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

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

When I first moved to San Diego in 2017, I wanted to explore everything I could – the beaches, the restaurants, the ‘must-sees’. I started doing just that and taking pictures along the way. In 2018, while in my Master’s program, I had to build a website to showcase my work in the program. I had so much fun making the website and using my creativity to make it just right. However, after I graduated, I didn’t really have a use for that site. So, I started thinking, what could I build a website for? I came up with the idea of building a website to showcase all the best places to go and things to do in San Diego. I spent months making my site, tailoring the aesthetic to my liking, and listing out all my favorite spots. Then, I realized I would need to utilize Instagram to direct flow to my website. From there, my Instagram started to grow and that’s where I do the majority of my posting now (the website needs some updates!!). I never really imagined how it would grow and the connections I could make through it. It started as a hobby, and still is for the most part, but now I actually get invited to restaurants – who doesn’t love free food and drinks!? What started as a hobby of adventuring and taking pictures has turned into an even bigger hobby which has led me to lifelong friends, a better understanding of social media (still learning!), improved photo taking skills, and a lot of fun!

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

The San Diego Scout is intended to be a ‘how-to’ guide for San Diego. Whether you have lived here your whole life or are visiting for the first time, you will find things you want to do and places you want to go. Although I post food and drink for the most part, I do have categories on my website such as ‘Instagram Worthy’, ‘Seasonal Activities’, and ‘Sites’. I have lived here for over 5 years and I am still discovering new places all the time. San Diego is such an amazing place and I wanted to create a space where someone can easily find ideas of what to do while they’re visiting or where to eat for a special occasion. Right now, I am working on creating a ‘no spend’ category to feature activities around town that are at no (or little) cost to so they can be accessible to more people!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to share my love for San Diego and encourage others to get out and explore the amazing places / things this city has to offer! As I mentioned earlier, even if you’ve lived here your whole life, you’re bound to find new spots and experiences through The San Diego Scout!

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started The San Diego Scout on Instagram, I made it a point to post every single day. Literally. I think I posted every day for about a year. Luckily for me, I had taken so many pictures in the year before I started the account that I had a lot of content to share. I think that being consistent is the main piece of advice I’d give. Additionally, being authentic to yourself and not trying to ‘copy’ what anyone else is doing. There are several accounts like mine and they all do amazing, but I try not to compare myself to them. I focus on seeking out experiences that I enjoy and sharing my content in a way that feels authentic to my style!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thesandiegoscout.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thesandiegoscout
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesandiegoscout