Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Gils. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hannah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

I scrolled through a number of solid questions to answer, ranging from industry topics to business growth, and landed on this one to answer: Do you take vacations? Seems simple, right? Yet, as a business owner, this one hit me the hardest! I chose remote freelance work for this very reason: to stay flexible and to travel. Yet, now, a few years into my social media managing business, I find it difficult to take vacation. An ACTUAL vacation, where I leave my phone behind, don’t think about sharing to stories, keeping up with the latest trending reels, and checking email. Do my fellow social media managers relate?!

So, I find taking vacations very difficult, because I feel like I’m: 1) letting my clients down by not being available and 2) choosing not to work, therefore, making less money. You guys (preaching to myself here), this will cause burn out! To continually love my job, I have to be willing to let go of it for a little while, to enjoy an actual vacation where I unplug, recharge, and get back at it with a fresh perspective! Be right back, checking flight prices…

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I get so excited to share my career story, because it’s filled with many different things that have led me to the career I love today: being a social media manager for destination marketing organizations (DMOs & CVBs).

My career started as an on-camera sports reporter for The University of Alabama, a dream realized, as I stood sideline with a camera and mic, feet away from clanking helmets. It was thrilling! My next career step took me behind-the-scenes to Scripps Networks Interactive (now Discovery), producing shows for their high-profile brands HGTV, Travel Channel, and others. This career took me all over the country to create content for a global audience, as I traveled to nature’s waterslides, shot extreme milkshakes, planned HGTV Dream Home giveaways, participated in a shoot with Michelle Obama, and many more memory-making things; it was seriously another dream job!

Now, I use the skills I’ve learned, along with self-taught social media skills and my love for travel, to help DMOs & CVBs grow their social media presence and brand awareness. If you’re not familiar with what that means, it’s a fancy way of saying tourist destinations. Popular examples include @visitsavannah, @explorecharleston, @tempetourism, @alabamatravel, etc. You get the gist! A 2017 survey by Schofields Insurance found that 40% of millennials choose their next destination based on how socially shareable (or ‘Instagrammable’) their pictures will be. This is huge for DMOs to realize. And if you’re anything like me when planning my next vacation, you go to Instagram first!

This is where I come in for my clients. Many times in these organizations, social media falls on someone’s already-full plate, and they don’t have the capacity to create a social media strategy, nor listen to their audience and evolve accordingly. What visuals get the most likes? What captions gain the most feedback? What types of content is most engaging? I create a strategy for them showcasing what works the best on each platform and also includes content buckets: dining, activities, nature/outdoors, history, shopping, art/museums, whatever is unique to each destination. I also shoot and edit Instagram Reels, share stories, find beautiful user-generated content, and plan posts to increase brand awareness, and hopefully, inspire someone to visit!

Through a variety of careers, one thing has stayed the same: my passion for creating content and my desire to continually grow, learn, and adapt. I love where I’ve been, I love where I am, and I love where this will take me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life is all about pivoting! We need to cultivate an open and flexible mindset, because we never know what life will throw our way. And if we embrace what life gives us, it will be for our growth and our good.

One particular moment in my career where I had to pivot was when I was working was an associate producer for Scripps Networks Interactive. Discovery, Inc. acquired the company I was working for, and with the acquisition, many departments were affected, including my own. Many on my team were let-go after a decision to outsource production.

After so many great years with an incomparable company, I decided to become freelancer and start my own business. It was a slow start, but I knew I had the skills and experience to succeed. I updated my portfolio website, sent out my name and resume to multiple people, and landed my first client through the local entrepreneurs center. I continued to build clients over the next couple of years, as well as grow my skills and hone in on what I loved doing most.

It’s pretty cool when you find your niche. Your thing. And I finally felt like I had found mine! I’ve never been more satisfied in my over 8-year career than I am now as a Social Media Specialist supporting DMOs (destination marketing organizations) in their marketing efforts with beautiful, meaningful, and strategic social and digital content.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I absolutely love this question! It seems our working world stereotypes jobs into two categories: creative jobs and non-creative jobs. The beauty of creativity is that it’s needed everywhere, in every job, almost everyday. And, it looks different for each person. For one person, it means creating music. Another, it’s creating social content. Another, it’s find creative solutions to problems. And another, it’s investing in new ideas to better serve people.

The more leaders recognize the need for creativity, the more we’ll think outside the box, find solutions, and have more energy in our workplaces. Yeah, I’m passionate about creativity!

In my job, working as a social media manager, I find it extremely rewarding to create fresh content each week that highlights hidden gems and local businesses, inspires people to go on outdoor adventures, connects people to each other and to my clients’ destinations, and overall, brings positivity to social media!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hannahgils.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmillsgils/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgils/