Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Renee Reyes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Renee, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

For over the past decade, I have always managed my own social media presence on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Here’s how the approach has evolved for me.

My shift towards Authenticity Initially, businesses often focused on presenting a polished image on social media, with carefully curated posts. However, over the years, there’s been a significant shift towards authenticity and transparency. Business owners now strive to connect with their audience on a more personal level by sharing behind-the-scenes content, stories, and genuine interactions. Example when I first started on social media, I only focus towards the business displaying my weddings and honestly it was getting me nowhere. It wasn’t until I decided to show more of my personality that I’d begin to see the growth on my social media platforms platform’s.

As social media platforms have introduced new features and formats, I have adapted by diversifying my content. This includes utilizing photos, videos, live streams, Stories, Reels, and TikTok videos to engage with their audience in different ways and keep up with evolving trends. This is giving me more of an opportunity to connect with my audience, on all kinds of levels from the beginning of my ceremony to the end.

As a business owner I prioritize engaging with their audience through comments, direct messages, and interactive features like polls and Q&A sessions. This fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty among my followers. I often share my location so that my followers can get a sense of community to know that if I am needed I am not to far to connect with either by phone email or meeting in person.

With the availability of analytics tools provided by social media platforms, business owners have become more data-driven in their approach. They analyze metrics such as reach, engagement, and demographics to understand what content resonates with their audience and refine their strategy accordingly. I have to honest this has been a challenge especially doing on it on my own my overall goal is to hire out help. Knowing who to trust with my business is something I am currently working on.

Each social media platform has undergone significant changes and introduced new features over the years. For example, the rise of TikTok has led to businesses experimenting with short-form video content, while Instagram has introduced features like Reels and IGTV. Business owners have had to stay updated with these changes and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Overall, the past decade has seen a transformation in how business owners approach and manage their social media presence, with a greater focus on authenticity, engagement, and adaptability to evolving trends and platform features. My Tik Tok is currently at 4000 which is the is the highest amount of followers from my other platforms.

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.

About The Love Officiant

Hello! I’m the founder and officiant behind The Love Officiant, serving couples in South Texas, including areas like Port Aransas and Corpus Christi. Over the past decade, I’ve had the honor of officiating weddings and helping couples celebrate their love in meaningful and personalized ceremonies.

**How It All Began:**

My journey into the wedding industry started unexpectedly when a friend asked me to officiate her wedding. Saying “yes” to that request sparked a passion within me for creating memorable and heartfelt ceremonies. From that moment on, I dedicated myself to helping couples craft ceremonies that truly reflect their love story and values.

**Services Provided:**

At The Love Officiant, I specialize in crafting personalized wedding ceremonies that celebrate the unique bond between each couple. Whether couples are seeking a traditional ceremony, a themed wedding, an intimate elopement, or a destination wedding on the beautiful South Texas coast, I work closely with them to create a ceremony that captures their personalities and love story.

**Solving Couples’ Needs:**

One of the primary problems I solve for my clients is the challenge of finding an officiant who resonates with them and understands their vision for their wedding ceremony. I offer a personalized approach, taking the time to get to know each couple and tailor their ceremony to reflect their beliefs, traditions, and personalities. My goal is to create a ceremony that feels authentic and meaningful to the couple and their loved ones.

**What Sets The Love Officiant Apart:**

What sets The Love Officiant apart is my dedication to creating memorable and personalized ceremonies that celebrate love in all its forms. I bring a warm and welcoming presence to every ceremony, ensuring that couples feel comfortable and supported throughout the process. My attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to excellence are what make each ceremony truly special.

**Proud Achievements:**

I am incredibly proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients over the years and the countless beautiful ceremonies I’ve had the privilege to officiate. It brings me joy to play a role in such a significant moment in couples’ lives and to see the love and happiness that fills the air on their wedding day.

