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In this episode of the Agency Rocket Show, hosts Liz Hunt and Chelsea Poppens interview Morgan Chicchelly, the founder of Des Moines Girl, a digital media platform in Des Moines, Iowa. They discuss the platform's growth to 18,000 followers, its branding strategy, and Morgan's journey in developing a business from a side hustle. Morgan shares insights on monetization, the importance of a strong brand, and the challenges of scaling up. The team also touches on the community aspect of the business, dealing with competition, and handling online trolls. Morgan emphasizes the importance of owning her website, the potential for expansion, and the significance of trust and delegation in business growth. The episode concludes with appreciation for Morgan's advice and an invitation for listeners to connect with Des Moines Girl.
"I was like, I'm sure there are cool things happening in Des Moines. Let's just figure it out."
"I've struggled with that where I called it a hobby for the first year, I called it a fake job basically the whole second year, and now I'm starting to actually give it the credit which is, it's 100% its own business."
Introduction (00:00:00)
Liz and Chelsea introduce the podcast and welcome Morgan Chicchelly from Des Moines Girl.
Growth of Des Moines Girl (00:00:40)
Discussion about the growth and purpose of Des Moines Girl, a digital media platform for communities and businesses.
Morgan's Background (00:01:33)
Morgan discusses her professional background and the motivation behind starting Des Moines Girl.
Branding and Launch (00:03:49)
The process of branding, the launch, and the initial challenges faced by Des Moines Girl.
Monetization and Lessons Learned (00:10:41)
The challenges and lessons learned in monetizing Des Moines Girl, including navigating different client types and recurring revenue.
Pricing package options (00:12:13)
Discussion on pricing packages based on organization size for branding services.
Building a team (00:13:44)
Morgan discusses building a team, including interns and freelance writers, to fulfill content needs.
Engaging with the community (00:15:24)
The team's involvement in community events, such as the Des Moines Girl 5K, and building community engagement.
Pitch a friend event (00:19:20)
Description of the "Pitch a Friend" event inspired by Schitt's Creek, a singles event where friends pitch each other to potential dates.
Challenges and navigation (00:23:18)
Morgan talks about the challenges encountered in building the business and navigating through them.
Website Maintenance and Social Media Algorithms (00:23:34)
Morgan discusses the importance of maintaining her website and her approach to social media algorithms.
Competition and Collaboration (00:24:31)
Morgan talks about potential competition and collaboration in her field, emphasizing the importance of community building.
Dealing with Trolls and Negative Feedback (00:25:49)
Morgan shares her experiences with trolls and negative feedback on social media and her approach to handling them.
Future Goals and Expansion (00:28:10)
Morgan discusses her future goals for Des Moines Girl, including potential expansion and reaching a larger follower base.
Pitching Social Media Marketing to Small Businesses (00:29:58)
Morgan explains her approach to pitching social media marketing tactics to small businesses and the educational aspect of her services.
Amplification and Brand Recognition (00:31:35)
Morgan describes her role as an amplification tool for small businesses and the importance of brand recognition.
Building a Platform and Advice for Creators (00:32:29)
Morgan gives advice on building a platform, emphasizing consistency, enjoyment, and using tools effectively.
Trust and Growth (00:35:40)
Discussion on trust issues, failure, and growth in business, learning to delegate and overcome perfectionism.
Valuable Insights (00:36:21)
Acknowledgment of valuable insights shared, appreciation for the advice given, and encouragement for feedback and engagement.
Closing Remarks (00:36:50)
Thanking the guest, expressing gratitude, and wrapping up the episode with appreciation for the guest's participation.
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Morgan Chicchelly is a Des Moines native and the founder of Des Moines Girl (DSMG) - a popular digital media platform that serves the Des Moines community as a cross-channel city guide. DSMG amplifies the fun things to do around town with a focus on the small business community. Before creating DSMG in 2021, she worked for a decade in public relations, web development, and digital marketing in Miami, Washington DC, and New York City. Her career began in D.C. working for a local grassroots public relations firm, which taught the importance of local media and word-of-mouth strategies. She went on to work for in-house companies, big agencies, and government for a variety of public and private clients. Morgan has been freelancing for clients since 2018 as her full-time career departed from marketing and she’s a side-hustle queen alongside the rest of her DSMG team. DSMG was born out of a need to find herself again in the DSM community after moving back during the pandemic.
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