Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Johnson.
Hi Kelsey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kelsey Johnson, I am from D.C but grew up in the Columbus area. In early 2020 I found myself, like so many others, in need of a creative outlet and a way to safely connect with others. This is when I began writing my blog Sincerely Lovely Lifestyle, although it originally started under a different name. SincerelyLovely.com was also the first website I built myself completely from scratch. It was at this time that I also started sharing more of my daily life (what I was wearing, doing, eating, etc.) on social media, mainly Instagram and TikTok (@_sincerelylovely). My hope was to create a space where everything beautiful about day-to-day real life could be appreciated. A place that inspired others to romanticize their everyday life through sharing fashion tips or self-care routines, it’s all about combining life’s lovely little moments to curate something special. Over time, I found that content creation combined many of my passions and professional strengths. I have always been a creative and ambitious person, with degrees in both Psychology and Theatre Performance, this combined with previous experience in sales/marketing, seemed to culminate into a perfect profession for myself. As my photography and editing skills improved, and as my knowledge of social media marketing grew, I was able to start securing ongoing brand deals with several large companies and become a full-time content creator. I have also had the pleasure of working with many small local businesses doing content creation and influencer marketing. Supporting and working with local business is very important to me. While working with these businesses, I noticed that many of them struggle with maintaining their presence on social media, keeping up with latest trends, content creation, or where simply not utilizing social media to its full potential to correctly market their business. Many business owners just do not have time to also do the full-time job of running a social media account. I knew this was an area that I could really help fellow small business owners by not only creating content but completely managing their social media accounts and websites for them. To help take the stress out of social media and help them grow their brand awareness. It was from this concept that my company, S & G Social Media Management (www.sgsocialmediamanagement.com), was created in May of this year. Although it is a brand-new company, I am very excited to see where it goes and have many ideas for expanding it in the near future!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This has definitely not been an easy road. I started both my journey as a content creator and now small business owner, literally putting no money into it. Everything I have built is on my own. When I first started out it was just me taking pictures with my phone and tripod. I am however extremely lucky to have had the constant support of my husband, who also takes most of my photos for me now. I would not be where I am without his encouragement and belief in me… My early work is definitely not my best, and I have changed my personal brand and type of content I share several times before finding the perfect combination of what I love to share and what my audience responds to. Something that isn’t discussed enough in this industry is creator burnout. We are constantly comparing ourselves to other creators, we never stop working, and we are always chasing the next “big trend” in order to stay relevant. Also, what people need to remember, is that anything can be fabricated or edited to look perfect online. That is why I think it is so important to share real-life moments and focus on my content as opposed to what others are doing. This journey has taught me to prioritize my self-care and has also improved my overall confidence as a person. So, although it has been very difficult at times, it has given me the knowledge to try to inspire others to also prioritize their self-care and go for their dreams.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My content is centered around fashion and lifestyle, mostly short-form video and photos. I am known for my fashion tips and mini vlogs. I am most proud of my blog and business websites, both of which I built. I am also extremely proud of the online community and friendships I have built from sharing my life on social media. I get to have wonderful creative people in my life now, from all over the world, that I never would have met if not for Instagram. I think having a community of creatives online that can discuss our industry and what we go through is so important. For years there has been so much “gatekeeping” in this industry, and I do not stand for that. My DMs are always open for other creatives, or anyone who uses social media to ask questions. I love sharing tips and strategies with other content creators! What sets me apart from others is me. No one else lives my life or sees the world from my perspective.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most is to continue to build my personal brand (Sincerely Lovely) as well as my business (S & G Social Media Management) because I believe that social media is the way of the future and that the possibilities in this space are endless.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sincerelylovely.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sincerelylovely/
- Other: www.sgsocialmediamanagement.com
Image Credits
Sincerely Lovely Lifestyle
