We were lucky to catch up with Nikki Barren recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nikki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

“I manage my own social media accounts for two businesses. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I’ve been able to effectively manage my workload with the help of apps like Zapier and Odoo. Over the past year, I’ve grown one account to have 40k followers by identifying the right content to post, determining the best timing, and utilizing hashtags effectively.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a media personality and retail business owner. My media outlet is the N List Report, where I serve as a visual blogger and content creator, covering the latest in entertainment through recap videos. I have over 10 years of experience in this industry, starting out in North Carolina as a fashion show producer, wardrobe stylist, and fashion editor for H.E.M.P Hop magazine and Chocolate Informed Magazine. I later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where I worked with an online radio station, WTNT RADIO, booking interviews for upcoming shows. Eventually, I decided to branch out on my own and now cover a wide range of events, including red carpets and concerts.

In addition to my media career, I also own Dakota Blu Retail, a business that custom designs socks. I started this business two years ago with the goal of creating generational wealth for my son. Despite the challenges of running two businesses at the same time, I am proud of the success I have achieved through hard work and determination.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe that my reputation has been built on my humility and appreciation for every opportunity that has come my way, whether it was intern work or simply learning from others in my field. I also strive to conduct myself with class and respect towards myself and others. Additionally, my understanding that there will be setbacks and rejections along the way has helped me to persevere and succeed.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One thing that I have learned is that things don’t always go as planned. I once decided to leave my 9 to 5 job to pursue a career in media, but during that time, I became sick and faced a lot of challenges. I had recently moved to Atlanta without any family nearby, and was on the verge of losing my apartment and my car was repossessed. I had to decide whether to go back home and regroup with the support of my family, or to tough it out and stay in Atlanta. After careful consideration, I chose to stay and I’m glad I did because it was a difficult but valuable experience that helped me grow and learn a lot.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopdbr.co www.nlistreport.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/shopdbr.co?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU=
• Other: N List Report https://instagram.com/officialnlistreport?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nlistreport?_t=8Yit5LIhgdi&_r=1

Image Credits
I own the rights to these photos