The First Year Growing Pains
So if you’ve been following closely this past year I have been in business, you may have noticed changes. Some I’ve announced, some are subtle. Some I made and then changed my mind, and then changed my mind back again (like my name and some of my offerings).
The first year of business is, as everyone said, such a learning experience. I expected this first year to be a time of learning, struggle, maybe even realizing I was in over my head.
But instead, it was a year of personal and professional growth. I found validation in people acknowledging my skill, my good ideas. I felt helpful again. I felt like more than just “Olive’s Mom”.
I found out just how much I like working for myself - truth be told I don’t know if I could go back to a traditional job again. It’s not because I would have an issue being in an office, listening to someone or having a boss. It’s partially because of my schedule; I just can’t find a “traditional” job that would allow me this kind of flexibility.
But it’s really more… I see such results with what I’m doing now. I see results for the businesses and locations I create content for, I have both visitors and business owners personally messaging me to tell me that my video brought in a visit. And that feels so awesome!
Once I started making videos under my soillsocial account and really trying to connect with others, I started building a strong parasocial internet community that extended into real life. Having this community of impressive business owners, local folks, transplants who love it here as much as I do - it has given me a security I was missing. It gave me friends. It’s given me people that understand me in a way the folks in my life did not. Somewhere in that security, I felt room to explore, to bring out creativity that has been buried for decades really.
In the beginning may have been a time I was hesitant, unsure, and that showed in my work. But I think after this past year, I’ve finally narrowed down what Southern Illinois Social Media - and I - am all about. So here we go:
Name changes - I’ve returned back to Southern Illinois Social Media. I previously had And More added on my name, because I wanted folks to know I offered marketing services that were not just focused on social media. And while I still do offer Creative Strategy and Styled Shoot Planning, that brings the next point…
Genre/Niche/Specialty - My start in marketing (2017) actually began in non-profit marketing, as an Event and Social Media Coordinator for a large city library. Flash forward to when I began this business, I was working in tourism marketing. I originally started this business to provide insight and social media coordination or strategies to small and struggling businesses. I wanted to clean up their pages, give them ideas on how to navigate the Southern Illinois online audience. That’s shifted a lot. I like doing content coordination for tourism bureaus because of how varied I can be in what I focus on. I can promote a lot of businesses at once. But I’ve learned I don’t really enjoy doing coordination for just a business. I’m great at it, don’t get me wrong! But, it’s just not what makes my heart sing. Tourism marketing is. I like meeting with a business owner and spit balling ideas once a month, checking up on them. But when I start coordinating for that business, I’ve realized it takes away the varied stimulation my ADHD needs to truly be creative.
That’s why I love tourism. Getting the people of Southern Illinois educated about ALL the surrounding areas, even out of Illinois, that would bring them joy is my goal. And in getting those folks to other locations, my hope is they spread the word about where they’re from and how great it is. 😊
So, as far as businesses go, I’m offering Creative Strategy sessions (I give you marketing & content calendar ideas, plus insights based on your analytics), Content Creation packages, Styled Shoot planning. For Content Creation packages, I will create a few reels, stories, and blogs about your business or location. Those are going to be my only services offered to businesses at this time.
Blogging - I am a YAPPER. I love to write. I was recently told by a friend in the business that my blogs are one of my strengths. After she told me that, I realized how much joy just writing these blog brings me. I’m not sure they’re read by more than a few folks, but I have always loved writing and even won awards for it in high school.
I also believe that with the way platforms are going, there is going to be a return to blogs. I think there will be a divide of videos being the main content consumed, and those who do not enjoy videos but instead like social story telling will return to reading blogs. I think captions cannot always hold the story we need to tell about a location or business. So, I’ll be returning to regular blogging!
Content Creator, not Influencer - I identify my job as a Content Creator, not an Influencer. I think Influencers are probably infinitely cooler than I could ever appear to be, and have followings that I am working hard for. But realistically, I don’t like to feature myself in my videos - I just focus on the subject. When I do show myself or my family, it’s so you know a bit about who you are getting advice from, and if we’re the kind of folks you would want to take travel recommendations from.
I want you to buy from businesses, heck I want you to buy a box from me! But there is a certain pizazz an Influencer has I do not. You’re not going to see try on videos from me because I don’t like trying on clothes before I buy them, and I am NOT photogenic! I’m not someone with the aura of an influencer, unless you can be easily influenced into buying pajamas from Amazon and Grubhubbing mexican food three times a week. So to clear it up while I may start talking more personal and sharing links in my blogs, I do not think of myself as an Influencer, just a simple Content Creator.
So, in summary,
I’m staying Southern Illinois Social Media
I’m focusing more on Tourism Marketing (hosted stays, daytrips)
In my blogging era
Still not an Influencer
Buy a Summer Selections box so I can support my business friends with sales!!!
- Jessi
