Intro: [00:00:04] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia, it’s time for GWBC Radio’s Open for Business. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:18] Lee Kantor here. Another episode of GWBC Open for Business. And this is going to be a good one. Today, we have with us Felicia McCoy, and she is with BG Promotions. Welcome.

Felicia McCoy: [00:00:29] Thank you so much. I’m glad to be here.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:32] Well, I’m excited to learn what you’re up to. How are you serving folks over there at BG Promotions?

Felicia McCoy: [00:00:38] Well, I am helping small businesses either start and maintain their digital brand platform, which I’ve been doing this over ten years.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:50] So, how did you get into this line of work?

Felicia McCoy: [00:00:53] I started two years ago, really, in the street promotions and marketing with artists and small businesses at the time. And what actually drove me more to the digital aspect is when social media came into play, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, when it came into play for the business platform. So, I took advantage of it and started learning how to utilize it to help small businesses get exposed. And so, we expose, we promote, and then we outsource what is that they provide to others. That’s basically how.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:29] So, now, you mentioned at the beginning, I guess some of your clients were artists and creative folks. Is that still the case nowadays?

Felicia McCoy: [00:01:38] Yes. I still have a few artists that I work with, but primarily my focus have been with small businesses that are launching their brands. And so, they are needing help with the digital aspect as creating their social media platform and as well building their websites. So, I also create those platforms, and then I will put the content creation together, and then I expose it, and which I would say I have over 70 thousand people that follow.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:12] Wow. So, you really practice what you preach. You’ve been able to build a pretty big following for yourself, and that kind of validates what you can do for others, huh?

Felicia McCoy: [00:02:22] Yes, it does. Matter of fact, I am considered on Instagram platform as a micro-influencer. That is that I influence over 3,000 people that follow and resonate with me. So, I make sure that I am consistent and I stay on top of great content.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:45] So, now, what are some kind of advice for those businesses or maybe new businesses where they just have an idea. They don’t know for sure if they have what it takes to do this or not, but any tips for them to kind of test the waters to see if what they have may work?

Felicia McCoy: [00:03:03] Yes. Well, one of the tips I would say is to just go for it. Don’t dwell on what you can’t do because you won’t know what you can do until you start doing and putting it to action. It wasn’t until I stopped letting fear get in the way of me doing what it is that I’m passionate about. So, I tell people, “Whatever you are passionate about, go for it. There is so much information out here. All you have to do is research. Google is our friend. YouTube is our friend. I am your friend. You can count on me.”

Lee Kantor: [00:03:43] So, now let’s take maybe one of your more recent clients. How did they come to you? Did they just find you on the Internet? They were on Instagram or something. They found you and then they connected with you.

Felicia McCoy: [00:03:57] So, I will say, I have several. But one particular one, I just actually released her – or she released her website today, [Keres?] Medical Staffing. She is one of my most recent clients. And I was referred to her by a company named Signature Brands Incorporated. The owner of that company is Calvin McCoy Jr. and he also owns another company, which is one of my clients, is Signature Contingent Management. And what she did was, she stopped in for some guidance and some suggestions for her business platform. And then, he sent her to me and I actually was able to lay her website foundation. And so, she is very excited and she’s very pleased, and so am I that I was able to achieve a goal for her.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:54] So, is this something that takes a long time once you start working with folks? Are you able to get this up and running pretty quickly?

Felicia McCoy: [00:05:01] So, as far as how long it takes, it could take me from three to seven days just to lay down a website. However, the time is really on my client. So, I may be able to lay the platform down within three to seven days, but it is on their time. So, sometimes it could take me longer because I work at their pace. But if it’s all together and ready to go, I can turn it around within three to seven days, so I try to give a prompt. And I’m also going to educate and give them knowledge on things that they are not clear about, such as not knowing how to use the platform once it’s up. So, I also provide teaching.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:45] Now, do you also help them kind of go to market in terms of let people know they exist and promote their stuff and teach them how to, maybe, leverage social media to help them get more clients or get the word out about what they’re doing?

Felicia McCoy: [00:06:00] So, yes. I am all things media. So, basically, I provide all avenues if they want to learn it themselves. I offer different classes to teach them, matter of fact, one-on-one. Right now, because of COVID, I have a stream platform I use to educate and to train them on how to use it so that they can use it to their best abilities. And, also, if they don’t want to, which is my target market, a lot of my clients don’t have the time. So, they hired me to do the work for them. And so, that is how I help them leverage time as well as I have resources I use as well to help me leverage the time and to get them exposure. Because once we release it, I put it out there as well. I share it with my following as well as I encourage them to share it with their followers.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:59] So, for you, what’s the most rewarding part of the job?

Felicia McCoy: [00:07:03] It’s satisfaction guaranteed. The best part is putting a smile on their faces and then being pleased with the work. And then, they feel like they can go the extra mile.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:16] It’s like it’s because you’re almost like a partner with them, right? You’re doing the work as if you were part of their company.

