We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Brashear and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?

Social Media is a full-time job. It is more than a post and go scenario. Outsiders may think interns could be hired to manage social channels. But, if social is to grow organically, knowing the ins-and outs of the platforms is crucial.  Be ready to spend free time learning what is changing in the industry to manage a strategy.

Creating social content is time-consuming, a considerable amount of work goes into creating a single post, or series of posts across multiple platforms. An analytical approach is needed to decipher the meaning of social metrics and to implement findings. Finally, there is Community Management. The biggest misconception of running a social channel is thinking followers will come automatically. By cultivating an organic community with engagement, conversation, potential fans will be won and a long-lasting loyal following will be established.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

The main identifier that sets me apart is my experience. Working in Digital Marketing for over 15 years, has allowed me to see a lot of changes in the Digital Marketing Industry and learn a lot too! It helps being an entrepreneur, and enjoying work with different types of businesses. I like the challenge!

Being your own boss is not easy. We have to wear a lot of hats. In the beginning every business opportunity was taken to make money for bills, soon learning this to be suboptimal. Try to avoid. It was rough! Learn to talk to potential clients to discover what they are looking for before taking the job. It’s important to know what the clients’ needs are and if you are a good fit. Do research on the client, see if it is something you are interested in. If you don’t find what they are doing exciting, it doesn’t make sense taking it on. Because at the end of the day, you want to love what you do and be happy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

If you are coming to Chicago, you are going to have a blast! Especially in the summer. No one that lives here leaves town in the summer because we hibernate all winter long waiting for these few months. There are plenty of FREE outdoor concerts and festivals. In fact, a few of my favorites are the Jazz and Blues Festivals in Millennium Park. The Jazz Fest is September 1-4. It’s the oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals and boasts an incredibly diverse lineup. Or if you are in Chicago August 4-7you can enjoy the Windy City Smokeout for the best BBQ ever and a musical lineup that will have you rockin’ for days.

Take a day to hang on the beach or head over to Michigan Ave to do a little shopping.One of my favorite museums for my out of town guests is the Chicago History Museum! They find it interactive and interesting. Did you know Chicago is derived from an indigenous word for onion, where plentiful wild garlic and onions grew around the Chicago River?

Lastly, take a boat tour on the Chicago river. Learning about our amazing skyscrapers before you leave, it’s a must!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Taking the leap to focus on Social Media full-time, the people around me supported my decision. My family, friends and coworkers were great support groups to lift me up with the transition. Past managers supported me by writing testimonials and referrals. However, when making the decision to leave the corporate world, Facebook was in the beginning phase of social media. It was a big chance to take, but something told me this was going to change the way we communicate.

Website: NicoleBrashear.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolebrashear/

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