"Make sure you have done your research first" with Lydia Sims

Lydia Sims is a single mother based in Michigan, United States. She has two kids and is the Operations Director at the Pearl Lemon Group. She has helped kickstart multiple divisions under the Pearl Lemon name and has reformed recruitment strategies, onboarded multiple clients, and is a leader within the team at Pearl Lemon. She started as an intern and quickly climbed her way to the top using her resilience despite having no prior experience with working remotely with a digital agency.

Can you tell our readers about your background? 

I am a 25-year-old, single mom based in the lower peninsula in Michigan. I have a BBA in Marketing and have been a fully remote worker for 3.5 years. My strengths reside in operations and SEO, but I also hold certifications in dog grooming, florist, and more. I am also a 4-H and FFA Alumni, along with a National Art Honor Society Alumni.

What inspired you to start your business? 

Although I did not start or found the initial core branch of the business, I have been here since the start of most of them. I have been involved in each branch’s development to some degree through the entire process. The inspiration to start branches comes from our own internal processes. We have a unique way of hiring and interviewing people, so discussed offering that as a service…we write for our internal sites so opted to have that as a stand-alone service. As we find that we have skills in different areas of business, we find services we can offer companies that may not have the capacity to do this in-house. It is being able to provide more than what any other agency can provide. 

Where is your business based?

We are a globally spread, remote team, but based in London England.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The initial step was research. Alot of time is spent at the start ensuring we know what we are going to do, how we are going to do it, and how we are going to deliver it. The next initial step is building out all necessary systems, procedures, and documents for each and every business.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business? 

Through our digital marketing efforts. Our own internal SEO work has allowed us to be at the top of search engines and directories for relevant queries. We have invested alot of energy into ensuring we have profiles, reviews and more to aid people in their research so they trust us from the start. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them? 

One of the biggest challenges has been building systems for each branch and process. Building each company from the ground up means there is a lot of ground to cover before any official launch can happen. Having a team of dedicated people for each branch has beena big help as we are able to crowd source for information and ideas as we build.

How do you stay focused?

Work blocks are my savior. I can only stay focused for so long…and this usually maxes out at about two and a half hours. For this reason I work in spread out blocks through the day. These tend to be 90-120 minutes in length and spread out 4-5 times through the day. This gives me plenty of screen/brain breaks that i can come back and regroup from.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

Our team is globally spread and has spread out working ours so our team has someone working any day of the week. Having this in place as part of our strategy allows us to keep a competitive edge.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business? 

Investing in our internal SEO, maintaining our social media accounts, and having a live chat agent on our site to pick up each and every question that comes in.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs? 

Make sure you have done your research first. Book a call with a business coach or a professional. Business can be exciting and the idea of jumping with both feet in can be thrilling. You still need to know what to expect, what to plan for, and how to handle everything that will come your way. Take your time to professionally plan.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is “Fix Health-The Outbreak”- I have to gamify everything or I won’t do it. Being a remote worker, exercise can be a struggle. So this app makes it so I have to move to make progress in the game. My favorite books are “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” and “Simple Happy Kitchen”- these two are fairly tied for professional and personal reasons. The first book has tons of tidbits I can practically pull from to be a better leader and team manager. The latter of the two simplifies plant-based eating and it is just a great tool kit for my kitchen.

Blog- does Pearl Lemon’s blogs count? If so, it sounds a little conceited but our blogs are a great resource for me. I am not the all-knowing or all-seeing eye, so I find I will often pick a guide we have in our blogs, read through it, and then dive into further research so I can know more. I am the “forever student” so enjoy learning and this is a good way for me to tie my desire to learn with my work.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Lastpass- this is by far my favorite business tool. I always have a ton going through my head and different things to retain. Having a tool to remember passwords for me is a lifesaver. I do not have the capacity to remember hundreds of passwords, so being able to not worry about that is a huge weight off my shoulders (because yes I used to just memorize them).

Who is your business role model? Why? 

Honestly, our founder has been a major business role model and influence on me. I do spend a lot of time independently learning, but with this Deepak has been a major guide in my professional journey. Although he has never directly said it, his actions and the way he holds himself (and the company) pushes me to be more daring and fearless and willing to accept higher risk in life to have a chance at a greater reward. Try a new system and see how it works…the worst it can do is fail. Try a new business venture and learn what does and doesn’t work. Life is about learning and experiences so go out there and do it.

How do you balance work and life? 

As a remote worker, I feel some days I do this well and some days has absolutely no distinction. I function daily in blocks. This means I only work at certain times, read, do housework, or whatever it may be in set times. The purposeful delegation of my time may mean I am less flexible, but this type of schedule reinforces firm cutoffs so I can dedicate my time to work, personal care, and my kids appropriately.

What’s your favorite way to decompress? 

I think this depends on my mood and the day. Sometimes a nice glass of Witbier or Gewurztraminer is the way to go as a relaxing treat. Sometimes it is an extra-long run because the last few days have felt too still. Or maybe it is hitting the weight room. Overall, it is whatever feels good at the moment.

What do you have planned for the next six months? 

In terms of business, we are building out multiple new sites and services, so it is exciting to prepare for launch and bring in those first clients, respectively, for each new brand. Within my personal life, the next six months will show an increased need to ensure I maintain work-life balance as there will be some big changes rolling out that will take a great deal of focus.

How can our readers connect with you?

https://www.facebook.com/chanterelle2321

IG: @chanterelle_523

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-sims-marketer/

Business: pearllemongroup.com | Pearl Lemon Group