Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanice Linton.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a British-born, Jamaican-raised immigrant who launched her first business, a Caribbean model agency when I was a teenager and that’s when I discovered my ultimate dream to become a full-time business owner for the rest of my life.
After earning a scholarship to study film and video production at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus Ohio, I moved to the United States to complete my BFA.
Even though I always believed that my video production degree and background would lead to working in the film industry, the unexpected shift in my career and the opportunities that came with it, opened doors to a different dream. A dream I had no idea I wanted.
I took my knowledge of video and my experience in marketing to launch my own video production and marketing agency for medical aesthetic brands, Visual Vybz Studios. This is the company of my dreams; my passion for video and marketing collided and created a full-time opportunity for me to be my own boss. Visual Vybz Studios is now 5+ years old and our creative team is expanding as we continue to experience more and more growth.
I have been a content creator for over a decade.
I mean, the audience may have changed throughout the years but my passion for telling stories hasn’t. Ever since I was a little girl I’d find and tell the story in literally everything! In fact, I received my first video camera when I was 8 years old – I used it to film mini-movies with my stuffed animals and created imaginary narratives for each character. CLEARLY, a lot has changed since then, primarily the shift from fictional video storytelling to commercial video storytelling.
My favorite thing about storytelling is the ability to pull on viewers’ emotions. Marketing uses video storytelling in a slightly different way that challenges me. I still get to tell stories that evoke emotions, but now I have to do so in a significantly shorter span of time. For instance, movies have hours to get their message across but in advertising and marketing, you have minutes if not seconds to do so. I love how this among other things has challenged me as a creative video storyteller. This challenge prompted me to make the switch to commercial video storytelling.
So, how did I start a marketing agency for plastic surgeons and med spas?
First, I found a target market that needed video storytelling, but more importantly, I found a target market that I would come to love working in. Being an entrepreneur has not only helped me understand how to grow and scale my own business but specifically running a marketing agency that supports growth for other businesses has given me so much insight into how to serve brands in very unique ways.
To keep my clients competitive and profitable, I had to quickly adapt my strategies and develop a signature process that works. As an entrepreneur, time is your most valuable asset and my goal is to help you maximize your profitability and minimize your time spent on content marketing by investing in effective strategies and techniques.
One thing that I’ve truly learned from my own business growth and struggle, is that time is your most valuable asset, and if it is not used effectively you will always feel stuck.
Whenever I felt frustrated and stagnant, it was usually because I didn’t have a strategic game plan in place to give me the clarity that I needed to move forward.
I quickly changed the way I approached my process which has now saved me so much time. Time that I can now reallocate to other business growth opportunities and even personal wellness. Now I empower others on their journey to strategic clarity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle has been trying to find the right team willing to go above and beyond for my clients and also finding the right clients that will get the most value from what Visual Vybz Studios has to offer. I have never been focused on getting a lot of clients, instead, I would focus on clients that will get the best impact from what we have to offer. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a struggle but more of a careful qualification process.
The other challenge I think most business owners can relate to is being able to stay on top of work and life balance. I will admit, sometimes the lines get blurred, especially when things get really busy. So this is something that I’m always working to improve and stay on top of.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to think that I’m a pretty versatile creative marketer that loves to blend strategy, creativity, and storytelling to help my clients attract and retain more customers to their business. This usually involves a mixture of video production, branding, design, creative writing, photography, strategic marketing, and storytelling. I love staying on top of the latest trends in social media and email marketing to keep my clients ahead of the competition.
At the core of my content marketing business, I use strategy to drive our marketing efforts and storytelling to make our creative content engaging but profitable. It’s a two-part technique that captivates new audiences, connects them to new services, and converts them into repeat customers.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I had to find like-minded entrepreneurial women who I could talk to and bounce ideas off. This is extremely important so you don’t feel overwhelmed or alone. There are SO many business owners out there who have been through it already and it’s extremely beneficial to talk about your experience with others who understand and can provide helpful advice. I would 100% recommend finding a mentor, but keep in mind it may take some time to find the right one for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.visualvybzstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanicelinton/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisualVybzStudios/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanicelinton/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VisualVybzStudios
- Other: https://www.shanicelinton.com/
