Tracy Margetts

i Heart Digital

I am a Social Media, Digital Marketing & Public Relations specialist with an incredible flair for finding a unique balance between science and creativity. I have a quirky sense of humour, and I love the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks. ! With my education-equivalent in a Bachelor in Public Relations, Media & Communication Science I bring individualism to my work not often found. I am an autodidact, gaining artistic skill in graphic design, photography, web design, and video ad design during the course of my 13-year career in digital PR, digital media marketing, lead generation and Search Engine Optimisation.

Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Email

What's your favourite B2B sales/marketing book/article? What was a major takeaway you adopted from it?

I cannot choose just 1 article, I will have to choose, rather, my favourite B2B information-sharing company, HubSpot. This company has been my major influencer since the start of my career. I cannot specify just 1 article that’s been published, that helped to shape my strategy for my own business and for my client’s businesses, as there are just too many good articles from which to choose! Thanks to their tried and tested research over the years, I have always managed to stay ahead of the game and provide my client’s with the best possible services, and ethical advice on all-things-digital.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months?

Well, I jumped on the bandwagon a little later on, but my boyfriend purchased a Google Dot (Home Mini) for me for Christmas! As I work from home almost all of the time, he said I could use ‘the company’ while I work (in case I get lonely). Naturally, my first request upon chatting with the device was “OK Google, what happens if I ask you to self-destruct?” to which she replied “Self-destruct mode has been initiated, device will self-destruct in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, (I WAITED IN ANTICIPATION) 2, 1 – just kidding, we hope you enjoyed our joke!”. I did enjoy it and it did bring some fun into my life! The Google Dot was purchased off of a Facebook business page named ‘One Deal a Day’.

How would you handle an inbound call from an upset customer or target contact?

Firstly, remain calm! Secondly, while being empathetic toward the customer, identify the root cause of the fire and provide the necessary response to create a safe space of discussion.

What's an interesting example of a lead generation approach you've admired or seen?

I received a personalized video from one of HubSpot’s Irish employees, requesting a meeting with me regarding lead generation, inbound sales and CMS onboarding.

In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

Meditation! Taking time out away from a screen, just being outdoors, socialising with people, digging my toes in the earth; feeling sand and grass between my toes, and just being still in nature!

What's the worst cold email you've received?

I have received many! Perhaps this is not about a sales e-mail, but, the best and most well-known cold e-mails have to be the Nigerians who are terribly desperate in giving you their Millions but just need a little bit extra (plus your bank details) to give you your newfound financial freedom!

How about the best cold email?

Well, the best cold e-mail I have received has to be from a company that connects buyers and sellers of my services, they offered me a 1-month free trial of using their website so long as I signed up to their monthly package (to use their website as a leads portal).

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favourite failure” of yours?

Yes, I do! My favourite failure has to be the fact that I was never able to fit in at a company where I had been employed, I was always too wild, too loud, too funny, too ‘out there’ to conform to the norm! My ideas were mostly rejected for being too eccentric, instead of these companies seeing talent, individualism, and essential a USP for their brand, I was rejected – forced to go out on my own and make my own way in life and my career. Which I did, of course, and because of this failure to fit in I have forged my own unique style, and brand – that worked quite well for me (and my clients) in the end.

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?

The most worthwhile investment I have ever made was an investment in myself and my personal growth! Taking time to understand who I am, why I am and then applying this knowledge to my life and my career. The happier I am, the happier my work life will be. The more I learn about who I am, the more I am able to establish a real connection with people and therefore my clients. Second to this, investing your time and energy in studying further, learning new skills that boost your abilities to achieve, to know and understand, to outwit and outplay your competitors.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?

My advice would be to never stop learning, never stop thinking for yourself, and learn how to develop and apply your ability to trust your intuition. Observe what others say, nurture the ability to step back and analyse yourself, your situation, with knowledge offered by your peers, but never just do what they tell you to do. Ever! It’s OK to make mistakes, we all do, this is how humans learn the fastest, just make sure you apply your lessons learned in life. BE WEIRD! Stand out! Fear only fear itself!

What is the most significant thing that someone much younger than yourself has taught you?

