Diligent Digital Marketer: Meet Mollison Daniel

November Consultant of the Month

Birmingham, Alabama creates no boundaries for Mollison Daniel, a digital marketing consultant, who has clients locally and from Texas, Utah, and California. When she’s not managing paid advertising or social media campaigns, you might find her camping in the mountains of North Carolina or doing hot yoga.

What type of work do you do?

My work is centered around digital marketing and primarily paid advertising including paid social, paid search, display and remarketing. I also do social media management, search engine optimization, email marketing, analytics integrations, data analytics and reporting.

Mollison’s Keys to Success

• Trying out consulting by moonlighting
• Getting a master’s in digital marketing
• Pursuing opportunities outside of her comfort zone
• Maximizing her LinkedIn profile

What are you currently working on?

I’m managing social media for Blendtec, a project through EM. I’m also managing paid social for Bumble, working on a social media campaign for Leading Women in Technology in California, and working with agencies to manage social media, SEO, and analytics for clients.

Why did you decide to become a consultant? What path did you take to become a consultant?

The first and foremost reason I decided to pursue consulting is work-life balance – I enjoy being able to make my own schedule, choose my workload, and work from anywhere.

I got started in early 2021 when a good friend connected me with a former colleague who was looking to hire a freelancer. I was still in a full-time role, so I started by working nights and weekends to see if this was something I wanted to pursue. Within a month, I received a LinkedIn message about another contract position and landed that role. Soon thereafter, I was able to leave my full time job and pursue consulting full time, and I haven’t looked back.

What do you love about consulting?

Other than the work-life balance, I love working with a variety of companies, different teams and across various industries. Every day is interesting and new, and I really enjoy the diversity that consulting brings. Needless to say, I’m never bored!

What has been your biggest challenge about being a consultant? How have you addressed it?

Turning down new opportunities has been difficult. I think back to the five years I was in full-time, in-house roles and I would daydream about living the consulting life. So when I’m approached with new opportunities with an already-full workload, it can be challenging to pass on them. I have to remind myself that the reason I pursued consulting was primarily for the work-life balance. My friends and family are also really good about checking in regularly to help me remember this.

How do you market yourself?

Primarily through LinkedIn. I keep my client portfolio up to date, and a big plus has been having “digital marketing freelancer” in my title, which tends to get searched for frequently. I also have a mentor through EM’s Mentor Program and she has made a few introductions for me, one of which turned into a client, Leading Women in Technology.

What are the things you like to do when the work slows down?

I like to do hot yoga, travel, spend time outdoors, and I’ve started camping in the last year. My  husband and I have camped in Talladega National Forest, Asheville and the Outer Banks in North Carolina, North Georgia, and Arkansas. I also love spending time with friends, family, and my two cats.

What’s one tip you would give to new consultants?

Get outside your comfort zone! Whether it’s working in a new industry or taking on a project that encourages you to expand your skills, it’s the best way to grow as a consultant. Take advantage of the opportunities that make you push yourself.