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

Lanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

The number one thing I would do differently if I was starting my channel from scratch again would be be my true self sooner. I think we can all agree social media often seems curated and perfect, but the fact of the matter is people crave relatability. When I stopped focusing so much on making my content look a certain way or present my life a certain way and started being myself, things took off

Lanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Lanie and I run a tiktok channel under the name NewOrlainz focused on all things New Orleans, as well as general lifestyle content. My channel was actually born at one of the lowest points of my life, where I was desperate for a creative outlet as well as genuine connections in my city. What started as me simply recording and sharing what I was already doing has turned into a community I am extremely proud of. My followers are a mix of locals and tourists alike who all share a common love of New Orleans or an interest in learning about why so many people love it. I also get to help local businesses and events get new customers or patrons by showcasing them on my channel, which I love.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Building community and sharing all the wonderful things about New Orleans. The city can get a bad rep, especially from those who are misinformed. I love showing people the true NOLA and the amazing people who live here.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My biggest piece of advice is just keep posting. Throw things at the wall until you find what sticks. Copying what you think people want to see will rarely come off as authentic, and people will be turned off by that. Keep making what you want to make and share it- you’ll find your audience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: NewOrlainz
• Other: Tiktok: NewOrlainz