Meet Gina VonEye, Owner & Founder of GVM Studio (Gina VonEye Marketing Studio). With a passion for the art of marketing and more than 15 years of branding experience across a wide range of industries, Gina writes and speaks from the heart, amplifying the messages that move the needle in market share. By embracing the possibilities in any scenario, she makes them probable, driving growth across traditional and non-traditional channels.
Gina started off her career in the news industry and worked for CNN and NBC Chicago where she quickly realized that she needed more of a creative outlet and a career that would lend itself to marriage and family. Gina began her marketing career in Detroit, MI with a large healthcare marketing agency and never looked back. It didn’t come without some hurdles along the way and a few high-powered men telling her where to sit as well some women who were so threatened by other women they would do anything to dim her light.
”As a woman in business, I truly believe anything is possible and I’m thankful for those early lessons. It’s shaped the leader I am today and how I treat my team and most importantly my clients.
What inspired you to start Gina vonEye Marketing Studio?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I would dream about how I would run my business, who I would hire and what it would look & feel like. Once COVID-19 hit it made me put my fear aside… I was always afraid of failure, of what people will think, or if anyone would ever want to work with me. From the minute I launched my marketing studio I have had nothing but positive support. I’m busier than ever and I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner.
You need a support system when launching a business. It’s easy to start to listen to negativity in your head and all the reasons why you shouldn’t do it. My dad has been my biggest inspiration. He always wanted to be a business owner, but never took the leap. He would tell me each time I got a promotion and I questioned if I was making the right decision. He would say, “it’s never too late to chase a dream.” When the time was right, I knew it would happen. June of 2020 I officially opened my doors to the GVM Studio.
Tell us more about Gina vonEye Marketing Studio, who are your clients, what are they looking for?
I’m focused on clients that have something unique to offer.
Every business is trying to figure out how they reach their customers in today’s new world and my job is to create new ways to do just that. Social Media is playing a huge role in finding new customers for my clients, but also customer retention. I’m focused on building solid programs that convert and leveraging each of my client’s strengths to build their business. There is a consultative approach to my business because we often find new core offerings for our clients to offer their customer’s when we really dig deep into what the company can do and how far they can reach.
How did you start with Gina vonEye Marketing Studio?
I started my business with an idea for the website and started to build it from there. I had a lot of support from friends and family and my former colleagues. I made a list of what I needed to accomplish before my formal announcement and set mini-goals each day. After the first week I had a solid business plan, an official LLC in motion, and a website well underway in production. I wanted the business to FINALLY feel like me. So the scripted logo to the color pallet is feminine but it represents me and I’m finally owning that.
When I was in the corporate world I was often the only woman that had a seat at the table. I would be surrounded by men in board meetings and attending major decision-making dinners when new deals were finalized. I was always grateful for that seat, but honestly, I knew I was made for more. I knew I didn’t just want the seat, but I wanted to own the table. There are events in our lives as we climb the latter that shape our next move(s) and for me, I finally realized, if these men can do this and make a ton of money doing it, with half the knowledge I certainly can do this. It’s never easy owning a business, but I knew the freedom of doing it my way would be so worth it.
Why is social media marketing important for every business?
Social Media is incredibly important for any business as I sit here and type this today. Business owners need to be open-minded about the role social media can play for their business and how it can expand their reach in their target market. Social Media is not a one-size-fits-all type of outlet. The program needs to be designed specifically for each business. It should always have a lead role, especially those who are in retail with a brick and mortar type of business. An online program allows for customers to find you outside your immediate community or demographic.
How do you keep yourself updated? What are some of the websites or magazines or apps that you subscribe to or read regularly?
I read EVERYTHING! I love books about business and especially books about the process of someone’s success. I would love to write a book one day on how I made it all happen. I’m all over social media and I try and take note of those who are doing it well and what others are doing that is resonating with their audience. I love Ellevest, I’m really into female empowerment sites and I love how easy they make it to invest, I love WomenOnTopp of course because the content is so raw and real. Social Media Examiner is great for keeping your skills sharp in the social space and Create & Cultivate has everything you need in one place.
What’s your favorite social network – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter? Why?
My favorite social network right now is Instagram. You can do some much just with this one program all from your phone. Instagram is really easy to monetize and increase exposure with a consistent message. The key with Instagram is post often and utilize the stories feature and IGTV for longer messages.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
I have been fortunate enough to work all over the world producing marketing programs for the largest names in Healthcare. Today, if I had to pick one accomplishment it was the recent award by Drug Store News. They recently awarded me the “Rising Star & Women to Watch” Award. It’s amazing to be recognized with so many other amazing women in the category and such a large industry like healthcare.
Can you share some marketing tips on how to launch a new product?
Know your target audience. Don’t over sell the product and have a streamlined message. Market in the spaces the target market is playing in and think about how the product is going to evolve. A product launch goes beyond the first 90-days or even first year on the market.
What would you advise our followers who have want to start their marketing studio?
Go For It!!!! I’m not saying it will ever be easy, but it will be worth it. Your company, your way. As a woman in business, I wanted nothing more for myself or my family.
Find out more at https://www.ginavoneyemarketingstudio.com
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