Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lydia Coley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Lydia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

$100. That’s how much I spent on a “Become Viral on TikTok” course that a coach was selling on October 2nd, 2022. The date is significant because I told myself, “Use this as an investment and give yourself a month. If you enjoy it, keep doing it”. Now, it is October 22nd, 2023 and I have amassed 800K likes and 14.3K followers on Instagram and TikTok combined, so what have I learned between then and now?
Well, I learned that I needed to combat my perfectionist and anti-creativity mindset. Ever since I was younger, I knew I was creative; however, I had experiences where my creativity was not able to flourish. Fast forward to 2023 and my excitement would rise when I thought about giving content creation a try. The biggest obstacle I needed to overcome was myself. So, I signed up for therapy and started to take myself and my dreams seriously.
As I took myself more seriously, I started to view content creation as a craft. The more I viewed it as a craft, the better I got at creating content!

If you are interested in becoming a content creator, the skills that are the most essential are
1. Consistency
2. Data analysis (What does the data tell you about your engagement/community/niche?)
3. GRIT; Somedays you may want to give up and that is okay. Give yourself a break and remind yourself of your why. When I was feeling the most discouraged, I decided to rebrand my social media. Rebranding sparked inspiration back into me and it aligned more with my values.

The more I reflected, the more I recognized what I could have done to speed up my learning process. Are you ready for some tips? First, post the video. It does not have to be perfect. It does not have to be “aesthetically” pleasing. It just has to be YOU. People want to watch YOU. Not the YOU that you think you need to be. The authentic YOU. Second, try not to overthink the video. If you have a hobby, record it and upload it. If you love decorating, record re-decorating your bedroom and upload it. Social media has so many corners that can be filled by ANYONE. Lastly, have fun. The more you view this as mini learning lessons and not obstacles, you will start having fun. You will start to focus on the good and you will start seeing results.

Are you ready to take the chance on yourself?

You can do this!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hey! My name is Lydia and I am a content creator and podcaster who inspires others to be more intentional and live meaningful and purposeful lives. I started my brand, Letstalkalright after I turned 25. My 25th year of life was when I realized how unhappy I was with myself and some of my behaviors. I wanted to reclaim the joy I used to experience as a child all while learning how to enjoy and understand my emotions as an adult. Plus, I knew I was not alone in my experience and I wanted to build an intentional community of adults who were ready to be courageous and live the life of their dreams.
Thus, my Instagram and TikTok were born. On those platforms, I share advice and my personal stories about toxic family dynamics, relationships, and healing, so that others can realize that they are not alone and that they can do something different with their life. I love guiding people to their dreams and potential.
Aside from content creation, I have a podcast called “The Advice Column”. The Advice Column is a podcast where I have a casual chat with my listeners about intentionality, self-awareness, relationships, and much more to motivate adults to be curious, go after their dreams, and never settle in life. If you are someone who feels stuck or you are ready for a change and you’re looking for extra motivation, then The Advice Column is for you. The podcast is a brave space where you are not expected to be perfect, you’re just expected to show up as your authentic self with open ears. So far on the podcast, I have explored questions, such as Why do I avoid my emotions? What are the consequences of not minding your business and how do I overcome imposter syndrome?

Overall, my brand Letstalkalright motivates adults to live out their dreams and to be curious. I know there is the saying “Curiosity killed the cat”, but we never remember that cats have 9 lives. Use those additional lives to learn lessons, try new things, and have fun all while experiencing this crazy thing we call life.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I was able to build my audience on social media by doing the three following things; 1. I viewed social media as a skill, and less like a hobby. When you have a hobby, you may engage in it occasionally and you may not be expecting results. With any skill, you must practice, be consistent, and identify ways to be more effective. Social media is a skill that anyone can learn and once you learn the skill, you will see the results

2. The skill of social media is not aesthetically pleasing content or the best new equipment. The skills are confidence and consistency. Confidence requires trusting the process. Confidence requires being open to revisions and viewing the experience as an opportunity and not an obstacle.

3. Imagine yourself as a researcher who is collecting data and watching other content creators in your niche. See what is successful in your niche. What works? What is missing? Who is the target audience? It is imperative that while you are researching, you are not comparing yourself to other creators. They have their style, you will have your style; however, a good strategy can be used and flipped. Find the strategy and make it better!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One thing that might be hard to grasp for non-creatives is the constant swirl of ideas in our heads. It’s like a beautiful storm cloud in the sky! We’re always on the lookout for inspiration in the most unexpected places because life represents creativity.

Another thing that might be hard to grasp is the creative block. Creative blocks are quite frustrating. But here’s the magic – those blocks often lead to breakthroughs. Breaking through after a creative block is a euphoric feeling that non-creatives might not fully grasp.

The one thing that both non-creatives and creatives alike can understand is that life is a journey that is filled with ups and downs, self-doubt, and moments of pure genius. Creatives understand these moments through dance, painting, poetry writing, or content creation. Non-creatives understand these moments through other actions. Regardless, find the joy in your life and just keep doing it.

To all you non-creatives out there find your own spark of creativity and showcase it to the the world. A little more imagination is always needed!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/letstalkalright
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkalright
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5EM85sZp8EQ6HCBI4EHqhZ?si=391e123c54734282