In a recent episode of the That's Audacious podcast, host Lauren Clemett interviewed digital marketing coach and trainer Sarah Thomson, founder of Online Social Butterfly, to unpack what it takes to build a resilient business and an authentic personal profile.
Sarah Thomson spent years working in high-pressure corporate marketing and communications roles before making a sudden exit. Balancing demanding corporate hours - often working past 11:00 PM while managing two young children - eventually reached a breaking point. Realising the toll it was taking on her family and health, Sarah resigned without a backup plan, determined to establish herself as a marketing consultant.
Upon stepping into entrepreneurship in Perth, Sarah quickly recognised that standard corporate consulting opportunities were far more limited in a smaller local market compared to major hubs like London or Sydney. Rather than giving up, she adapted. Landing her first social media management client fifteen years ago marked the beginning of a major shift. She pivoted from dry LinkedIn training to the rapidly growing landscape of Facebook marketing, turning a lucky break into a sustained career.
Through her business, Online Social Butterfly, Sarah now coaches female entrepreneurs to scale their operations using digital products, masterminds, and online courses. Her mission stems from a widespread issue in the small business sector: entrepreneurs trading hours for dollars, getting trapped by technical overwhelm, and relying single-mindedly on one service or marketing channel.
Building Resilience, Mastering AI, and Harnessing Award Leverage
Early in her entrepreneurial journey, Sarah received crucial financial advice from her accountant: single-platform dependency leaves a business vulnerable. After watching peers lose their entire livelihoods overnight because of social media algorithm changes and policy shifts, she deliberately diversified her revenue streams into coaching, corporate workshops, and digital training.
Sarah’s approach to modern digital strategy balances technological adoption with authentic human connection:
Key Achievements and Professional Milestones
Insights, Authenticity, and Lessons Learned
Throughout the interview, Sarah offered candid reflections on perfectionism, personal growth, and profile building, delivering key takeaways for entrepreneurs hesitant to put themselves forward.
On overcoming imposter syndrome and technical perfectionism, Sarah shared her philosophy on delivering immediate value:
"I just needed to be one step ahead of all of you in the room. I didn't need to be an expert. I don't need to be a technical expert. I just need to be able to give you value and you can go away and do something."
Addressing the reluctance many business owners feel when considering awards or social media promotion, Sarah highlighted how overthinking holds people back:
"Nobody's paying as much attention as we think they are on social media... The fact that you go for awards is enough of a success because most people don't. Heck yes, you put yourself out there."
Reflecting on the deeper personal benefits of going through an award submission process, Sarah noted how rare and essential self-recognition is for business owners:
"Awards make me sit down, and when I've written ones... I actually cried at some of the stuff that I'd achieved, and I hadn't even paused and acknowledged that."
Finally, on maintaining vulnerability and enjoying the entrepreneurial path, Sarah advised business owners to drop the pressure of perfection:
"I'm an imperfect human being and that's what makes us amazing... I would just say let go and have fun because it's all going to be okay."
Contact
To learn more about Sarah Thomson’s coaching programs, digital workshops, or content publications, connect via the following platforms:
Website: Online Social Butterfly
Substack Publications: Digital Queens Dispatch and My Year of Intentional Living
