Happy 10th Birthday to Socialites! ?? Amidst everything going on, here's an important thank you from me to you ???.

Yesterday, April 1st 2020, was the official ten year birthday of Socialites. Only 17% of businesses make it to ten years so yay! Interestingly one of the questions I’ve often been asked is “Where did you think you’d be now, when you started?”

Hmmm.... I think we can all agree that none of us could’ve considered we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic, with the country on lock-down and falling into a recession. Yep, did NOT predict that! ??

Due to the pandemic Socialites is VERY busy, people are flocking to social media in droves and we are at the front line to help our communities and our clients get through this tough period. The whole team have been working nights and weekends the last few weeks and I am so proud of them; the passion and commitment to our clients and our communities as we navigate this “unprecedented time” (very overused but appropriate words!) is phenomenal.  

Today however, even though there is so much on, I made myself stop, reflect and express gratitude for the last ten years. That is one of the important lessons I have learnt over the last ten years; making time to celebrate and be grateful for the wins. No matter what.

We threw a big bash in February with friends, colleagues, clients, partners. Back when it was safe to hug and kiss and share food and drinks and dance together. It was so special to look around and see faces from the last ten years in one place and I am loving re-watching the video of the night and flicking through the photos ?????? 

You have to be brave to set up a business. To want to put yourself (and your family) through all the sleepless nights. To push through the doubt. 

But setting up a business ten years ago to focus exclusively on social media marketing? At the time, most wouldn’t have thought it was brave. They would have thought it was downright stupid.

Remember, in early 2010 there was no Instagram. No Snapchat. Obviously no Tik Tok! Advertising on Facebook was in its absolute infancy. Media budgets were still firmly rooted in the 30-second TVC. 

So, yes, it was a brave thing to do. But the thing I love most about being a part of Socialites is all the brave and cool people I’ve met along the way. The amazing Socialites team and our fantastically brave clients and partners, who have seen the opportunity presented by social and trusted us to deliver thumb-stopping ideas and campaigns to help them grow incredible online communities.

Looking back there are a lot of examples. 

One that only some of you will know is that we were the first company in NZ to lead a corporate onto Snapchat, with Spark in 2014. They were crazy times. We didn’t go small either. Basically together we took a punt to run pop-up events all around NZ and only use Snapchat to tell people where they were. Now the cost of the roadshow was enormous. And we had no real idea of if people would see our Snapchat activity. I mean we didn’t really even know if the numbers we were told about people using Snapchat were legit.

Our first event we had 20 people, the next one 50 people. By the time we got to Hamilton we had hundreds and had to hire security guards! Security guards! 

It was epic. It proved that being brave, that trusting your gut, is ALWAYS the right thing to do.

Every year has brought such fun, such epic work, such cool people into our lives. Last year we even won the Australasian Social Media Agency of the Year (always nice to beat the aussies!)

All the people that we work with have that fire, that heart, that cheeky optimism, that underlying bravery to go outside your comfort zone. 

And we all know that’s where the magic happens. Its outside our comfort zone where we grow as people, as communities, as businesses, as a human race. 

The future belongs to the brave! And so we know we are part of the future!

A few special thanks – our first employee and my sister Rosie Thompson who is now a senior digital marketer in Melbourne. My two daughters Amalie and Mieke - not only did they see firsthand the fire and passion and commitment but they know how to position a label on a bottle when taking a selfie ;) 

My tribe at Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) and my husband Ken Freer who have supported me and believed in us through all the challenging times as well as the good times. 

Melanie Spencer. My business partner. Only 10 months in but I feel we’ve known each other forever and I know she loves Socialites as much as I do. 

And to the rest of the Socialites team, past and present. I’m inspired every single day by you guys. Your drive, passion and hilarity make Socialites so special.

Thank you so much for everyone who makes Socialites what it it today; an industry leader with experience, wisdom and passion. And in such an important time like now we are determined to lead with heart, with excellence and with wisdom ??? 

Thank you all! Cheers to the brave! ??

Wendy