We recently connected with Kim Maiden and have shared our conversation below.

Kim, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Maiden Community has been a successful social media group (primarily Facebook) for multiple reasons. Authenticity, consistency and growth have all contributed to our success. We started during the Pandemic when businesses were in dire need of support, especially small businesses. The community around us had lost their feeling of genuine interaction and were searching for a way to not only help but connect with others. Through social media we were able to bring hope and support to a local community that felt lost. We have remained consistent in our beliefs that when you take negativity out of the equation and root for others to succeed, as a community we can really make a difference.

My family owns Pickwick’s Pub which is a landmark of the San Fernando Valley. We experienced firsthand how difficult the Pandemic was for small businesses. We turned to social media as an avenue to hopefully keep our doors open. What came next, I could have never imagined. The outpouring love and support from people who had never even been in our restaurant was outstanding. And because of everyone’s support, we were able to stay open in a time where restaurants were shutting their doors. Because of the support we received, I knew I was called upon to help other businesses not only stay open, but continue to soar.

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.

Maiden Community was created by the simple idea that with a great group of supportive individuals we would see mom and pop shops keep their doors open during a time where it seemed impossible. We are so much more than just a Facebook group. We are a group of supportive members and business owners that stand behind each other and give back to the community around us. As an organization, we have grown so much in the past 3 years. We have had to implement new rules and guidelines to maintain our success. We offer so much more than just Facebook promotions, thanks to our incredible Admin Team. With their help, we have grown to support over 100 shops and service providers. As an advertising member in our group, memberships include a featured spotlight, a Facebook LIVE, weekly posts to advertise their business, attend networking events, advice on content creation, and most importantly community support. We believe through simple acts of kindness you can make a difference so something we are very proud of is our charitable donations, big and small. Maiden Community members wanted to give back to the community, so we formed a $2 Tuesday. Our donations go to fire stations, hospital workers (nurses and staff), families in need, assisted living facilities, police stations, teachers/schools and countless other organizations. By simply dropping off a delicious meal or donating to a charity it has become part of what Maiden Community is all about. As a group we not only support businesses, but we give back and do good in a world that really needs some positivity. Maiden Community creates long lasting friendships simply through being connected and supporting the same cause.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Through the growth of Maiden Community, I have received a lot of help from some great people. Nothing quite stuck until I met Tracee Krell-Marron. I met Tracee as a customer at my family’s restaurant. She had seen my call for help on social media and while she didn’t know me or my establishment, she just wanted to help a local business survive. I truthfully fell in love with her personality and felt an instant connection and knew immediately we had to be friends. When I was at a crossroads with the group and contemplated shutting it down, she stepped in and helped Maiden become what it is today. She truly is the backbone of the group and is respected and loved by so many. I believe teamwork and confidence in each other’s abilities is crucial and what makes us a successful team. We call each other Maverick and Goose. I know with her by my side this group’s growth is limitless.

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

I built my audience in a very natural way. I believe the more authentic you are, the more people want to engage. I started this group by going into local clothing boutiques trying on clothes and modeling them to promote the store. It definitely wasn’t professional modeling, but raw and honest and I think people felt like “Okay! I could rock that like Kim.” I think in a world where everything is edited, finding a group that isn’t is refreshing. I love pulling someone out of their comfort zone and having them do a Facebook LIVE. They always ask, “Can’t we just record and edit?” and my answer is always “No”, as the goal is to always be relatable and true, flaws and all. That’s what draws an audience. So my advice is to just be yourself and the right people will follow and help you grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maidencommunity.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maidencommunity/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maidencommunity
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaidenCommunity
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maidencommunity
• LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/maidencommunity?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=ebdbe2b5-4efc-4ac9-a454-e582da21288e

Image Credits
Jamie Goldberg, Digital Marketing Strategist (Maiden Flyers) Justina Mensa with Perez Family Photography