If you're the senior planner for a big-name brand like Harrods (hello £2 billion annual turnover!), then you know a thing or two about business. But that's just half of the planning, analytics and strategy experience Rachel von Merveldt has built in the past 12 years in the biz. Now, she shares that knowledge one-on-one with clients through her new venture Super Social Media.
Rachel launched Super Social Media earlier this year to help businesses adapt to new technologies. Taking the leap from big-time corporate to intimate consultant isn't easy, and we're inspired by Rachel's passion and ability. She's a role model for all of us female #entrepreneurs, and we know there's more on the horizon for her. But first, Rachel answers the five social media questions we want to ask everyone.
Rachel shares over a decade of experience with her clients.
Who is your biggest inspiration on the internet? Why?
Maria Popova, the woman behind Brain Pickings. She's turned a weekly email to seven friends into a readership of over five million. She is creative and knowledgeable, finding most of her material offline from which she extracts amazing insights. She does all the hard work for you and delivers it in an easy to digest format. You are always left feeling as thought you have learnt something important and meaningful.
When was the last time you read really good content online?
I may have to revert back to Brain Pickings here! Its well-researched, well-written and it’s unlikely you will find anything similar to it on the internet. As Maria herself says, most of the content published on online is designed to be dead within hours, while she tries to find and write about timeless topics.
Which is your favourite social media platform?
If I had to choose one I’d have to go for Instagram. Being a big photography fan, it’s the perfect place to get my fix of stunning photography as well as keep up-to-date with people and brands that I follow. Instagram is all about visual storytelling and inspires creativity, which is one of the reasons that I love it.
What is your biggest social media pet peeve?
I have a few pet peeves! Being tagged in posts or photos that have nothing to do with me, junk content that is only meant to bait search engines as opposed to offer value to readers and mundane status updates that mean nothing to anyone reading them.
If you could have a Twitter Q&A with one person living or dead - who would it be?
Nelson Mandela. He was a remarkable man with so much wisdom, positivity and vision, who did so much for our country. A Q&A with him would be such an honour.