Melissa, founder of Busy Butterfly Media, talks about her inspiration for starting her own business, her favorite places in the Boston area, and her favorite spot to catch a sunset. She also shares words of wisdom for aspiring social media marketing professionals.

Lauren — Travel and Write Today: What was the inspiration behind Busy Butterfly Media? 

Melissa: Busy Butterfly Media has been many years in the making, but it took some encouragement from a friend who connected me with a small business owner looking for help. 

I have always loved supporting small businesses and non-profits. Through volunteering to help a nonprofit with their social media, and starting to help my first small business client, I realized I could support them in a new way. Many small businesses and non-profits don’t have the time, or resources, to focus on social media, they are busy working on their business. I love using social media and SEO to help my clients grow their impact and reach new audiences. 

TWT: I know you grew up near Boston, Massachusetts. What are some of your favorite spots in the area? 

M: I grew up hiking Blue Hills. It’s one of my favorite spots to visit close to my hometown. I love going back with my kids to hike the trails and visit the Trailside Museum. Since moving to Metrowest, I’ve loved finding hiking spots nearby to go with our kids, the Scout Reservation in Framingham has been a favorite. 

One of my favorite places to go back to is Ron’s Bowling Alley and Ice Cream in Hyde Park. The ice cream is incredible (Kahlua Chip has been a long time favorite of mine, and Coffee Madness is a family favorite). and it’s like going back in time visiting the candlepin bowling alley. 

A lot of the places I loved growing up have closed. It’s a part of the reason I feel so passionately about supporting small businesses. 

TWT: I need to get to Ron’s – sounds like the perfect spot to spend an afternoon/evening. I feel the same way about supporting local businesses, and I think that’s one of the reasons we initially connected!

TWT: What are some of your favorite spots in New England? What are some cities/towns you’d still like to visit? 

M: Growing up in Boston, I’ve always loved how you can take day trips to the ocean, the mountains, the city and more. 

I met my husband in Newport, and we love going back to visit, especially the Cliff Walk, Ocean Drive, 2^nd beach, and all the great restaurants like 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Diegos, The Mooring, and Sardellas.

The White Mountains are nostalgic, and I love visiting in the fall. Most of my friends’ families growing up went to the Cape, and I loved tagging along on their vacations, but my family spent our family trips near the White Mountains in North Conway or Maine, playing along the Kancamagus and Sacco rivers. 

Acadia National Park is next on my wish list of places to visit in New England. I’ve had some friends and family visit recently, and they’ve said it’s beautiful!  

TWT: I absolutely love Newport – those are some of the best restaurants in the area! Acadia is also on my list – it looks incredible.

TWT: What is your favorite book?

M: Joyful: the Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, by Ingrid Fetell Lee – I love the way the book makes you visualize what you are reading about, and it’s such a fun and vibrant book, that makes you think about what you surround yourself with… The book touches on creativity, design, mental health, research and great writing. It’s a great read! 

TWT: Adding it to my list!

TWT: What is your go-to coffee/tea order, and from where?

M: Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks. It’s not on their menu anymore, but they still make it and it’s delicious. I don’t drink coffee, and don’t really order tea, so it’s my splurge drink of choice. 

TWT: Where is your favorite place to watch the sunrise/sunset?

M: Nantucket. We spend a lot of time with family there. I love late nights on the beach, with our family, by the bonfire watching the sun go down. 

TWT: I’ve been to Martha’s Vineyard, but I still need to get to Nantucket! I am not the biggest fan of taking the ferry (or any boat), but it sounds like it might be worth it.

TWT: Can you share one of your favorite moments since starting @busybutterflymedia?

M: I love connecting with other people. I spent over a decade working in Human Resources. The moments I’ve enjoyed most since starting @busybutterflymedia have been moments of connection. I recently collaborated with my friend Sara, at Sara Sniderman Photography, for a brand photo shoot. During the shoot, we stopped by our friend Paula’s store, Paper Fiesta, and were able to connect with her, while having a moment to celebrate the 5^th anniversary for her store. Little moments like that are special. 

From a business standpoint though, I love client wins, or when I get a message from someone saying that what I did made a difference to their business. I love connecting people to each other, and to resources that will help them better optimize their business. My approach to social media is to help small businesses, and nonprofits, increase their visibility to local audiences. I love when someone says they received their first lead from social media after making some recommended tweaks. Just by making a small change, or two, it can make their account more searchable, and they are opening their business up to new opportunities and clients. 

TWT: What is one of your favorite things about social media? What is one thing you’d like to change?

M: I love the relationships I’ve built, particularly with other women. Social media can connect you to other people with similar interests you may not have connected with otherwise. 

If I could change anything, it would be setting up more protections for younger users, particularly girls, as there have been more studies on the impacts on mental health. 

TWT: What advice would you give to aspiring social media marketers? 

M: Do not focus solely on the online aspect. Social media is about being social. Get out and network. Build genuine connections, and find ways to help others. If you can’t land your first client, see if there are opportunities to volunteer or intern. There are so many nonprofits, and small businesses, that may not have the budget to hire someone, but would love some assistance as a resume builder. Be realistic with your time, and what you are able to give. 

TWT: This is such great advice! It is so much easier to just focus on social media, especially when it can be tough to network, but it is so important to connect with others, and to build relationships.

Photo Credit: Sara Sniderman Photography @sarasnidermanphotography

Follow Melissa and Busy Butterfly Media via the links below:

Instagram: @busybutterflymedia and @cozysquarefootage