I am Bushra Shahid, the founder of BeesCraftLand. It’s a home-based business that sells art and crafts. Making decorative pieces and handmade items was always my passion, but it was only after encouragement from my family did I turn it into a full-time business.

When it comes to starting a venture, capital is always the first thought. I was clear that I wouldn’t invest a lot of money in setting up a space, and instead, took the digital route. I started my Facebook page in 2018 to showcase my wooden craft work and named it BeesCraftLand. However, I noticed that while I was getting appreciated for my work, I wasn’t making any money. I was disappointed at first, but then, I didn’t start my business to give up. I relooked my approach and that’s when I knew what I had to do next — use social media better.

Attending the #SheMeansBusiness training program helped me do just that. I tailored my posts on WhatsApp business, Instagram and Facebook since each platform was different, and catered to a different audience. Page Insights taught me to get maximum engagement by learning what was the best time to post. I paid attention to the first 3 seconds of all my videos, added a human element to my photography and took advantage of the scheduling posts option. This helped me to manage my time better and increase my sales.

Understanding the digital medium well also ensured that the impact of the pandemic was limited. That’s not to say that we didn’t bear any brunt but honing my marketing skills as we went along helped a great deal. To keep things going at the rate we wanted to, we hired 3 employees in 2020. As of now, as a business, we are trying to grow on Instagram by improving the content there.

When I started out, my family thought I was wasting my time, but I have been able to establish a successful business. I have learnt that self-belief is the most important ingredient for success. As I continue to build my business, I want to empower other women to follow their passions.