We recently connected with Allyson Brooks and have shared our conversation below.

Allyson, appreciate you joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

If I were starting over today, I would lead with my network — intentionally and unapologetically.

Instead of spending so much time trying to prove myself to strangers online, I’d start by nurturing the people already in my circle — the ones who trust me, cheer for me, and understand my heart. Whether it’s former clients, vendors, friends, or other creatives, I’ve found that those relationships are the root of every long-term win in my business.

Early on in my marketing career, I poured energy into posting frequently online (almost every day) and trying to “beat the algorithm.” Over time, I’ve found the clients who stuck —the ones who referred others and became my biggest advocates — didn’t come from that. Instead, they came from strong relationships. If I were doing it over, I’d prioritize relationship marketing from the jump: engaging with aligned local businesses, showing up consistently in my community through networking and event attendance, and turning every satisfied client into a referral pipeline.

This translates into the wedding planning side of my business, where referrals are gold. Now that I’ve built strong vendor relationships, I see how valuable it is to invest in being someone others want to recommend. If I were starting over, I’d attend more networking events earlier, introduce myself to venues and photographers, and consistently show up with kindness and professionalism. Thankfully, this only took me a short time to learn, and now, my business is almost entirely referral-based. I truly pride myself on building relationships with clients, potential clients, and even those who may never become clients. Because of this perspective, people trust the way I work and the way I treat others — which, in both weddings and social media, matters more than anything.

If I had realized how powerful referrals would become, I would’ve put more systems in place early on to track them, thank them, and actively encourage them.

Allyson, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve always been drawn to creativity, storytelling, and connection. From a young age, I found myself naturally stepping into leadership roles, whether it was editing the high school yearbook or running school-wide organizations and events. That early love for design and communication led me to pursue dual majors in Marketing and Management, where I deepened my skills and started to imagine a business of my own.

During college, a high leadership position working with various university offices and organizations, and planning campus-wide events, paired with an internship that turned into a full-time position at a local marketing agency, gave me an inside look at how these industries worked and where they often fell short. I noticed so many talented creatives and small business owners struggling to feel seen by large marketing and event agencies. Their voices were getting lost in templated strategies and high-volume systems. That’s when the idea for The Social Edit started to take shape.

I wanted to create something more personal. Something built on real relationships, not quick wins. Many of the clients I work with today have tried the agency route before, only to walk away feeling unseen or unsupported. My goal is to be the opposite of that. At The Social Edit, I provide personalized, thoughtful social media management that helps people feel confident online and in their business again. I treat every client like my only client, and that level of intentional service is what defines everything I do.

Along the way, I found a way to bring my second passion into the business: weddings. My love for the wedding industry started early, too. I grew up watching my aunt and grandmother work as planners and florists in Louisiana. In a large Southern family, it felt like there was a wedding every year, and I was always ready and willing to help. From coordinating timelines to building bouquets and setting up decor, I found so much joy in supporting others on one of the most important days of their lives.

Today, I’m honored to serve couples through wedding planning and day-of coordination, bringing the same detail-driven, calm, and supportive presence that I bring to my marketing clients. Whether I’m managing your Instagram or managing your wedding timeline, my mission is the same: to help you feel seen, supported, and fully confident in what you’re creating.

The Social Edit was built to serve people, not just platforms or trends. It’s a place where your story matters, your goals are heard, and your vision gets the time and care it deserves.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building my audience on social media has truly been a labor of love. From the very beginning, I made a promise to myself: I would focus on cultivating real, meaningful relationships, not chasing numbers. I’ve never been interested in vanity metrics or follower counts for the sake of appearances. What mattered to me was building a community where I actually knew the people I was following, engaging with, and supporting, and where that care was mutual.

I’ve always been intentional about who I follow and how I show up. If I don’t feel like I can genuinely engage with someone’s content — whether that’s liking, commenting, or cheering them on — then I probably don’t need them in my feed. There is so much noise on social media, and one of the most empowering things we can do is choose what noise we allow in. I believe you can build a strong, values-aligned audience by showing up with purpose, staying consistent, and choosing connection over comparison.

My advice to others? Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to go viral to be successful. Focus on building trust. Focus on showing up for your audience in a way that feels true to you. At the end of the day, slow growth built on real connection is more sustainable — and way more fulfilling — than chasing trends that don’t align with who you are.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn as a young woman in business is that being nice doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.

When I started The Social Edit, I wanted to make everyone happy. I was afraid of disappointing clients, afraid of coming off as difficult, and afraid that setting boundaries would make me seem less accommodating or less professional. So I over-delivered. I said yes to things that weren’t aligned. I let projects stretch beyond scope, timelines blur, and communication expectations go unchecked, all in the name of being “nice.”

Over time, I realized that what I was actually doing was teaching people how to treat me, and it wasn’t sustainable. I had to unlearn the idea that boundaries are cold or unkind. The truth is, clear expectations are a form of respect. They protect both me and my clients. They create a better experience for everyone.

Now, I lead with kindness and clarity. I’m still warm, still collaborative, but I’m no longer afraid to say, “That’s outside the scope” or “That’s not a good fit for me right now.” Being nice doesn’t mean being a doormat. It means communicating well, showing up with integrity, and honoring your time, energy, and expertise.

That shift has changed everything for me, and it’s helped me build a business I can actually sustain and be proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesocialeditky.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialeditky
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesocialeditky
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesocialeditky

Image Credits

Katie Micha Photography