Today we’d like to introduce you to Haleigh Brown.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I established Clever Cardinal, Inc. in September of 2015. When I decided to take the leap from freelance work to establishing my own company, naturally my first thought was, what will my brand be? I chose the red cardinal for a few reasons, the most important being my father.
My father was a brilliant businessman and exhaustingly enthusiastic, his energy attracting you like a bug to neon. I lost him when I was 21 and immediately after his passing, cardinals became ever-present in my life, appearing in front of me on the sidewalk, flying past my windows, and believe it or not, a red cardinal even flew through the front door of my house and fluttered about. I believe this is his reminder to me that everything will be ok. Every time I see a red cardinal to this day, I remember his love and feel a burst of energy and affirmation that I am following the right path with him by my side.
The second layer of why I chose the red cardinal is the city of St. Louis, MO, my hometown. There will always be a special place in my heart for St. Louis. Despite its rough edges, there remains a raw beauty and realness there that has always spoken to me. Some of my fondest memories are in that city and I am forever thankful for how it shaped me to be who I am today. Go Cardinals!
It was in the space of one afternoon that I knew the cardinal had to be my brand but it needed a little more. Being the literature nerd that I am, I’ve always loved the pleasant ring of alliteration so I knew that’s the route I wanted to go to complete my company name. Creative Cardinal sounded too obvious and didn’t stand out to me. It was all too cliche. Clever, on the other hand, was perfect; meaning quick to learn, quick to devise ideas, skilled at achieving a goal, these are all things I not only humbly associate myself with but match the cardinal bird too. And from there, Clever Cardinal was born.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My main struggle since the inception of Clever Cardinal has been teaching myself how to run the back end of my business. I have the creative side down pat, I’m a great communicator, but I’m still learning how to manage the administrative side and how to scale to the next level.
Clever Cardinal – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Clever Cardinal is a digital marketing consultancy helping companies get creative and build a powerful & cohesive online presence. I specialize in social media management, content curation, branding, and website design.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is waking up every morning with a clear purpose, always working towards your goals, and finding happiness along the way.
Currently, I am most proud of the success I have helped build for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey on Instagram and Facebook (@unclenearest). Creating a loyal brand following is all about REAL authentic engagement. Discover your voice and engage with anyone and everyone who aligns with your brand. Get people excited. Keep them engaged with relevant creative content and be consistent. Those are my main words of advice for anyone looking to succeed at managing a brand’s social media account.
In a world of digital spam, don’t forget to BE HUMAN.
Contact Info:
- Website: clevercardinal.com
- Email: clevercardinalinc@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/clevercardinal/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/clevercardinal
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/clever_cardinal
Image Credit:
Haleigh Brown
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