We had the good fortune of connecting with Betty Galvan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Betty, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My husband and I had our first baby in Tokyo, and I took a break from teaching. While exploring Japan and later Singapore, I documented our lives and shared them with our loved ones back home through my blog and social media. That was 2006-2009 and the height of influencer content.

What should our readers know about your business?
When we arrived back in New York in 2009-2010, I worked for an influencer marketing agency based in Los Angeles. I continued creating content for my blog, but with Latina Bloggers Connect, we connected Latina creators with PR agencies and household and personal care brands. The influencer marketing space has grown, and it has been exhilarating to be a part of it since its inception.

As our family expanded, we moved to New Jersey in 2011. Once again, in a new place, I relied heavily on social media to keep in touch with my family and friends back in Chicago. I was an early adopter of all the platforms (Instagram, Vine, Periscope, Twitter, etc.), and these apps helped me push my blog content out.
Local business owners noticed (through networking as I was trying to meet people), and they began to ask if I could help them with their social media presence.

I officially launched My Friend Betty Says Digital Marketing Studio in 2017 to help small businesses level the playing field as social media became integral to their marketing plans. As we approach our 7th year in business, looking back, the most challenging but fascinating part of being a business owner in digital marketing has been that nothing stays the same. The social media platforms businesses rely on to help promote their products or services change frequently! Lucky for us, we are on these platforms every day and adjust for our clients quickly.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to thank all the female-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs in central New Jersey who believed in me, hired our team, and continue to refer us. I also want to give a huge shoutout to my husband, Jose, who is my biggest cheerleader and partner in life. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without his love and encouragement.

Website: https://www.myfriendbettysays.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfbsdigitalmarketing/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betty-galv%C3%A1n/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyFriendBettySays/

Image Credits
Rebecca Ryan (first picture of me in pink blouse) Charissa H. Yong (all other pictures)

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