QUETTA – Mehran Khan is an entrepreneur from Kharan, Balochistan. Born in a middle-class family and has had to work his way up to the point where he currently is.
The 16-year-old achieved what many people, especially in his part of the country, strive to achieve almost their whole lives – financial stability.
Mehran, who had a passion for business and innovation, started experimenting very early in his life around the age of 13. He initially saved and invested in a small business which failed after some time.
About this first experience, Khan says “It was my first ever business model and everything looked good on paper but I lacked in execution due to little experience. Nevertheless, it was my first taste of business – a thrilling learning experience. So much so that even after I failed, I had decided to continue with another business”.
Skip to three years plus several other learning experiences later, today Mehran Khan is the co-founder of Rifialo Media (a media publishing company). Being an entrepreneur at heart, he also knows the value of diversified investment, so Mehran also owns a web-agency, a small but rapidly growing entertainment company.
“Diversification is key if you want to be a successful entrepreneur. Never put all your eggs in one basket, we’ve all heard this at some point in our lives.”
Mehran Khan and his businesses own several social media pages which extend their reach to millions of audiences all around the world. Now that we know who Mehran Khan is, let’s see how he became what he is today. Here’s a few questions he answered for us:
How did you learn digital marketing?
Mehran Khan: I learned digital marketing techniques through tutorials found on Youtube. There was no one around me who had the knowledge pertaining to this field so my only option was to go online and school myself.
How long did it take for you to achieve stability in business?
Mehran Khan: It took me around 2 years to make my business stable. But it really depends on the execution method and the type of business you’re going for.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Mehran Khan: I’ve learned a lot since I started doing this. Here’s a few things I faced myself and would hopefully serve as a warning for up and comers.
- Hiring and firing – One thing I’ve learned about recruitment is to make decisions quickly and decisively. If you like someone in an interview, hire them, but if they fail to perform don’t hesitate to fire. I know no one likes to fire people, but my tendency to procrastinate firing underperforming individuals cost my business. It’s simple, if your employees don’t do their job, you will never be able to deliver your product.
- Contracts, agreements and legalities – When it comes to legal matters or collaborations with other individuals/companies, always make sure to have a written copy of any agreements/deals you make or seek. People can backtrack from their promises if you don’t have written proof. Be prepared and have a few backup plans.
- Thinking outside the box – The last thing that comes to mind is this advice a renowned entrepreneur gave me once: “Always keep an open mind and always be willing to consider anything within reason. This will give you an edge over the bunch who think about societal opinions too much”.
Any growth tips for upcoming social media pages/channels?
Mehran Khan: Today’s content marketing environment is very advanced in terms of targeting. Using social media channels to gain popularity is becoming easier and easier nowadays. Here’s three things to look out for when it comes to growth on social media:
- Ask yourself why should someone follow your account. Define your purpose.
- Show what you sell and show it with style. Invest in quality Photography and videos.
- Don’t compromise on designs and production. Quality visuals make you stand out.
- Consistency is key. Post consistently or be forgotten, simple.
- Think less, execute more. Experiment with content and regularly engage with your audience.
How long does it take to learn marketing?
Mehran Khan: Let’s make one thing clear first: Marketing is not rocket science, not even close. Anyone can learn enough to start with proper time and effort. The field of marketing is ever evolving and constantly changing as people change and their preferences change. Due to this reason the algorithms used for ranking/marketing on the web also change regularly. You just have to learn to stay updated with news and new features. With new features and techniques being uncovered regularly, these updates make the job easier most of the times.
Your advice for someone who is just starting?
Mehran Khan: The good news here is that you don’t have to be very tech-savvy to succeed here. What you need is a lot of patience, determination and the ability to execute without overthinking. What helps most is to stay updated with the constant updates in policies and algorithms. You also have to learn how to apply these updates to your advantage. Because social media is constantly evolving, I would suggest that you keep learning, keep applying new techniques and test new approaches to see what works best for your business model. Read more, invest more time in learning and applying, and watch as everything falls into place. Don’t be afraid of failure, it will always leave you with a lesson.
What has been the hardest step in the process, how do you overcome it?
Mehran Khan: A mature digital marketing executive knows that number of likes/subscribers of a page/account contribute very little to overall performance. A high number of likes/subs doesn’t necessarily guarantee higher earnings. But it’s not completely worthless, and like it or not, potential followers do look at the number of your followers/subs before following. Moreover, a higher number of followers also mean a higher potential reach. Post content that entices people to share. I almost always gain a wave of followers whenever one of my videos gets shared widely. Pay attention to the posts your audience likes most and recreate it. Don’t just stop at one theme or one specific category of content. Experiment with your content and observe what is being received well and what’s not.
