Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Sorokes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The mission behind BuffaloBeerfluencer is to make beer fun and approachable for everyone while supporting the Buffalo and Western New York community and local-owned businesses.
In this age of influencer overload, I like to take a playful approach to providing beerfluence — from local breweries launching a new flavor, to area beer festivals, new brewery openings, and how industry trends are affecting us, you can count on BuffaloBeerfluencer to cover it all, adding in tips for the best experience.
How BuffaloBeerfluencer got started:
I’ve been a beer lover for a while, and the covid pandemic only fueled that for me. Especially in those early months, buying to-go beers from breweries was one of the only ways to support them. I was living in Charlotte, NC at the time, and it was my one, weekly outing to pick up to-go beers from my favorite breweries.
As time went on and things started opening back up, walking to breweries and trying their small batch or new release beers continued to be something I looked forward to every week, and I’d often post the beers onto my Instagram Stories with a little review. I liked being the first in my friend group to try a new spot or a new beer, and especially since the pandemic still kept my social group in smaller circles, sharing reviews on social media was a fun way to stay connected to my community.
After the pandemic, once I was back in Buffalo, I found it more refreshing than ever to bond with beertenders or other guests on what we were drinking or what events they had coming up. I realized breweries were so much more than just beer; they were an entire community of friends and neighbors, a common ground for people to relax and have a good time. At the same time, I started realizing people were creatures of habit – they tended to go to the same places on the same days, often missing out on fun new flavors, happy hour deals, and events happening at another spot just a mile or two down the road.
So after living in Buffalo for a year and diving head-first into the Buffalo brewery scene, I decided to make the @buffalobeerfluencer page to have a dedicated spot for me to share the new beers I’m trying, connect with likeminded people in the community, and support local businesses. Since July 2022, I’ve grown my following organically to 5K+ with 285 posts spotlighting breweries, but also restaurants, salons, gyms, coffee shops, and more.
I love that when you support local, there’s always something new to discover.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I create content that spotlights local breweries and businesses, mostly in the Buffalo and WNY area. This mainly includes taking photos and videos to create Instagram and TikTok posts. It also includes attending events, dinners, and gatherings at local businesses – for example, I recently supported a Galentine’s Day event at a local salon, bringing in two breweries for sampling.
My mission is what sets me apart. Yes, I love going to the cool spots and the trendy new places. But more so, I love going to the businesses that don’t get the hype and love they deserve, and trying to provide that for them. I’m a writer and marketer by trade, so using my skillset to provide some value for my community is the ultimate goal.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Growing an audience organically can be challenging and frankly stressful. In my first days and weeks, I was obsessed with every like and follower., but I took everything as a learning experience. If I ever shared a “throwaway photo” – a random photo of a beer I would post just to post something – the audience knew. My caption was weak, and the engagement wasn’t there. I vowed to then only post things I cared about, and things my followers would want to know: a new flavor release, a great experience I had, a crazy-good deal. Asking myself “how do I make this helpful?” is key.
My most “viral” post was a Reel I made on my friend and I taking the Amtrak train to Rochester, NY (~an hour away from Buffalo) to have a brewery way. I captured the whole thing – the train ride, walking from place to place, the flights and food we had throughout the day, and the fact that our ticket was under $50. Many of my followers found my page through that reel, and I’m happy to say they’re still around!
Lastly, I do my best to engage back with the people who comment on my posts or message me in response to a story. Creating a two-way relationship helps build the trust, and bonus, I’ve made a lot of awesome friends through my page too!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
People who share that my content has made a difference for them – that is truly amazing.
Any time someone takes the time to comment or message me at all, I’m floored. Most people are scrollers and tappers when it comes to social media. The people who not only read my posts but then go to the brewery, try the new flavor, and report back (ex. “I had to go and get this today, I wouldn’t have known about it had you not shared!) makes me really feel like I’m making a difference.
Receiving similar messages from the business owners on how me sharing their event/product helped them reach their goals, that is the best feeling.
Just taking a moment to reflect on the fact that my silly little Instagram really *is* helping the community. That’s awesome.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @buffalobeerfluencer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091067420270
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-sorokes-40243728/
- Twitter: @BufBeerfluencer