We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keyoka Russo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Keyoka thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I first developed an interest in helping people find their significant other when a friend of mine approached me regarding an independent contracting position for a company that hosted speed dating events. I was in need of employment and my friend promised me that the position was working well for her, but it wasn’t long before it stopped working for me. The company’s policies were often found disagreeable by many of my potential customers. I then found out that I could go into the matchmaking business for myself when I received an advertisement for online courses from the Matchmaking Institute. I completed the certification in 2018 and have since enjoyed the freedom to decide my own hours and work more personally with my clients.
My business is unique because it is geared specifically for Christian individuals seeking to be matched with other Christians. I aim to help relieve a concern held by many Christians in my area questioning whether a romantic relationship will be spiritually beneficial to them or not. I do this by asking the right questions about my clients’ ethics and preferences to decide which bachelor or bachelorette could be a potential fit for them before arranging the first date.

Keyoka, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an african american woman. I’m in an interracial marriage. My service offers matchmaking and relationship coaching. I am the CEO and my sister is the Cofounder. I work directly with single Christian men and women. I am thirty five years old. My favorite hobbies are going to church and singing Karaoke. The most important thing I want to say about my business to people who have not met me is that I will work to the absolute best of my ability to find them somebody who is like-minded in belief, shares the same values as them, and will support and uplift them.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My Cofounder is my 18 year old sister Kimiko Bryant. She will be receiving her High School Diploma this May, and will be attending the Matchmaking Institute to study relationship coaching.

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

The strategies I used to promote my business through social media include: Attending local networking conferences and business expos.
Hosting a singles’ Masquerade Ball at Jojo’s Goodness and Coffee in Niceville, FL this past February.
Joining Fort Walton Beach, FL Chamber of Commerce.
Promoting my social media presence over multiple apps using promotional tools provided by each app.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.genesis218matchmaking.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k0k0_russ0/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556276797750

Image Credits
All pictures were taken by my husband Jay Russo and my friend Alexandria Montgomery