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

Abigail, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?

I currently manage my social media platforms on my own. From emails, brand partnerships, PR, Instagram ads, and content planning and creation — it’s a one-person team. I have hired a social media manager in the past to help me with my business, and while she was an incredible help, as I have focused more on my personal brand it’s been really important for me to be in charge of my social accounts. In order to prioritize authenticity in my digital space I need to create content and manage the business side on my own.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

This is a great question. I entered the social media industry at fourteen as a digital journalist and transitioned more into content creation in the past three years. As a digital creator, I post regularly on Instagram and YouTube. Most of my content as of late is centered around reading and book reviews. On top of managing my social accounts, I manage several social media accounts throughout the university that I attend. I’ve done a lot since entering the social media industry, from web-series production to website copywriting, crypto-journalism, freelance editing and proofreading, and more. But in all my years, I’m most proud of how I’ve grown as a person. Working in the digital realm has taught me a lot about myself and how I can sustainably share my life without constantly chasing virality to the point of burnout. I know who I am without the digital aspect, so it doesn’t feel like a façade, but an outlet to share my personality with my audience.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Utilize your network! It took me years to truly utilize things like LinkedIn and creator networks, but when I did, opportunities began to present themselves more abundantly within months compared to years when I had little to no connections in the social media space.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think the most obvious concern non-creatives struggle with understanding the journey as a creative is the practicality of pursuing a ‘dream’ versus pursuing a traditional career. I can only speak to the social media pathway, but in the past five years alone social media has broken the glass ceiling of practicality and moved into a new and exciting realm. I think that the probability of being successful as a digital creator is at an all-time high, especially with the surge of micro-influencers. Brands are beginning to focus their attention on small creators as a more sustainable option for social media content creation and promotion, and even creators with 1,000 followers are being provided opportunities to work with brands and make money. For anyone who might be skeptical of pursuing social media, don’t let follower count influence your decision. There are plenty of chances to pave a way for yourself that don’t require an audience of tens of thousands of people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://authorabigailann.wixsite.com/my-site
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/abigaiilann
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/abigail-ann/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC561ZIfj9IZAKnIxtvCamfA

Image Credits
Second photo: Rainee Favella Third photo: Angelica Ramirez