Self-care is the most important skill you should learn and should be applied at all times to avoid unnecessary harm. Set healthy boundaries, not to be changed at any time, for anyone, no matter how much you may love a person. Love yourself, forever.

What's your number one tip for a new sales guy getting started at a company?

Learn NLP! Practice NLP! Apply empathy in all that you do. Listen. And know your product better than anyone else (as well as your competitors’ products). Strategize!

Whose the best outbound guy/girl you've ever come across? What was special about them.

I have a friend, Ansa Teixeira, she is one of the best outbound specialists I know. Watching her in action was like watching art imitating life. She never took no for an answer, and she came prepared with every possible response needed to remove a client’s fears, and only ever offer them the truth and the solution that they needed.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Well, since I was 4 years old I had been studying different dance forms, and a little later on I branched out into music and singing, too. Of course, my love for creative writing was thrown into the mix, along with songwriting and performance art. I was on my way to becoming a dance teacher, I had decided to specialise in Arabic and Egyptian Belly Dance from the age of 19. Unfortunately, due to a shoulder injury, I was unable to continue dancing professionally, so, if I had the option of choosing Dance as my profession I absolutely would!

Tell us about someone you admire and why you admire them?

My first admiration is my late Gran, who sadly left us in 2018. Being a published children’s author, she taught me how to love writing and poetry. My Grandmother showed me how to enjoy travel, nature, people, cultures and experiencing all that I can about my country (and when I’ve seen all of South Africa, to do the same thing except apply it to the rest of the world). My second, since the US elections, is Kamala Harris who is representing Women all around the world, in the senate!

What is a 'hack' you have for success that most people don't know about?

Get enough sleep! And upskill as much as you can!

What is the most surprising thing you've seen in your industry?

The most positive surprising thing I have witnessed in my industry, is the ever-growing intolerance, ‘en masse’, of people who do not tolerate differences in race, sexuality and GBV! I am proud to witness this wonderful global voice standing up for the human race!

How has Covid-19 changed your company?

During the span of my career, I had grown a love for the Hospitality industry, where most of my clients were based. During the start of Covid-19, naturally, this industry took a huge knock. Sadly, one of the strongest industries the world over, employing many across the globe! I, too, was unfortunately struck by Covid-19 as my clients were forced to cancel services since their businesses were no longer in operation, indefinitely. This situation did not deter me, I took the time to rebrand, redo my website, and restrategise! It taught me that I have the ability to repurpose my skills, and that is exactly what I have done and I am happily enjoying the fruits of my labour.

What's your favourite colour?

Hmm… Ventablack!

What's your favourite holiday destination?

My favourite Holiday destination you ask? Well, this has to be the most recent holiday I had in ‘Clarens, Free State, South Africa’. An incredible find, a small town filled with the most incredible flavours of locally sourced meats, vegetables, fruits and of course, desserts! Fine art is a big attraction here, it seems to me that the wealthy holiday guests tend to spend most of their time here, from both local and international lands, buying fine art pieces, eating confectionary and drinking expensive bottles of wine – while enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the surrounding mountains of Clarens.

What popular celebrity do you admire the most and why?

Robert Downey Jr. – he has a farm with his wife where he takes in exotic animals or any type of farm animal that is in need of special care and a good FURever home! He has created a sanctuary for our furry friends!

What one thing in life do you consider to be overrated?

This may be the reason why people unfriend me on Facebook, but, my answer is… SUSHI!

What's something exciting you're currently working on/learning that only a few people know about?

Well, I am toying with the idea of creating a movement toward self-help and self-healing involving Dance and performance art forms. Since this is still being kept under wraps I simply cannot divulge any more information on this exciting project! Stay tuned!

What are you NOT Very Good at?

I am not very good at keeping quiet when I am around an unjust situation.

What's your star sign?

A well-balanced Libra.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

This morning I decided upon one of my guilty childhood favourites; a good bowl of creamy, buttery porridge! It must be my English roots that drive me to make this delicious breakfast treat at least once a month (especially enjoyed in winter).

About The Author

Deepak Shukla

SEO Nerd that loves nothing more than marathon running, hanging out with his cat Jenny and sometimes getting tatts. TedX Speaker, entrepreneur and founder of the Pearl Lemon Media Group.