Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Curtis
Hailey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I launched DesignBee Agency in December 2020 after being laid off from my full-time corporate job. I was really put off by corporate culture and wanted to be my own boss. I’ve always wanted to start my own business, and this felt like the time to leap. We started focused primarily on graphic design and gradually expanded into social media management, newsletters, website management, and influencer marketing.
Over the past four years, we’ve grown steadily from just me to a team of five contractors plus myself, serving eight clients. We’ve evolved into a full-service social media agency that handles every aspect of the process. We create comprehensive strategies, develop content shot lists, conduct professional shoots, handle post-production editing, and manage scheduling and community engagement in real time.
While we still offer our original services like graphic design, website management, influencer marketing, and newsletter marketing, our core identity now is as a full-service social media agency that takes brands from strategy through execution and ongoing management.
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?
Entrepreneurship is definitely not a smooth road. I’ve encountered challenges in virtually every aspect of building DesignBee Agency.
Managing a team with different personalities while ensuring we deliver the expert-level quality our clients deserve and pay for has been an ongoing challenge. Training has also taken significant time and resources, which was something I hadn’t fully anticipated when starting out.
But perhaps the greatest struggle has been establishing and maintaining boundaries. Finding a healthy work-life balance not just for myself, but for my contractors as well has been critical. We’ve had to be upfront with clients about these boundaries from the beginning.
In the nature of social media management, everything is time-sensitive and requires prompt approvals. When those approvals are delayed, it creates a domino effect on our ability to deliver. So we’ve had to implement clear boundaries around deadlines, approval processes, and communication channels to ensure we have everything needed to do our job effectively. This was difficult at first, but ultimately created a healthier working relationship with our clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
DesignBee Agency is a full-service social media agency offering both comprehensive management and strategic consulting.
Our social media management service is ideal for medium-sized companies looking to completely outsource their social media from strategy to execution. We handle everything: developing the strategy, creating content, managing post-production, scheduling, and engaging with your community.
Our consulting service is tailored for small businesses who want to maintain involvement with their social media but need strategic guidance. This is perfect for those who’ve been trying to manage social media themselves but feel frustrated or burnt out because they lack a clear strategy or roadmap.
What truly sets DesignBee apart is our ability to authentically translate your brand into the social space. We focus on capturing the in-person experience of your brand and bringing it to social media, building trust and credibility upfront before any purchase decision.
In today’s digital landscape, social media functions much like a website—it’s where potential customers go to verify your legitimacy, see your work, check before-and-after results, or view your products. It serves as proof of credibility and concept, significantly influencing purchasing decisions. Our expertise lies in optimizing this crucial touchpoint to genuinely reflect your brand’s unique value and personality.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice for finding mentors and networking is to prioritize what feels authentic to you. For example, cold emailing doesn’t align with my style, so I don’t force myself to use that approach. Instead, I thrive at in-person networking events and through being an active member of communities that resonate with my values, like The LOLA, a women’s co-working space and community in Atlanta.
I’ve found success by seeking opportunities that align with who I am as a person and business owner. When you’re in environments that feel right, you naturally show up as your authentic self and have the confidence to engage meaningfully and start conversations.
My recommendation is to identify the networking style and communities that feel genuinely good to you, then immerse yourself fully. I’ve discovered that the more you invest in your network, the more you receive in return. I’m constantly looking to expand my connections and explore different pockets of the Atlanta community that might offer new perspectives and opportunities.
The quality of your network matters more than the quantity—focus on building genuine relationships rather than collecting business cards.
Pricing:
- Management starting at $3,200
- Consulting starting at $1,200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designbeeagency.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbee.agency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designbeeagency/?paipv=0&eav=AfaUKWmJByPWC-edIdTc6mrz0dQq5Q_HV2B8U8lPAYlAvTa-nifHgbCrT2PHPu2jNW8&_rdr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/designbee-agency/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDhKzi7K6vc6ZSz_fCoTAig
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@designbee.agency
Image Credits
Chloe Ravina Photography
