Check Out Rowan Hetzer’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rowan Hetzer.

Hi Rowan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I found an interest for journalism and social media during high school. I took the journalism class all three years it was offered. When the pandemic hit, I turned to creating TikToks and experienced rather surprising results, with my account getting over 300k likes and 10k followers. I enjoyed strategizing my posts and learning about the demographics of my audience. However, I eventually lost interest in TikTok and decided to shift my attention to Instagram. 

During my freshman year of college, my class had the opportunity to conduct a social media analysis for a local art studio as part of a class project. This experience introduced me to real, impactful social media strategy. I became fascinated by the analytics and algorithmic reasons for successes and failures. 

My interest in social media strategy grew further when a group of friends approached me for social media advice for a project. I conducted a social media audit for them and provided researched recommendations. To their delight, they witnessed a spike in their social media performance and continued to experience improvements. It brought me satisfaction to make a positive impact on someone’s passion project by diving into something I was passionate about. 

Now, I enjoy helping small influencers and businesses with their social media presence. I am driven to expand my reach and help others who want to grow their audiences through effective social media strategies. Every project I work on is a learning experience. As I get closer to the end of my college career, I am also working on publishing articles and photo stories to show the full range of my journalistic skills, 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an aspiring young professional can be tough. One big hurdle is the catch-22 situation where you need experience to gain more experience. It can be frustrating when “entry-level” jobs demand several years of prior experience outside of academic settings. 

It’s also difficult to earn respect and recognition from others. In such situations, it’s important to prioritize yourself and carefully consider which projects are truly worth your time and effort for gaining exposure. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a student journalist and freelance social media strategist specializing primarily in Instagram. However, I also have experience with platforms such as YouTube, Meta, Twitter, and TikTok. My work involves collaborating with local brands, bands, and businesses to enhance their social media presence, providing similar assistance to that of a social media consultant. I conduct audits, develop social media strategies, identify content pillars, assess strengths and weaknesses, and more. One aspect I take pride in is my continuous learning with each project. If there’s something I haven’t done before, I am eager to research the proper procedures and give it a try. After all, everyone has to start somewhere. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Personally, I follow social media managers and other professional content creators such as Jacob Shipley on LinkedIn and Erin McGoff and Loe Whaley on Youtube. Their advice and humorous takes on the professional world are fun, engaging, and informative. I have learned a lot from the creators and their communities, and so I highly recommend those creators and others like them. 

Being part of a supportive local artist community has been a game-changer as well. Collaborating with fellow artists and professionals who are willing to lend a helping hand to a smaller creator has helped me practice and hone my skills, has allowed me to network with great people, and has given me fantastic opportunities. 

Contact Info:

• Website: http://bit.ly/3VE5iCK
• Instagram: @roisajournalist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowan-hetzer/