Nola Mutogo founder at a social media marketing business

What’s your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?

My name is Nola and I’m the founder of Havilah Creative. We support business owners and Entrepreneurs with social media and digital marketing.

My journey started a few years ago while I was still living in Zimbabwe but the moment that catapulted me into building the business happened in 2019. I found my self cradling my legs on the side of the street crying. I had just been let go from my job and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was in the midst of planning my wedding and this was not something I had expected. I couldn’t control that but I knew that I needed to make money. Needless to say, I didn’t have capital. So , I needed to find another way to generate income without having to spend money on invetory etc.

I had been freelancing. Doing odd jobs here and there but it had never dawned to me that this could be a viable solution. Growing up, creativity wasn’t really seen as a valuable resource so like many others before me I had opted for a career in health. But I soon realised that there was an opportunity to build a business around my passions and skills. I watched as a lot of virtual assistants and social media managers started to populate my Facebook newsfeed. This inspired me to explore the world of digital media.

Now, I have been running Havilah Creative with a small team. I have worked with several brands to help them build their brand story on social media. I also teach aspiring business owners and small businesses how they can build and scale their businesses online.

Describe the process of launching the business.

Launching the business was pretty accidental. It started with doing a few freelancing gigs on job sites and it evolved from there.

Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?

Social media is my main traffic source. Most of the clients I work with found me through social media organically. I have recently started focusing on using short form video to get leads on TikTok/Reels.

How are you doing today and what does the future look like?

The business has grown over the years. I have learnt a lot and our team has grown from one to a team of 4.

Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?

Yes, one of the biggest lessons I learnt is that mindset is everything. It doesn’t matter what type of business you’re trying to build, you have to believe in your vision and in yourself first. When you do that, you’ll start showing up differently and this will reflect in the work you do.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, TikTok & LinkedIn

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?

I am my brand-Kubi Springer, Dot-com secrets-Russel Brunson, Infuence-Robert Caldini

Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?

Just start. Find a mentor who has achieved what you want to and learn from them. Don’t wait for the perfect time, start where you are with what you have and build from there.

Where can we go to learn more?

www.havilahcreativec.com