This is Part 5 of the 22 Black Women to Watch in 2022 series: Black Business Women. If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3 or Part 4 read them first.
When it comes to running a business, launching a product, putting on an event, or hosting a course, it can be tedious. How do you manage all the steps without overwhelming your already heavy workload? Do you treat a product launch the same as starting a business? Is the marketing the same for a course as it is for an event? Trying to do it all in your business and figuring out all the details as you grow your business can bring you closer to that dreaded burnout.
So here are five black business women who can help you out:
The Launch Strategist
What she does
A launch strategist will research, test, and execute the proper launch for your product or service. (Understand that this is different than an Event Planner planning a launch party.)
Why you need her
She’ll help you find what works and what doesn’t by analyzing your past launches or (if this is your first launch) the launches of your competitors. She can help you determine your launch needs, milestones, and sales strategies. The best in this field will also curate a custom launch calendar and strategy for you, drop it into a document or exportable project plan, and for a few more coins, walk with you through executing the whole strategy.
The cost
Costs rage. A product launch will have a much different cost than a service launch. On sites like Upwork, strategists are available from $20 per hour to as much as $240 per hour. Consult your marketing budget, and your time budget to determine how much support to invest in for this power player to join your team
Where to find her
A quick google search will net you a plethora of results. For instance, Essential Her Solutions offers two options for a VIP Day.
The Online Business Manager
What she does
She is there to help your project run smoothly. Whether you’re launching a new product or planning a conference, she will be there to manage the project from start to finish. Project gone off the rails? She’ll get it back on track.
Why you need her
Having your processes in order is paramount when you wear the many labels of a business owner. An OBM will help align your team, tasks, and takeaways with your ultimate goals. She’ll create the necessary strategies to bring your project to completion.
The cost
Depending on the experience and skill level, an OBM can cost anywhere between $50 and $80 per hour. You’ll find some on the lower rate, and some will have more premium rates. You have to know what you’re paying for, as with any service. Ask for references, and don’t be afraid to ask for a trial period.
Where to find her
LinkedIn is a great place to start. You want to look for highly recommended candidates, as you’ll be handing them the keys to your kingdom.
The Virtual Assistant
What she does
Similar to an OBM, a Virtual Assistant is a taskmaster working either on a specific project, for a client, or for you directly.
Why you need her
A good VA will keep all your proverbial ducks in a row. Focused on time management and organization, she will structure your calendar, email, and business tasks to fit your needs and the needs of your business. She’ll make sure the only emails you need to see hit your inbox.
Average cost
This category may have the broadest range of all. With international freelancers flooding the market, VAs can be hired for as little as $5 per hour, but you get what you pay for. Others charge $50 or more depending on experience, tasks, and commitment.
Where to find her
Virtual Assistants can be found just about everywhere right now. There are Facebook groups dedicated to VA job postings. Freelance sites are full of VAs offering packages from general services to niches, like Photography VA. Whether you are looking for a general services VA or a VA who specializes in your particular industry, a quick Google search will lead you in the right direction.
The Copywriter
What she does
A copywriter does as it says in the name–she writes copy. Copy is the language used to convince your audience to purchase your product. On your sales page, the call-to-action in your IG post, the email newsletter you send out each week telling your audience about your upcoming events–all that text is the copy.
Why you need her
Maybe you’re not the best or most convincing writer. Possibly, you know everything there is to know about your product, but you don’t know how to convey the benefits it provides to your audience. That’s where the copywriter comes in. Her job is to convince the audience (in a very short amount of time) that your product is for them (Click Buy Now!).
The cost
Like many in this list, a copywriter’s rate will be dependent on experience, skill, demand, and project length. Writing a few captions on Instagram will be a far different animal than rewriting all the sales copy on your website. Experienced copywriters may charge anywhere from $25 to $85 per hour. For an example of a project, an average for website copy is around $350.
Where to find her
Some great places to find copywriters are LinkedIn, Upwork, and Fiverr. The latter two are freelance sites where writers can list themselves along with what they will and won’t do for a client. LinkedIn is where you can see if past clients have endorsed them.
The Graphic Designer
What she does
A graphic designer creates/designs all the digital and print graphics necessary for your branding. Depending on where you are in your journey, you might hire a GD to create your company logo.
Why you need her
You’re not great with creating graphics. As creative as you are, you don’t understand why red is a better color for your food brand’s upcoming campaign (Red is an appetite inducer! Hello, McD’s.)
The cost
Options for a graphic designer can range from an intern, either in, or fresh out of, college to a graphic design firm. You want to look for someone within your budget who is willing to communicate openly about your vision.
Where to find her
This is another job for freelancer sites and LinkedIn. There is also Instagram; some fantastic artists are utilizing the platform to display their skills. Use LinkedIn, paying particular attention to their endorsements, to research and find potential candidates.
When filling out any team, do your due diligence. Make informed decisions when hiring. As talented as your friends and family are, their skills, experience, and expertise should align with the needs of your business. Be aware of your budget. While you may not need to hire all of these beautiful black business women, take a hard look at who you do need and can afford.
This brings our 22 Women to Watch in 2022 series to a close. Are there more women or roles you have found necessary in your day-to-day operations? Have you been close to burnout and found salvation in hiring a particular position? Let us know in the She Runs It Facebook group.
And if you’re one of the black business women reading this, still learning, building, and growing, join Build it B2B (a Side Hustle learning experience).
