We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miriam Sanchez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miriam below.
Miriam , appreciate you joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?
Since the inception of my travel account, I have been the sole manager of my social media travel page. However, a few months after I started, the reality of managing my own social media started to become quite daunting. I quickly began to realize that the days of straightforward photo-sharing was becoming a thing of the past. Sharing my travel content was not going to be as basic as capturing a unique angle and slapping on a quick caption. Social media was now taking on a different meaning and purpose, especially for creatives and businesses. The time it took to research trends, keep up with the algorithm, capture footage, edit photos and videos, plan content, etc. was truly becoming quite the operation. So, I reached out to a social media management company for some much needed guidance via workshops. I wanted to see if the way I had been handling my social media account was truly in line with the demands of the game. I’ll admit, I was surprised to know that I had a very good grasp on what was required to be a successful creator – I had established a good foundation. I compared all the things I was already doing on my account to all the strategies that were being presented by the social media manager.
Still, far from being an expert on the subject, I needed to know how to further improve my online presence. So in addition to the workshops, I also took advantage of as many free resources as I possibly could: YouTube videos, Pinterest blogs and expert tips from other content creators in the travel industry. Taking this route of the never-ending free resources has had its pros and cons. On one hand, I was happy to be saving money. Yet I also found myself having to undergo the painstaking task of personally piecing together an enormous amount of information, organizing it, and tailoring it to my account and purpose. There were many times I felt very discouraged when I didn’t see a lot of engagement on my posts or didn’t feel my content was reaching my desired audience despite all the changes I was constantly implementing. Yes, like many other creators, there were times I wanted to give up the entire venture all together!
However, I’m happy to say that two years later, the results of my choices have been finally paying off. I’ve seen a steady growth compared to the static following I had a few months ago. It’s hard to say whether the way I approached my social media game plan was the most effective. Perhaps if I would have decided to “bite the bullet” and invest in social media management services, the growth could have occurred in a shorter period of time. Yet, I kept pushing through with the mindset of doing what I love and the kept the vision going. I don’t believe I would change my choices for the reason that I wanted to be in full control of what I was attempting to establish. It was important for me to learn the ins and outs myself and experience the entire process from beginning to end. I simply wasn’t ready to hand it over to a company to manage. To be honest, I believe this personal and “hands-on” involvement was essential for my knowledge bank and growth. Despite the fact that I didn’t have the full expertise these companies have, I felt I was doing a pretty good job at accomplishing most of my objectives on my own.
One of the main lessons I’ve learned about managing my own social media account is the importance of being consistent with planning out content. Repeat after me: Planning paves the way for successful time management. If you plan ahead of time, the workload can be manageable. I think this is where many business owners become overwhelmed as they find it challenging to run their business and also figure out ways to market on social media. There’s no doubt it can be a huge challenge to fit in the social media aspects to your life’s routine, especially when you’re simultaneously handling other responsibilities. Whether you’re involved in a full-time or part-time employment, or are a stay-at-home parent, etc. However, this aspect of content planning, organization and time management is key to feeling successful and you’ll hear this message being echoed by all the social media experts. Another lesson I’ve learned is not to compare yourself to other creators or compare the growth of your account with other accounts. Your personal success is not always going to be measured by your social media following. There are many components to a social media account that are all important and take time to know inside out. Take it one step at a time, and be proud of all the small victories you’re reaching.
Whether you’re a business owner or social media creator who is just starting out, I would recommend making an honest assessment of the best routes that will fit your goals and timeline. Ask yourself genuine questions like: Do I realistically have time to manage my own social media page? What are the obstacles that would impede progress if I managed my social media myself? Am I in the financial position to invest in a company to manage my account? In short, make all the lists, do the research and take advantage of the resources that are out there. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to hiring a team or company to manage your social media. You are the one who can best determine what will work with your current circumstances. Many social media managers offer short informative workshops that are a very productive and cost-effective way to gain the insight you need. Sometimes, that’s just the jump start you can use that can get you on your way to establishing a successful social media account. You also don’t need all the fancy apps to accomplish your social media goals. Use your phone’s “Notes” app to stay organized. Of course, if you prefer to utilize an app for all the different aspects of social media planning, by all means, go for it! Basically, it’s all up to you. Keep the vision going and enjoy the journey!
