Message Manufacturing helps Flint businesses grow through social media and storytelling

FLINT, Michigan — Longtime friends Jessica Revoldt, a local writer and producer, and Joel Rash, a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to promoting all things Flint, continue celebrating the six-year anniversary of their locally owned social media and communications business, MSG/MFG or Message Manufacturing, by seeking new clients. The company provides social media promotion and also offers services like writing weekly newsletters or press releases. 

Though the pair have known each other since Revoldt’s teenage years spent at punk shows at the Capital Theatre, their reunion occurred when she moved back to Flint from New York and her daughter began working at the then-recently reopened Flint Local 432, founded by Rash about a decade and a half ago. 

MSG/MFG began in January of 2020, when Revoldt and Rash noticed how many local businesses were either struggling with their own social media advertising or were being left out of major Flint social media pages entirely. With their combined knowledge of Flint, social media promotion, and the writing world, the duo quickly realized they could be the help struggling local businesses needed, and took action. 

After receiving their first pro-bono client, though, COVID hit. While the rest of the world pulled on face masks and six feet seemed to grow a whole lot longer, MSG/MFG used the pandemic to their advantage and got right to work.

During those three years, they were able to learn the ins and outs of social media marketing, and once the pandemic finally came to a close, local businesses, nonprofits, and governmental organizations began to reach out for help with reconnecting to the community that had been forced away and into their homes for so long. 

“Jessica and I have never pitched a client and not gotten them.” Joel very proudly admitted. 

He also admitted that MSG/MFG is still learning and creating its process as they go. While they originally intended to have separate client sets, they now work together on all clients. The two realized that they each hold areas of expertise that all clients would benefit from – like Revoldt’s much-praised writing or Rash’s extensive knowledge of Flint’s history. 

The company’s first step when taking on a new client is to create a strategy plan that describes what the business is currently doing and what could be improved. Then, those clients can either use that plan and take off running with it themselves, or continue working with MSG/MFG’s help, posting on platforms like Facebook. 

They want to make it clear that if you have somebody already willing to do the work, it isn’t necessary to hire them. That being said, social media marketing isn’t always as easy as it may seem. 

“There’s no better client than a client who’s tried to do it themselves and realized what goes into it,” Rash says. Promoting through social media isn’t just pure luck, but also about getting around paywalls and using your environment to your advantage, he described. “We’re a lot cheaper than any employee, and, you know, you can plug us in and forget about it.”

While Revoldt and Rash have found strategies that work well and allow their clients to benefit from their plans, it may still be a harder task for smaller businesses that need a little extra help; this is where the rest of their services come in. 

“It’s really difficult to do something the first time,” Rash explained, adding how both him and Revoldt had already learned what social media promotion needs in order to succeed, but learning that, and going through the process the first time is a hard thing to do, especially if you’re a small business trying to keep up with so many other things. “We’re trying to save other businesses and nonprofits the cost of once.” 

MSG/MFG takes all kinds of clients local to the Flint area, from what they call Shopkeepers, people that go into their businesses everyday and need to consistently sell a product in order to make money like restaurants, or bars, to clients that don’t have a product but instead, just need a light shined on all of the good work they do, like local nonprofits. The duo is always up for a challenge, which they claim Shopkeepers tend to be, even if they are also some of the most fun clients to take on. 

Mostly, Joel and Jessica just want to share their love for Flint and help its businesses and people however they can. They often have pro bono clients who only need small amounts of help, and many local businesses who shoot them a question or ask for a quick hand every here and there. 

“It doesn’t cost anything to talk to us, and there’s a really good chance we’ll just write your social media strategy for free,” Joel emphasized. “We want to see Flint thrive.”

MSG/MFG is contactable and eager to hear from local businesses at the email msgmfg@gmail.com. Learn more about them on their Facebook page.