We had the good fortune of connecting with Jade Pruett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jade, is there something you believe many others might not?
I often hear rhetoric that you should be more “masculine” to excel in business. You need to apply to jobs you’re not qualified for, pretend you already know everything, and solely chase money. I tried those things for awhile with not much luck. Turns out, interviewing for jobs you know little about is embarrassing. What I’ve discovered from building and running a rapidly growing startup is that my more “feminine” qualities are what have allowed me to get ahead. Making genuine connections, being honest and generous, asking for help, being vulnerable, and putting my pride to the side has opened SO many doors. Really, I think being yourself is what sets you up for success in business. People see through inauthenticity in a second, and no one has time for it anymore.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is HelloSEO, and we are a boutique SEO agency that serves small businesses and startups. I started my business as a side hustle in 2020 while I was still working as a full-time SEO content strategist. By 2022, I was able to quit my full-time job and take HelloSEO full-time. I have been thrilled with the rate of growth I have seen from HelloSEO in the past year. I have had the opportunity to hire a team, bring on an incredible set of clients, and make a real difference in businesses across the country. It’s been really cool.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would make them come to work with me at FemmeX, of course. For lunch, we’d go to Spotted Salamder at least half day of their trip for a Spotted Salad and deviled egg special. On the other days, we would go to Grouchos, Andy (for a side-by-side comparison), and WarMouth to mix it up. For dinner, we would have to hit up The Black Rooster, Hampton Street Vinyard, and then Bourbon for drinks. For entertainment, they would have to see A Little Happy Shop and All Good Books in Five Points and Indah for coffee in Cottontown. To top it all off, we would have to see a USC game. I always cry with Cocky comes out to 2001: A Space Odyssey at the start of each game.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shoutout FemmexColumbia. FemmeX is a coworking space designed for women that totally made my business. When I first moved to South Carolina, I got plugged in at FemmeX, and they set me up with an incredible advisor, all the business resources I could ever need, and most importantly, a giant pink house full of friends and support. My business and life wouldn’t be what it is without FemmeX.

Website: www.helloseo.com

Instagram: @jadefromhelloseo

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jade-pruett-helloseo

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