Felicia McCoy: [00:07:23] That is correct. I believe in relationship. When you don’t know the person who you’re dealing with, you really don’t know what to expect. But when you build on relationship, it goes a long way. It takes a village to build an empire. So, I work on having a relationship with my clients.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:46] So, now, you mentioned some of these folks are people that are brand new that don’t have any kind of presence. But do you also work with some companies that, maybe, are frustrated with the results they’re getting and that maybe need some help in getting to the next level?

Felicia McCoy: [00:08:01] I do. I actually do have – well, Signature Contingent Management, I helped them. They’re already established, but what I do is create content on a regular basis and I maintain it on their social media platforms. So, basically, I’ll create the content and then I’ll create Facebook ads, put the ads out there, run the ads for them on a weekly basis, and just help them take some pressure off of what they don’t understand. And so, I benefit them as well.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:32] Now, you mentioned the content part of this. Is the content kind of blog posts and text? Or is it like videos and photographs or it could be all of those things?

Felicia McCoy: [00:08:43] Yes. Content is creativity. So, it can be a photo, an image, or it can be something that you just write up, or it could be video. I learned that with social media, Facebook is really photos and videos. Instagram has photos and videos. So, people migrate to more looking at things move more than writing it down. But if you write it down, then it’s like a one hitter quitter. So, content is on all platforms. You can use it in so many ways. But most of mine is used through video and images.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:24] And then, the video, is it something that you shoot once and it just appears on their website? Or do you do some streaming work as well where it’s kind of live?

Felicia McCoy: [00:09:33] So, yes. I put the platform on all different areas, whether it’s on YouTube, whether it’s on Instagram, it’s on Twitter, it’s on Facebook. Also, I offer a platform where I use a stream and we have – what do you call it now? It used to be a podcast for audio. Well, podcast is now considered video. So, they have companies that offer you to do podcasts and video. Well, on my platform I also offer commercials. So, I’ll run my client’s commercials in between minutes in that podcast show. So, I offer different platforms to expose my clients. And I create the content as well. I’ll create the video, the commercial. It’s probably within 30 seconds, 30 to 60 seconds, depending on what it is that they’re offering. And then, we put it on the stream and just keep playing it over. And then, after that, we’ll run a Facebook app and it will play on Facebook. As long as you know how to convert and everything, you will see those ads in the feed.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:47] So, now, you’re a member of GWBC, why was it important for you to kind of be part of that group?

Felicia McCoy: [00:10:56] To be a part of GWBC – I received my WBENC certification latter part of 2020. And it was so important for me to be a part of them because for one, it shows the seriousness of my business. Their platform is like no other. They offer amazing information. I’ve learned so much from the GWBC. I have never known the connections that I’ve already made are on a personal level. It’s incredible. I have a person I can go to when I have questions depending on whatever it is. And then, they just offer help and assistance.

Felicia McCoy: [00:11:36] And, also, the radio show. When you guys talk about – I read you had some facts and questions that we may have. And why fear? Don’t be scared. Yeah, I did have that at first. You know, it’s not even like you’re looking at me at the video. But this is my first experience doing a live radio interview and then on the GWBC platform. That is amazing. So, I am so floored to be here and I’m gracious to be a part of the GWBC now. I’m going to continue to be a part and also encourage others that they should be a part as well.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:19] Well, thank you for doing that. That means a lot. Thank you.

Felicia McCoy: [00:12:23] Thank you so much.

Lee Kantor: [00:12:24] So, now, what does the future look like for you? You know, we’ve all been going through the pandemic and COVID and all that stuff, and that’s been challenging just by itself. But it looks like maybe there’s a light at the end of the tunnel here, maybe at some point during this year. How does BG Promotions look ahead?

Felicia McCoy: [00:12:41] Well, I must say, the same. It’s been shocking. I went full time in March of last year during the pandemic. And so, actually, I’ve hit a hard rocket, but I’m still maintaining by the grace of God. And so, what my future is looking like is becoming more of a teacher so that I’m able to really teach the people how to do it themselves. Because a lot of people I’m meeting, once I lay their platform down, they really want to know how to do it themselves and maintain it. And I really want to show them and teach them how to do it. So, that is what my future right now is looking ahead, is just to become more of a teacher rather than hands on and doing it.

Felicia McCoy: [00:13:30] And then, outsourcing. Outsourcing is the other thing. I can’t forget, somebody needs somebody. You never know what this person is offering can help somebody else’s business. So, that is the portion of the outsourcing that I’m also will be pushing. As well as one more thing, Our Kids Are Our Future is a nonprofit that I’m building that I am working on. It’s to help our kids. They are our future. But that’s basically it.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:00] Well, that’s quite a bit. Congratulations on all the success.

Felicia McCoy: [00:14:03] Thank you so much. I appreciate this.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:06] Well, if somebody wants to learn more and have a conversation with you or somebody on your team, what’s the website?

Felicia McCoy: [00:14:13] My website is bgpromotionsinc.com. And you can also follow me on all social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, as well as Tumblr. You can find me at BG Promotions Inc., just run it all together. And if you would like to send me an email, you can send me an email at contactme@bgpromotionsinc.com.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:45] Well, once again, congratulations on your success. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Felicia McCoy: [00:14:51] I appreciate you, Lee, for this awesome interview and the opportunity.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:56] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on GWBC Open for Business.