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.
My name is Miriam and I am a Travel Content Creator. When I began this little venture in 2022, I was battling pandemic anxiety as well as navigating through postpartum depression. I was craving a creative channel to say the least. So as a stay-at-home mom of 2, I began to think about ways I could express some of that creativity while still being able to focus on raising my children. I needed the creative outlet to be practical, accessible yet intellectually satisfying. So I decided travel blogging was going to be that outlet.
For years I had thought about starting a travel account or initiating a blog dedicated to all things travel. For many reasons, it just never happened. One day, without much hesitation, I just went for it. In this “now or never” moment, I went to through the process of creating a secondary account. It was quite shocking and very terrifying actually. Without much thought or planning, there I was embarking on this new journey – whatever that meant! Vienswithmoi quickly became more than just a creative pastime though. It became my personal portal to the entire world. Suddenly, I was researching travel destinations, trends, and photo scenes from across the globe and it greatly excited me. It made me feel like I was a part of something bigger, a movement of sorts.
My travel content has gone through a few revisions throughout time due to all sorts of changing trends. I would consider my travel account an interesting mix of classic and fun. However, I try not to focus too much on trends. Ultimately, I want to stay true to the vision I’ve always held about my account. My aim has always been to share soft artistic photographic renditions of the world around me. To share all things big and small, the unseen, the local hidden gems we all love to discover and the beauty of slow travel. I wanted my curiosity and point of view for all things beautiful to translate into my photography while still providing meaningful and useful travel destination information. I always hoped that my classic photographic style and travel shares would set me apart from other accounts and I think that’s something that has resonated with many of my followers. I’ve been told by some that there’s even a hint of whimsy. Something else that I believe sets me apart is my love for History and Historic sites. My travel posts will often contain some historical facts about particular places and it’s an avenue I hope to continue expanding on.
I am most proud of simply having started. Though it’s taken me a while to get to a place of consistency and satisfaction, this venture has allowed me to grow as a person, and as a creative. It takes courage to embark on new projects and actively work towards achieving personal goals. Self-doubt has a way of creeping in and paralyzing us. Therefore, I am proud that I had the courage to just begin. I’m still learning along the way and coming up with new ideas for content. The path of learning and exploring is always worth taking and it’s what makes life an interesting and exciting journey. Now, Vienwithmoi is a big part of my identity and I feel I’m on my way to creating a personal brand and image.
What I want my followers to know about my work is that I will always strive for quality over quantity. I’m a stickler for honest self-representation and believe it’s more important to engage in things you actually love versus becoming a carbon-copy of someone else. The pressure to cave into and join the ever-changing social media mania is constantly present. But I will always choose to do the things that truly spark my joy. This is why I tend to lean on the more classic side of things, yet love incorporating fun pieces into the content I create. I want viewers who visit my page and look through my posts to have a moving experience that grants them inspiration for travel and appreciation for the natural world. Yet be sparked by the unique finds and points of interest a thriving city can offer. All while getting to know who I am as I share tidbits of my personality and whimsy.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is to simply share and contribute something meaningful. It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution may be. Ultimately, it’s the imprint or mark one leaves behind. It’s an opportunity to express and share with the world your unique perspectives or thoughts.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Initially, my main objective was to solely find myself again through the hobby of photography. For years, I felt like I had somehow “lost” a big part of who I was. I was most certainly coming from a place of healing and needing to find another purpose as an individual. So, my social media page became therapy for me. However, with time, it’s turned into something more. I now view my work as a business opportunity that will not only allow me to do what I enjoy, but could potentially afford me a window for sustainable income. This is why I’ve been focusing on the business side of this venture and trying to find ways to grow my services and offer more to my online community. Something else that’s very important for me is to engage in work that allows me to spend time with my children and be as present as I can be in their lives. Therefore, my main drive will always be to find the right balance with what I’m trying to do income-wise, while being able thrive as a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @vienswithmoi
