important for sure. Um outside of work, what do you do for?

Speaker 3: 2:29

fun, um. So I've got a 10 month old daughter, so I don't have much time for fun these days, but she's, um, yeah, she's the light of our lives and she's just, uh, growing like a weed and she's so much fun. So, so, mostly just being a parent, but then I also have a horse at home and some goats, so we've got a little hobby farm that we enjoy.

Speaker 2: 2:48

Oh, that's sweet. That's sweet. Let's change gears just for a moment. Can you describe one hardship or life challenges that you rose above and can now say, because of it you're better and stronger? What comes to mind?

Speaker 3: 3:00

Yeah, so I think being laid off during COVID it was a scenario that a lot of people found themselves in. But rather than binge watching Netflix, I decided I'm going to take this little side hustle and see what I can do with it. So I grew it over the next few years and when my daughter was born last year, last summer, it enabled me to make this my full time job and not go back to my position that I had prior to maternity leave. So having that flexibility as an entrepreneur is really great as a new parent. So I'm really thankful that. You know, my life kind of went in this direction, which was unexpected, but it ended up working out really well.

Speaker 2: 3:37

Right. Sometimes it's just things happen for a reason and it's important. You have the best of both worlds right there being a mom and being an entrepreneur. That's amazing. What is the one thing that you wish our listeners knew about Will Horse?

Speaker 3: 3:51

Digital Just that. We're real people and we, you know, we enjoy working with other small businesses. We understand the challenges of being a small business or even a solopreneur, and when you call, you always get a real person, which is like our main goal is to just make sure that you always know, you know how your marketing is working, how it's working for you and you can, you know, have a trust, a trustworthy relationship with your marketing agency.

Speaker 2: 4:17

Right, that's important for sure. How can our listeners learn more about Wheel Horse?

Speaker 3: 4:22

Digital. So you can find us online at wheelhorsedigitalcom or on Instagram at wheelhorsedigital. And you know we're local to the area, so you know we're always out and about in the Palmer, wilbraham, munson area, you know doing networking events and things like that, so we might run into you in real life too.

Speaker 2: 4:42

That's fantastic, and it's summertime out, so there's a lot of events absolutely happening. Emily, we really appreciate you being on the show and we wish you and your business the best moving forward. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1: 4:56

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPPalmercom. That's GNPPalmercom, or call 413-414-5940.