Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Springer.
Hi Haley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I founded Soley Creatives in October 2019, although at the time, I definitely didn’t have a five-year plan for what the business would become, just a hope and a dream.
Prior to starting the business, I began my career working at a PR firm, and being the youngest person on the team, social media naturally became my lane. I started learning everything I could, working directly with clients, and quickly realized how much I loved this side of the business.
From there, I began taking on clients of my own, and the business really grew organically. What started as a small social media agency has evolved into a full creative partner for businesses looking to build a brand people actually care about. Today, we help with everything from social media management and content creation to media production, branding and strategy.
One thing that has stayed the same since the beginning is how much I love working alongside local businesses and watching them grow. There’s something really special about getting to know the people behind a business, understanding what they’re trying to build and then helping bring that vision to life.
Over the years, I’ve also learned that most businesses don’t necessarily need more marketing just for the sake of marketing. They need stronger storytelling, better visuals, a clear identity and a team that genuinely understands their goals. That realization has shaped a lot of what Soley Creatives is today.
It’s grown far beyond what I imagined when I started in 2019, but the heart of it is still pretty simple: helping great businesses look, feel and show up like great brands.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s been a completely smooth road, but I do feel really fortunate that the growth has been fairly steady.
One of the biggest challenges has been growing into the business we’ve become. When you start something from scratch, you’re often figuring out what you do, who you want to work with and, honestly, how to keep the lights on and put food on the table. As Soley evolved, I realized our original brand and messaging didn’t fully reflect the level of work we were doing or where I saw the company going. Rebranding and really defining our voice, our identity and what we wanted to be known for was a huge undertaking, but it was also one of the most important things we’ve done.
Building relationships and making connections in the community has been another big part of the journey. Especially as a service-based business, so much of our growth has come from trust, referrals and people actually knowing who we are. That doesn’t happen overnight. It’s taken years of showing up, doing good work and building genuine relationships with other local business owners.
I think a lot of owning a business is learning as you go. There have definitely been moments where I’ve had to adjust, rethink things and figure out what the next version of the company looks like. But looking back, those challenges have also been what pushed Soley to become much more intentional than it was when I first started.
We’ve been impressed with Soley Creatives, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Soley Creatives is a creative and social media agency based in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, serving brands across Tampa Bay and beyond. We help businesses build stronger brands through social media management, content creation, media production, branding and strategy.
At the core of what we do is storytelling. We want to understand the people behind a business, what makes them different and why customers should care, then turn that into content and creative that actually feels like them.
What really sets us apart is how much we care about the businesses we work with. We work incredibly closely with our clients, and many of them genuinely become like family to us. We learn their goals, their challenges, their personalities and what success actually looks like for them. Their wins feel like our wins.
At the same time, we hold the creative work to a very high standard. We’ve built a team with strengths across strategy, photography, video, design and storytelling, and we’re incredibly intentional about the quality of what we put out. I think that combination is a big part of what makes Soley different: you get the care and closeness of a small agency, but the level of creative and production you’d expect from a much larger one.
What I’m most proud of is seeing that work genuinely make a difference. Watching a client sell out of a product, seeing a crowd show up for an event, hearing that new customers found them because of something we created, or watching a business become more recognized in the community is incredibly rewarding.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I don’t necessarily have one specific app, book or podcast that I swear by. A lot of what helps me do my best work actually comes from being a consumer myself.
I’m always paying attention to what makes me stop, what makes me trust a brand, and what makes me want to buy something. I try to notice those reactions in real time and think about what caused them, whether it was the messaging, the visuals, the experience or just the way something was presented. I’m constantly taking those little observations and applying them back to our clients.
I also think having a strong team is everything. Creativity gets better when you’re surrounded by people with different ideas and perspectives. My team keeps me inspired. So for me, it’s probably less about one specific resource and more about staying curious, paying attention and surrounding myself with really creative people.
P.S. If I had to name one book that did make an impact on me, it would be The 4-Hour Workweek. It definitely shifted the way I think about building a business, time and creating a life that works alongside your career, not just around it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soleycreatives.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soleycreatives
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoleyCreatives/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soleycreatives/
