We were lucky to catch up with Anthony O’Connell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anthony thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.

I created a custom sandwich for a client that became one of their top-selling items. Through my social media management skills, I significantly increased my clients’ online presence, attracting a larger audience and, subsequently, customers. My content extends to various industries, including restaurants, apartments, and wellness clients. I have produced captivating video content that effectively tells their brand stories.

Anthony, 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’m Anthony O’Connell, a Columbus, Ohio based foodie, content creator, social media manager, and podcaster, as well as the founder of upperfeast and 614feast. By creating captivating and visually stunning food videos, I have helped my clients’ content reach millions of people, allowing them to connect with a wider audience and build a stronger online presence. Collaboration is my passion and I love to work with my clients to increase their reach and brand exposure by significant amounts.

I take pride in my work and have helped many businesses increase their reach on social media as well as improve their seo. One of my proudest achievements was helping a restaurant from the ground up. I created the website, helped with branding, developing menus, and taking photos for their restaurant. I’m experienced in all aspects of digital marketing and social media marketing, making these my main services.

As someone born and raised in Columbus, Ohio I feel a deep connection to the 614 area and the local businesses that make it special. Even during the six years I spent living in NYC, I kept my 614 area code on my phone number. Supporting and promoting the community is a top priority in my work. Let’s team up and produce something truly exceptional together! Additionally, I produce and host a podcast called 614 feast podcast, where I’ve interview many Columbus, Ohio-based restaurateurs and foodies.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

In 2017, I founded my food Instagram account, upperfeast, to showcase the delicious food options available in my neighborhood of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I gained 10,000 followers in my first year, and my following grew to 100,000 within three years. Over the next few years, I began receiving free food and items from brands, which eventually led to paid brand partnerships. In 2020, I decided to start a media company with only one client. I quit my day job, which I did not enjoy, and went all-in on content creation. Thankfully, I gained a second client the following month, and my business continued to grow through referrals. I am very grateful for the clients who have come to me, but my goal is to start a cold outreach program so that I can grow my business even faster and help more business owners tell their stories

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The key to gaining a following on social media is: post amazing content, tell a story, and optimize every post.

I do content consulting and I always tell my clients the importance of lighting, framing, and general composition. Every post should tell a story, even a 7 second TikTok should tell a story. Optimize the posts by using the correct dimensions for the social media you’re posting too. Post as much video content as possible, choose good music, choose an engaging thumbnail. Be authentic and much more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://614feast.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/614feast/

Image Credits
These are all my photos. Also that’s Jeni of Jeni’s ice cream her second time on the podcast, she rules!