Rebecca built her first website in 1997 and she has been writing about life in BC since 2004 on the award-winning blog Miss604.com. With 25 years of digital publishing experience, she has co-authored and edited three books on the subject and is the CEO of her own agency which helps clients across North America with their social media strategy and website development.
Community is at the heart of her mission, and Rebecca partners with and sponsors campaigns for over two dozen non-profit organizations each year. She is a columnist for Megaphone Magazine, focusing on non-profits that serve the Downtown East side, and serves as a Board Executive for three non-profit organizations.
She’s passionate about the outdoors and sharing stories and photos of her beautiful province, and beyond
When you first started your career, how did you know you were ready and what made you start?
Oh I had absolutely no idea what I was doing haha! Professional blogging wasn’t really a thing in 2004. It still wasn’t in 2008 when I made the big leap. I was at a meetup with other “Web 2.0” folks and someone I really admire just asked me flat out: When are you going to go out on your own? So, I did. I quit my day job the next day. All I knew was that I had the experience, skills and knowledge, people wanted to hire me for those things, and I knew I could deliver. My agency began with consulting and website development, which we still do to this day, and the blog just became the engine that powered and promoted it all. I’ve really just made it up as I went along and 14 years later it’s still going!
What is your favourite thing about what you do in your career and why?
I discovered this one very early on when I saw bloggers using their platform to support social causes (through a campaign called Blogathon in 2006). I knew then that I had a voice, people were listening, and I could use that to affect change and raise funds for causes in my community. I’ve been doing it ever since through sponsoring local organizations, their events, and fundraisers. In 2015 I joined my first non-profit Board and now I’m an Executive on several, giving back however I can – and it all started with blogging. On top of that, I get to do what I do best by helping my clients show off what they do best. I love making them shine through their new website, through their social media campaigns, through their fundraisers and community events. Most importantly, I get to make a difference in my community through the incredible partners and clients I work with.
If you could give your past self some advice, what would you tell yourself?
I think past Rebecca did a fine job: she took risks, she created opportunities, and I just want to tell her it’s all been worth it – keep going.
What is your number one business goal to accomplish this year?
I set goals every few months, whether they are big (like landing a client/campaign) or small (like getting 20 new Instagram followers). After such a tumultuous couple of years with the pandemic, where websites, fundraising campaigns and social strategy took over most of my schedule, just getting back to 2019 levels was originally my goal. However, what I’ve learned these past two years, more than ever, is that relationships matter. I started signing more long-term contracts with my amazing partners and clients with whom I navigated these trying times and that’s a goal I’ve achieved and will continue to work toward.
What is your number one priority when it comes to your career and daily work?
Working with the best, most community-minded partners, clients, and organizations. It makes me very excited about my business when I’m working with those who share my values and keep me learning and growing as well. It’s so important for me to share and show diversity, inclusion, equity, and to speak out for social justice. Thinking back to my first, large online campaign (Obligation 2008) where I fundraised online for the Union Gospel Mission, it just laid a foundation in my heart and soul – this is what I want to do through my work. This is number one.
My second priority is to balance my time online with time outdoors, which is why my Instagram feed isn’t a grid of computers and code, it features the beautiful nature in our province which I try to enjoy as often as I can.
