We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aaliyah McMullen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aaliyah below.

Aaliyah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

I currently manage my own social media with support from my Fall intern. In the past, I’ve had someone manage it for me, but I strongly believe in paying people what they’re worth. Because I study and manage social media for other businesses, I fully understand the time, strategy, and investment that goes into doing it well. That’s why I’m intentional about making the right choice for myself and my brand when it comes to delegating this work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I first got involved in digital marketing in college when I switched my major from business to communications. Having been active on social media for over 15 years, I already understood the culture, trends, and the power of online engagement. During Covid, a friend and I launched a collaborative social media agency, creating TikTok product videos and quickly building a name for ourselves around the city.

After we decided to part ways, I officially launched AMACMEDIA & Co right at the height of TikTok’s rise as the #1 social media platform. By then, I had already seen firsthand how content marketing could become a major profit driver for businesses both big and small. Once I figured out how to strategically tap into those markets, it was game on and that’s how AMACMEDIA was born.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Over the past 6–8 months, I’ve been navigating a major pivot in my business. Back in September 2024, I lost nearly 90% of my clientele due to budget cuts within their companies. It was frustrating and discouraging because I had finally built a great routine with those clients after over a year of working together, I was beginning to truly understand their businesses and deepen those partnerships. But almost overnight, one client after another began to drop, and my monthly revenue declined drastically.

Since then, I’ve been in a season of rebuilding. While it hasn’t been easy, it’s also been an opportunity to realign my business with the services I love most and to focus on working with clients who genuinely need my expertise. This shift has allowed me to refine AMACMEDIA into something stronger, more intentional, and more aligned with my long-term vision.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

What started as a side hustle eventually grew into my full-time business for three out of the four years that I’ve been in business. Being a solo entrepreneur taught me so much—finances, contracts, discipline, and the importance of consistency. Within my very first year, I was able to secure my first office in downtown Pittsburgh, and from there I scaled steadily, generating five figures annually.

Although I now work full-time during the day, I lock into my business after hours, and I love helping businesses grow by creating powerful, strategic social media presences. One of the things I’m most grateful for is that I’ve built AMACMEDIA organically almost 80% of my clients come through referrals rather than social media posts. To me, that speaks volumes about the relationships I’ve built, the results I deliver, and the trust I’ve earned.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amacmedia.co
• Instagram: Instagram.com/amacmediaandco
• Linkedin: Aaliyah McMullen

Image Credits
AMACMEDIA & CO