We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Dixon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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 manage my own social media accounts for both personal and business accounts.

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

My name is Jessica Dixon and I am the owner of Jessica Dixon ministries. We are a ministry of music and hair. Our purpose is to encourage, inspire, and uplift people through music and the ministry of hair. I started playing music when I was five years old when my mother enrolled in music courses at South suburban College. They had summer programs for children ages five through 18. When I was in fifth grade, I began playing the clarinet and in six grade I began playing the alto saxophone in both jazz band and symphonic band. My love for music continue to grow as I went to high school. I was in symphonic band, jazz band, concert, choir, show choir, and Gospel choir all 04 years of high school. It wasn’t until I was in college. That’s when I developed a desire to learn more about hair. This is when I became pregnant with my child. Initially, I just wanted to learn how to do hair so I can be able to do my child’s hair, but when I saw that there was a need beyond just me, I wanted to do something about it. So when I graduated from cosmetology school in 2014, created a plan to provide low-cost hair services to those in need. My main audience were senior citizens. That did not have a right to their hairdressers, or those that just could not afford to go to the shop all the time. I travel to a clients homes, and I provided services. Some clients would want me to wash their hair at home or they would already wash their hair before I arrive. I specialize in natural hair and I kill clients what they should do to keep their hair healthy until it is time for them to get their hair done again. The ultimate goal that I have is to build a music school that will teach other children how to teach, read, write, and record their own music. With the music industry, being such a male dominated career, I want to show other young girls, that they can also teach and be producers as well. I also want to have my own shop that will have a daycare next to it. I do realize that children are not allowed in beauty shops because of the chemicals, but stylus use so I would like to cut the middleman out and instead of them trying to find someone to watch the children they can bring their children and just send them to my daycare for this right now and it’s connected to the shop. it is my prayer that after someone has experienced my ministry, in any capacity, they feel encouraged, inspired, and or uplifted.

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

When I was just starting in the hair industry, I was encouraged to start in a shop that rents booths. I was very hesitant at first to start that way because from what I learned, I needed to build my clientele first before I was able to start really making money to be able to rent a booth every month or every week. But since the owner of that shop was willing to work with me, and she was really wanting me to work with her and she was going to teach me some things I decided to go with that specific shop. So when I started at the shop, I was very excited and enthusiastic to start. I was passing out flyers, I was telling everyone I was at a shop, and at some points I did receive clients. I still have my clientele from when I was in cosmetology school, (they are really the reason why I started to become a traveling stylist). It was when I received my first payout at that shop is when I realized I needed to come out of the shop and do my own thing. I stayed at the shop for about five months and I was only making about $10 a week that was only enough for gas to get to and from work every week because I live close to the shop. The saving grace for me was the clientele that I had coming out of cosmetology school, I was going to their home to do their hair and they were paying me full price for services. So after five months of being in a local shop, I changed my brand and decided to become a traveling stylist. Now with me becoming a traveling stylist, I had to get a 9-to-5 in order to maintain a lifestyle for my child. It wasn’t easy, but now it is working out really well.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Where am I audience of social media really started with the phrase I already had on social media. Once they saw that I was singing or doing hair, they would share my videos or photos. It is all about word-of-mouth and being consistent. I have learned that consistency is key with social media. If they do not see you posting anything they either think you’re not doing it anymore or they just don’t know because of the algorithm with Facebook and Instagram, and all of the social media sites you have to be consistent with posting. I am still learning this because when I do hair sometimes I forget to post the pictures or sometimes I forget to take pictures and they are plenty of clients here that I’ve done amazing work when I would put myself on the bed and I would have no picture . But the saving grace is my clients always take pictures when their hair is done so I would share their selfie and say something to the effect of I love when my clients are happy with their hair. But consistency is definitely key when it comes to social media and building your audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jdixonministries.wixsite.com/jdixon
• Instagram: Ladyj_sings
• Facebook: Jessica Dixon Ministries
• Other: Facebook.com/jdixon2011