We recently connected with Ayana Wilder and have shared our conversation below.

Ayana, appreciate you joining 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 started my small business 2 years ago at the beginning of COVID. Initially starting my business I did not think that social media was a big factor as far as trying to grow my business. What I began to realize was social media matters tremendously. When I first started off I was posting my products on my Facebook page, and having family and friends buy. I quicly began to realize that as time went on and my business began to grow, that trying to just sell to family and friends do not work out because some expect handouts. I branch from just selling on Facebook, and made a website, but that was not enough. I had to try to get my brand out further to people I didn’t know. I ended up making a tiktok, a business page on Instagram and a email subscriber list to showcase my products as well as how I make some of my products. I also made a Etsy page and that has brought in a lot of new business as well. This year I plan on showcasing my products on my YouTube page as well. It is a lot to manage your business solely by yourself. My goal is to one day be big enough where I could hire someone to help me with some things within my business. Social media is definitely important if you are trying to get your brand/business out there to the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am 28 years old, a mother to two beautiful girl, and a wife to my loving husband. I have always been a artsy person, and would often just make things to for myself or others just because I knew how. I never thought to turn it into a business until my husband mentioned it to me 2 years ago when Covid first started. I had found out I was pregnant with my second daughter, and with the uncertainty of what Covid was, my husband did not want me to be out for fear that I would get sick due to my immune system being low because I was pregnant. He mentioned that since I like to craft and make things that I should turn that into a business and that is exactly what I did. I first started off making bath salts, soaps, and lip balms. I did that for about half the year, but soon decided that I enjoyed making jewelry as well. I began to incorporate handmade jewelry pieces into my online shop just to see how people would respond and they loved it. Now my store main focus is handmade jewelry, custom pieces and t-shirts. If your an artist than you know that your mind is forever thinking of something different. Whose to say what I will decide to add to my shop, but either way it goes I am excited for the journey to come. Make sure you guys check out LoverByNature.

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

Initially starting my business my husband funded everything for me because I was a stay at home mom at the time. He believed that I am good at what I do and that I had the zeal to accomplish my goals, so he started me off with money to get my supplies to make my products. Even now he still helps whenever I have a new idea and want to try a new equipment or a different way of making my products.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The way that I have been building my audience through social media is with paid advertisements. If I am running a sale or have a new product I will create a reel or take pics of the products and I will choose paid advertisement so that I can reach other people besides people who are already subscribed to my emails or followers. I do get a lot of sales by doing the paid advertisement.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.loverbynature.com
• Instagram: www.instagram/loverbynatureproducts
• Facebook: www.facebook/loverbynature