Who is Dereka Estwick?
I am an affable and easy-going person. I love travelling and meeting new people and learning about their culture. I also love trying new foods and eating great food in general. I am an artist, painting is my speciality and I love dogs! I also love to sing. Currently, I am in the band Xpressionz and it’s such a blessing to go out and minister to people.
What does your day to day entail?
Since I am an entrepreneur, work never really stops. I usually get up very early, have my devotion, do other daily duties then I am in the zone. Since I do social media management, I am busy creating posts, monitoring and engaging with the different accounts I work with. I recently started volunteering with the substance abuse foundation. I am currently running their social media pages. I spend my time giving advice to people who may need help with their business. I also provide consulting sessions for those who need it.
How did your interest in Marketing and entrepreneurship develop?
Well, I initially did marketing at The Barbados Community College as an elective and I found it very interesting and fun. After I attained my Associate Degree in visual arts, I took a year off. I then decided to go to the University of the Southern Caribbean and pursue my Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. I thoroughly enjoyed my marketing classes and I had an awesome teacher, Mrs. Stacey Simmons-Roberts. My initial plan was to market my art work, which went well for a while, but then became more involved in social media and for a month I gave out free marketing advice to my friends and people who asked. I decided to work with one of my friends and help her kick start her fashion business which has been going well ever since. She and her sister encouraged me to actually start my own business. I was scared at first but I did, and I am so happy. Being an entrepreneur can be challenging at times but it’s absolutely fulfilling especially when people are happy with your work.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love that I am my own boss. I also love that I am pushing myself to become better, learn more and I can also help people while I am it. I also recently started my Smarket Hut Features where I interview other entrepreneurs. I decided to start this as I know the challenges associated with being an entrepreneur. JUST hearing other people's experiences and what they’ve learnt over the years can help many people out there. I have interviewed people who recently started their businesses as well as businesses that have been running for years. Everyone has something valuable to say and give advice that can help people who are thinking of starting their own business, and also people who are further along in their business journey.
Any tips for business owners to improve their social medial marketing?
When it comes to social media marketing, posting quality content is very important. Your content can inspire, inform, persuade and motivate -But only if it’s good. Make it extraordinary. Brand consistency is also vital to the success of your business. It affects what people think of your company. The more consistent your messaging, the more consistent your branding. Another important tip is choosing your aesthetic. Developing a brand aesthetic can ensure that all your social channels are aligned and are spreading the same message about your business, spotlighting who you are and what you do. Lastly, one must set goals, long term business goals to be exact, they help clarify the purpose of the business and help identify the necessary actions.
Tell us your most memorable achievement to date.
My most memorable achievement would be officially registering my business. I have always wanted to own my own business, but was scared to do it. However, this step of finally registering my business is just the beginning of a great journey.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
My business Smarket Hut is a Social Media Marketing and Consulting Company. Our goal is to provide businesses with the tools and knowledge to unlock creativity within their social media platforms, as well as equip them to make smarter sales and marketing decisions in their company. We can produce effective promotional materials and advertising opportunities at a reasonable cost. Our services include Social Media Management, Business Consulting and Smarket Hut Features.
How can our readers connect with you?
You can find me on instagram, facebook and linked In @smarkethut. My contact info is 246-244-8612 and my email is smarkethut@gmail.com
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