AMA: Estelle Keeber, founder of Immortal Monkey

Hi Estelle! Tell us a bit about your company.

Immortal Monkey helps business owners understand how to use Instagram to raise visibility and brand message.

We work with new small businesses who are wanting to know the basics of using Instagram right through to large corporate clients who we work alongside to provide a tailored strategy and team coaching to allow them to successfully manage their own accounts with our support.

How did the idea for Immortal Monkey come about?

After working in social media for more than six years I have seen huge changes, good and bad. One of the most incredible things that hasn't changed is that social media is free.

Anyone can set up an Instagram account or a Facebook page. It's the biggest free marketing tool a business owner has at their fingertips, literally.

I wanted to show other business owners how they can make an impact in the least amount of time and of course with the least amount of stress. Who has time to spend three hours a day on social media, right?

Are you and your team still working remotely? Do you plan to keep that going?

Yes, we have always worked remotely with in-person team meetings when needed. The restrictions we faced led us to use Zoom and other meeting platforms more. Again each has its pros and cons.

It's always great to be able to chill in your loungewear in an informal team chat, however, it's always really nice to be able to meet up, spend time face to face and bash out ideas in person.

How do you keep your team aligned?

We talk daily. I strongly believe in trusting your team. I do not need to be standing over them making sure they are doing what's needed. They are amazing and our daily chats are more conversational and motivational.

We can chat about any problems that are needing immediate attention or drop tasks for each other into our team chat if they are not so urgent.

Their thoughts and ideas are always welcomed and valued, and I feel this then creates a sense of 'we're all in this together', with a solid understanding of the brand message.

What is the biggest mistake you've made as an entrepreneur?

Allowing my business to grow faster than I could manage. Now dont get me wrong, the growth was incredible and something I'm very proud of, however when I first stepped into the world of entrepreneurship I had no idea what I was doing.

I had no plan, just tonnes and tonnes of passion, which served me well. However, my lack of business acumen allowed people to take advantage of me and my company.

Go with your passion and run with it but never be afraid to ask for help. And never just ask one person either. If you have a problem, ask a few experts for their thoughts to make an educated decision. Don't allow your passion to blur the vision of your business.

Solid advice. Do you have a share or option scheme in place for your team?

We don't currently offer a share scheme however this is something that we have been discussing and could potentially come to fruition in the near future!

Did you ever experience a business disappointment that led to something better?

Yes, I think many business owners would say yes to this too. Many times, the reasons we entrepreneurs 'succeed' is because we don't give up, we keep going and know that we are on a path that is right for us.

Entrepreneurs usually tend to be very optimistic and positive people. For me, any situation that has not ended the way I had planned is just a sign to me that this wasn't the actual path for me. I take lessons and show gratitude for all of the incredible experiences I gained and move on.

In a parallel universe, if you hadn’t started this company, what would you be doing?

Wow, this is a great question. I'm a bit of a hippy at heart so if I wasn't engulfed in social media I would probably be in a field or a beach in Ibiza meditating and reading!

If you could only eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Oh, another tough one! I think I'm going to have to go with steak (medium), skin-on chips, onions rings, peas and a big plate of salad, just to be balanced, right?

And finally, Estelle, what does company culture mean to you?

For me, company culture is ensuring our team is working at their best by feeling their best. I like to think we have a great company culture here at IM. We're flexible and encourage forward-thinking within the team.

As a leader, I would like to think my team see me as approachable, transparent and supportive and this, in turn, enables them to feel comfortable in the team and work at their best.

Fantastic. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us, Estelle.