Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Nelson.
Hi Joy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to write and create stories when I grew up. I used to watch the evening news with my father. Growing up in the Washington D.C. suburbs the evening news was a large part of our lives. At 16, I began reporting for the NBC affiliate in Washington DC WRC-TV. They had a show that aired Saturday mornings, highlighting teens from various towns reporting on stories affecting their lives. I reported on various topics I thought were important like fashion, different clubs my high school provided, and local high school politics. From there, I chose the University of South Carolina to attend for their Broadcast Journalism program. I remained in the TV industry for 15 years. I produced, reported, and managed exposing myself to interviewing Governors, State legislators, local leaders, WWII veterans, victims of crimes and more. After trying to balance two young children and a husband in law enforcement the TV industry became too hard to balance. I moved on to work for local government (Beaufort County and Bluffton Police Department) as their Public Information Officer. I taught local leaders how to conduct TV and print interviews while also growing their social media pages, transparency, and community relations. I did receive push back from these leaders because County Administrators, Town Administrators, and Chiefs of Police aren’t used to providing more details than not, especially on hot topics. I reinforced with these leaders that their constituents will trust them more if you provide more information. I stayed in local government for almost 10 years. I then went to work for a local non-profit that was near and dear to my heart. Memory Matters helps families whose loved ones have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia. After seeing how I helped these companies and organizations, I felt it was time to start my own journey with Joyful Marketing. Joyful Marketing allows me to help numerous small businesses have their voice heard by way of social media, video production, and websites. There is something about owning your own business and being able to guide others down a path that will make them successful, too. I love words, I love images that tell a story that everyone can relate to and achieve success from.
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?
There have been many struggles over the years. As a professional woman, finding that balance between work and home is especially challenging. As a mom, you feel you aren’t giving enough attention to your children or even to your husband. At the office, you feel you aren’t giving your job enough attention because you’re distracted by life at home. I always felt judged by my bosses, who have all been men. I’m not saying anything negative about men bosses, but sometimes they don’t understand completely what a woman goes through wanting to do it all and be successful at it all.
Early in my career, I struggled as a young reporter, proving I could do the job. Then, when I decided to stay behind the camera, there were struggles with being promoted as a manager in my late 20’s and supervising others who were much older than me. Anyone that has ever managed know what I’m talking about. You learn a lot about yourself as a young manager. You already know what you don’t like about your own managers, so you try to be different. However, you learn why your managers are the way they are. In a newsroom, I managed people aged 18-65, all of which had a different work ethic and a different way to communicate with. Learning the different personalities was the hardest part. After that, working with police officers and learning their different personalities was a new learning curve. It helped somewhat being married to a police officer. I knew a little more than most about their sense of humor and work ethic. While I ponder on the struggles I’ve endured over my 25+ professional career, I wouldn’t change any of it. Those struggles made me the person I am today. A successful woman business owner.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Joyful Marketing started in 2023 when a friend of a friend needed help with their business’s social media pages. Before this, I had considered opening my own business, but this person reaching out made me think it might actually be possible. I only had the one client while working full-time at a non-profit organization, but then it grew to two clients and three clients. I then chose to take the leap of faith and start working on Joyful Marketing full-time. Two words I live by as a business owner are Patience and Faith. You have to have patience because not everything is going to happen immediately. You won’t have a full list of clients immediately. You won’t have a salary you think you are worth immediately. It takes time and patience. Faith has always been a large part of my childhood and adulthood. It has helped me through the deaths of my parents, hard times in my marriage and other professional ups and downs. My faith is the one constant in my life that I know won’t disappoint me and will always be there guide me where I’m supposed to go.
Joyful Marketing is a boutique marketing agency that partners with small businesses who want their services and products to be exposed to their audience. I create content that Engages, Energizes, and Elevates businesses. I do have many competitors. People who claim to be social media experts, but what makes me different is the experience and the voices I’ve been creating content for. I’ve been creating professional social media content since 2008 when I was writing headlines and copy in television newsrooms. I’ve been speaking to different audiences, whether it’s 10 people or 300 people, for two decades. I believe real-life experience speaks volumes compared to just posting on social media since I was in high school. Knowing what content and words resonate with different people makes me stand apart from my competitors. I also look at my clients as friends. I get to know them and their business on a personal basis so I can confidently speak on their behalf.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice for anyone young. mature or middle-aged. Get out and talk to people. Introduce yourself. Join groups, whether that be a sewing group, pickleball team, chess club, BNI, or the local Chamber of Commerce. I understand it’s hard for some to be outgoing and interact with others. That’s why I say join a group that you are passionate about and interested in first.
What worked well for me after launching Joyful Marketing full-time is the BNI Chapter I joined. It’s helped Joyful Marketing, but I’ve also made some dear friends. Working for yourself can be lonely at times. Having a support network and meeting with others who are going through the same struggles you are is worth its time and money.
Pricing:
- My pricing for social media management and website creation is dependent on how many weekly posts wanted, how much engagement wanted but typically my packages start at $350 a month to post on one platform and my website creation starts at $1,500.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joyfulmarketing.net
- Instagram: @joyfulmarketing23
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoyfulMarketingSC
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-rs-nelson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joynelson-sg4dk
