Do you ever feel anxious when you think about posting on social media? I know I do. It's like trying to hit a moving target, constantly chasing an imaginary algorithm. With the ever-evolving world of social media, things always seem to get lost. I often find myself asking questions like: When is the best time to post my reel? How many reels are too many? Should I post in the morning, at night, or both? And how do I engage with my customers without sounding too pushy?

Managing social media for business is a job in itself, and that's exactly what Allison Shiver realized. Allison has been in and around Columbus, GA for about a decade, working for others and going the extra mile. However, she often felt underappreciated. "I spent a large portion of my life trying to fit in and please people. I was always the hardest worker wherever I was employed, going above and beyond. Unfortunately, most of the time, I worked for people who didn't value that and treated good employees the same as bad employees. I always knew I would own a business one day, but it never felt like the right time."

Allison developed a passion for fitness and started dabbling in the possibility of opening her own gym facility. But once again, the timing wasn't right. However, throughout her regular jobs, she had been running a side hustle of social media management for her friends. With other ventures closing doors in her face, she woke up one day and realized the enormous need for social media management. She started making connections in the community and confirmed her hunch: "Business owners are passionate about what they do, but that doesn't automatically translate to effective self-marketing on social media. This is where many businesses fail by not properly representing their brand. You can love what you do but still struggle to post about it. Finally, I found a need in my local community that I knew I could address." And that's how Alli started AlterEgo Social Media Co. Today, she has over 20 clients and actively works in our community, helping businesses make connections and gain visibility on social media platforms.

Allison's positive outlook on her past work experiences allows her to use both the successes and failures of her previous employers to fuel her own dream and turn it into a reality. For aspiring and current entrepreneurs, Alli shares some valuable advice on staying motivated: "Organization and preparation are key. I make sure that past Alli takes care of future Alli. On the days that I feel the best, I get as much done as I can for the days that I'm not feeling the greatest. I make sure to eat right, workout, take care of my mental health, and not neglect things that make me happy. One of the things you tend to gravitate towards as a business owner is to work all the time and not turn it off. This is what leads to burn out and burn out is what causes us to make mistakes and errors in our business. I put my physical and mental health first so that my business doesn't suffer."

If you're struggling to establish a social media presence, remember that you're not alone. Alli encourages entrepreneurs to ask for help without shame: "Sometimes we feel defeated because we've tried everything and haven't made progress. Having a fresh pair of eyes and ears on your business can give you just the refresh you need. Just because it's what you have always done, doesn't mean it will always work. You must think outside of the box. If something doesn't work, try something else."

To all my fellow women entrepreneurs, in a world full of algorithms, hashtags, and followers, let's remember that we all have too many flaws to be perfect and too many blessings to be ungrateful! So, seize the day and don't be afraid to ask for help