Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Wong.
Hi Sarah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a kid, I loved so many subjects in school, but I leaned on STEM subjects to provide. I chose to study petroleum engineering at The University of Texas at Austin because I was deeply interested in how oil & gas touches everyone in all parts of the world.
When I got to college, I realized I needed a creative outlet separate from my engineering classes. As early as my freshman year, I started my own photography and blogging projects that turned into a part-time job, and I loved that they were the perfect mix of creative and analytical skills.
That experience, combined with a few summer internships, led me to find a few jobs out of college in oil & gas tech and media. It gave me the confidence to be my own boss and work full-time in brand photography and social media marketing at my company Sarah Wong Media, LLC.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting your own business can be a daunting process. I’ve found that there’s just so much you don’t know until you’re in a place you have to start thinking about it. Things like boundaries, how to keep a strong working relationship with clients, or which tax structure works best for your business… those are all things I’ve had to learn along the way. It’s hard to feel confident in your choices, especially when it comes to the things people can’t necessarily teach you. I’ve learned it takes some trial and error, wisdom from mentors, and trusting your instincts.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Sarah Wong Media, LLC (SWM) specializes in supporting businesses to elevate their online presence and maximize their reach. We work in a variety of content marketing outlets like brand photography, social media marketing, email marketing, and influencer marketing, depending on their needs. With 6+ years of experience in lifestyle photography and social media at Founders Fund-backed start-ups and successful media companies, I’ve seen a variety of things that propel brands forward in a sustainable way.
At this time, all of Sarah Wong Media’s clients are female-founded brands. As a female founder myself, it’s an honor to support their businesses. We especially love working with small teams and creative entrepreneurs for close working relationships. All SWM clients have communicated that they trust our eye for color, fun, and whimsy but also appreciate my engineering and analytical background for data-backed insights. Overall, we just want to be easy and enjoyable to work with and seen as an extension of their in-house marketing team.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor is the #1 piece of advice I give and receive. My top three tips are to looking to professionals you trusted and made time to interact with, search LinkedIn for people who are passionate about volunteering and personal development and be considerate of your mentor’s time and resources. I detail all these tips on my college lifestyle blog: https://thebellainsider.com/how-to-find-a-mentor-in-college/.
Pricing:
- Email Marketing: $500
- Brand Photography: $500
- Social Media Marketing: $1500
- 60-Minute Strategy Session: $200
Contact Info:
- Email: sarahwongmedia@gmail.com
- Website: https://sarahwongmedia.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahwongmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahwongmedia
Image Credits
Kim Tadlock Photography
