Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Schaffer.
Hi Rebecca, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started riding horses as a young girl. They’re beautiful and special animals and have been a staple of my life since then. Riding was always my sport/hobby growing up. I knew that I wanted to do something with them as I got older. I went to San Diego State University where I studied communications, with an emphasis in advertising and marketing. Directly out of college, I began working as a barn manager. At the facility, I was able to start a riding school. Designing the advertisements and creating the marketing strategies, I was able to develop a successful program. It was very long days though, and I began to realize the need for marketing assistance for those in the industry. Horse trainers, veterinarians, barn owners and other horse professionals work very long hours and do not have the time to work on their marketing. Not long after working as a barn manager, I began working in the veterinary field. I was able to hone in on my marketing skills when I became the Marketing Associate at a Specialty Veterinary Hospital for small animals. It was very rewarding to be working in a facility that provided advanced medical care for animals with cutting-edge technology. As the Marketing Associate I was able to develop skills and experience in website maintenance and social media management. Meanwhile, I was also independently helping equine professionals with their marketing. I decided that I wanted to fully dedicate my time working with the equine industry more, and the best way to do that would be if I owned my own business. From there, my business, EqElite, was created. I have worked with people of all professions, but I have a special passion and focus for those that have horse-related businesses. I love helping people promote themselves and their services and watching them grow.
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?
There are always challenges you face, whether they are directly related to your job or not. Starting a business is difficult and can be very discouraging. It takes a long time to build up your clientele, and there are going to be times that it seems overwhelming, or you will never acheive your goals. It’s important to keep trying and keep at it. It takes time, and sometimes growth is slow. It’s ever changing and a constant learning process, but that is also what makes it fun!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a marketing consultant, I provide assistance in marketing strategies and developing an online presence. My services include website design and re-design, graphic design, social media management, branding, and digital advertising. My specific niche is the equine and pet industry, but I have clients in all different industries. My passion is design work, specifically web design. I love taking someone’s vision, and with their personality and passions develop a site that showcases them and their product. I have been able to work with a variety of people on different projects, and I find them all rewarding. I developed and designed a website on helping people understand the word of God, and learning from the Bible. As a Christian, being involved in something that helps people learn about God has been one of my greatest personal accomplishments. I truly enjoy seeing the success of my clients. I helped a service based client show up first on search engines organically with no advertising. I helped a client grow significantly on social media, building brand ambassadors and daily engagement with their audience. I helped a client break sales records after working on their website and developing their social media. Each and every individual person and business is unique, and I am happy to help them in any way I can. I also love helping new business owners get started and set up their online presence. It’s rewarding to start their journey with them and watch them grow. Attention to detail is a crucial aspect to me. It’s really important to me that the end result is perfect and exactly what my client wanted or envisioned.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
When I got my first horse! I was 13yrs old, and he was 12. I had been riding lesson horses up until this time. He was a darling little Egyptian Arabian named Bridens Zuni. He was very stubborn and taught me a lot about patience and communication. I had so much fun with him and he was with me through my teenage and early college years. Everything I went through in life that horse was always there for me. I owned him until he passed at the age of 25. Because of him, it reinforced how meaningful horses are to me and why I continue to work with them to this day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eqelitemarketing.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/eqelite
- Facebook: facebook.com/eqelite
