We recently connected with Braxton Simpson and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Braxton thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I absolutely love this question! My senior year at Tennessee State University, I decided to officially launch Braxton Simpson Enterprises, LLC., because I knew I had the gift of brand development. Whether it be through social media services, supporting individuals in creating community on and off- line, or through career development.
My first client was the author of “The Not So Buttoned Up Approach” by Chandria Harris! This was such a fun and unique opportunity because it allowed me to build a strategic social media plan for the launch of her book.
It was even more special, because it taught me the importance of being in alignment with your customers. Chandria’s book and brand is all about career development. Braxton Simpson Enterprises is all about career, brand, and business development. Because our missions were aligned from the very beginning, the business relationship was a success!
This was the very 1st dollar to my business and the experience was unforgettable! Be sure to go purchase “The Not So Buttoned Up Approach” on Amazon!
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 background and context?
My name is Braxton Simpson and I am the CEO of Braxton Simpson Enterprises, LLC & a co-founder of HBCULinx, LLC. I like to consider myself a social entrepreneur, as I work to tailor my business efforts to solving social problems.
Braxton Simpson Enterprises, LLC is a one-stop shop tailoring its’ services to ensuring young people & marginalized communities have the tools to take autonomy over their personal and professional brands and careers, through social media management, career development, speaking, and consulting services. ”
Our top two goals are to take our clients from ” Passion to Purpose” and to support them in”Curating Community” in their businesses and brands.
HBCULinx., LLC is a new business that was created to cultivate and encourage sustainable bonds of community through a Black relationship building platform, invest in the growth and stability of HBCU attendees/grads between ages 21-30, and nurture and support ALL Healthy Black Relationships! Be sure to interact with us on Instagram @hbculinx & LinkedIn!
In addition to my businesses, I also am 1/4 of the “Auntie Archives”, a podcast community developed by me and 3 of my closest friends–Chelsey Roberts, Amirah Frye, and Autumn Thompson.
We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
The journey of myself and Brionika Johnson becoming business partners and starting HBCULinx is rooted in the community, culture, and comradery of an HBCU! From kicking it on the yard, strolling around campus, and serving our campus community–we found that investing in HBCU Relationships would keep this love going for generations to come.
Our Story began at Tennessee State University! The Summer before Brionika’s Freshmen Year we connected at a TSU Alumni Event and the rest was history! I actually became Brionika’s mentor, we spent lots of time working in the Student Government Association, and for our sorority–Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Shortly after graduating from TSU, we both found dating extremely difficult. Leaving TSU, heading to a new city to become an industry professional, and still yearning for #BlackLove, we founded HBCULinx–the 1st HBCU Relationship Building Platform for young adults.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Absolutely, this is my arena! The key to building social media presence online is to simply focus on curating community. So often, we focus on how many followers we can obtain vs. how many connections we can foster.
I have not obtained “followers” over the years, but I have built a community and gained an Internet Family! My best advice to all of the entrepreneurs and influencers out there, is to focus on how many lives you can impact through your content. Allow that to be the driving factor of what you share. Keep it authentic, because authenticity is, indeed, an aesthetic.
Go Download my free eBook, “Curating the Perfect Post: A 5-Step Guide to Social Media Success” !
https://www.braxtonsimpson.com/product-page/curating-the-perfect-post-a-5-step-guide-to-social-media-success
Contact Info:
- Website: braxtonsimpson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambraxsimpson/?hl=en. , https://www.instagram.com/hbculinx/?hl=en , https://www.instagram.com/auntiearchives/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braxton-simpson-80093b137/ ,
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iambraxsimpson?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/braxtonsimpson
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lvi39k2bPXOww0TPwUI2x?si=AqAx6mXkSUy9XQmcWi4rCA
Image Credits
Neek Poole @neekpoolephotography Dante’ Price @dantegotracks Dam.Getty Images