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By Susan E. Campbell
Amberly Bucci is a businesswoman who wants others to know that they, too, can turn their life’s passion into profit.
“For myself, I combined my passion for travel, digital marketing and teaching, and fused them together to create a career that I love: digital marketing with a focus on the hospitality industry,” Bucci said.
Last fall she officially formed Amberly Bucci LLC, a move she said was “long overdue.” After only a few months, the feedback she is getting utilizing digital marketing expertise is “exciting.”
“Clients are getting results from the SEO services and branding strategies we put in place,” she said. “Helping small businesses grow and navigate through the mystical world of digital marketing is a win-win.”
Bucci’s interest in marketing was sparked during her high school years, when she worked in the market research field harvesting data and measuring results. Her focus changed to digital marketing about 11 years ago while she was freelancing in Florida.
“The digital marketing industry is constantly changing and there is always something new to learn, a new platform or a new tool,“ she said. “And you can track everything, every visit to your website, and analyze every lead and sale.”
For seven-plus years, Bucci was with Mannix Marketing, a well established presence among local SEO agencies and digital marketers. While her time with Walt Disney World helped her experience the behind-the-scenes workings of a major brand in the corporate world, at Mannix she worked with all different kinds of businesses and industries that informed and expanded her knowledge, she said.
“My years at Mannix helped me grow personally and professionally,“ said Bucci. “Working there exposed me to national conferences and speaking engagements and improved my training skills.”
Going out on her own posed challenges. One of Bucci’s first was the need for staff. For now, she has hired a team of subcontractors.
Her business decisions have been guided in large part by her SCORE adviser, who helped Bucci from the beginning to develop a business plan and recommend how to set up the foundation of the business. They continue to meet monthly.
She said she is also surrounded by women mentors, colleagues and clients who “uplift and inspire” her daily.
“When women come together to network and empower each other, we achieve much greater success in business and in life in general,” she said. “A quote that is above my desk reads, ‘Empowered women empower women.’”
“I want to inspire others with a dream or a goal to just go after it. If your dream is to start a business, do it. If you want run a mile, just begin,” she said. “The hardest part is just to start.”
Bucci is realizing another one of her personal goals by collaborating with Tom and Bri Lyons from Glens Falls Living and The Yellow Note in forming the first annual social media conference called Amplify. She will co-host and a be a key speaker at the conference slated for April 18 from 1-5 p.m. at The Queensbury Hotel.
“Amplify is designed to help busy marketers and small business owners discover the latest trends in social media marketing and build their own social media strategy,” Bucci said.
Sessions will include tips on Instagram marketing, Facebook advertising, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. It will feature case studies and tools to help attendees attract their ideal customers, generate awareness, and boost leads and sales.
Bucci describes herself as “a constant learner” and “naturally curious.” She frequently goes to conferences, does speaking engagements and networks to stay on top of trends.
“Being an entrepreneur is not easy but it sure is fun,” Bucci said. “I wear multiple hats and put in 70-hour weeks, but the passion behind what I’m doing and the results I’m achieving for my clients keep me going.”
For more information and to sign up for the upcoming social media conference, visit www.amplifyyoursocial.com and www.amberlybucci.com.