**What I Want You to Know:**

For potential clients, and followers, I want you to know that at The Love Officiant, you’re not just another wedding on the calendar – you’re a cherished couple embarking on a beautiful journey together. I’m here to help you create a ceremony that reflects your love, values, and dreams for the future. With The Love Officiant, your wedding day will be a celebration of love, laughter, and happily ever after.

—

I hope this provides a comprehensive overview of The Love Officiant and what sets it apart in the wedding industry!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

*Finding Light in the Darkness: A Tale of Resilience*

In 2020, as the world grappled with the uncertainty and upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses and individuals faced unprecedented challenges. For The Love Officiant, the year began with a hopeful leap into full-time dedication to the wedding officiant role, only to be met with unforeseen obstacles.

As lockdowns and restrictions swept through communities, weddings were among the many events affected. It seemed as though the dream of officiating ceremonies and celebrating love would be put on hold indefinitely. But amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope emerged.

Rather than succumbing to despair, The Love Officiant embraced the challenge with resilience and determination. Instead of waiting for weddings to resume in traditional venues, a new opportunity arose – one that would take love to unexpected places.

Signing marriage licenses at grocery stores, meeting couples in empty parking lots, and officiating ceremonies in intimate settings became the new norm. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, love prevailed, and The Love Officiant became a beacon of hope for couples determined to tie the knot despite the odds.

In the midst of a global crisis, The Love Officiant not only survived but thrived, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. While toilet paper may have been scarce, love remained abundant, and The Love Officiant was there to help couples say “I do” in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Through flexibility, creativity, and unwavering dedication, The Love Officiant turned a year of challenges into a journey of discovery and growth. And as the world slowly began to recover, the resilience shown during those challenging times served as a reminder that love endures, no matter the circumstances.

In the end, 2020 was not the end of The Love Officiant’s journey – it was just the beginning of a new chapter filled with love, laughter, and countless stories of resilience in the face of adversity.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

Yes I do sell my e-book on my Website and here are the Pros:**and Cons of doing so.

Direct Control:** Selling on my website gives me full control over the sales process, including pricing, marketing, and customer interactions. You have the flexibility to make changes and updates as needed without relying on a third-party platform.

Brand Visibility:** By selling exclusively on your website, you can promote your brand and drive traffic directly to your site. This helps increase brand visibility and allows you to showcase your other services, such as wedding officiating.

Higher Profit Margins:** Since you’re not paying fees to a third-party platform, you can potentially earn higher profit margins per sale. This can be particularly beneficial for digital products like my ebook How to become a wedding officiant.

However, there are some Cons: for instance.

Limited Audience Reach:** One downside of selling exclusively on your website is that you may have a smaller audience compared to larger e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Etsy. It can take more effort to drive traffic to your site and attract customers.

Payment Processing:** Managing payment processing and security on your website requires extra setup and maintenance. You’ll need to ensure that your website is equipped with secure payment gateways to protect customer information.

**In Conclusion:**

Selling your e-book directly on your website offers greater control and potentially higher profit margins, but it also requires proactive marketing efforts to reach your target audience. Given the niche nature of your e-book and your expertise as The Love Officiant, leveraging your website as a sales platform can be a strategic choice to showcase your brand and offerings to potential customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theloveofficiant.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloveofficiant?igsh=bGQxMHdvZmdvdnlz&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloveofficiant.reneereyes?mibextid=YMEMSu
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/the-love-officiant-renee-reyes-corpus-christi-2
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theloveofficiant?_r=1&_d=e1208344e67c6f&sec_uid=MS4wLjABAAAANjBMR-ptgBIkSBlTL3yidcHm2DVNohZPYAcurLyIF5ZDzvWxINn-33JHuoKR94u8&share_author_id=6782723531472241669&sharer_language=en&source=h5_m&u_code=dabf161h51j5k5&ug_btm=b8727,b0&social_share_type=4&utm_source=copy&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAANjBMR-ptgBIkSBlTL3yidcHm2DVNohZPYAcurLyIF5ZDzvWxINn-33JHuoKR94u8&tt_from=copy&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=client_share&enable_checksum=1&user_id=6782723531472241669&share_link_id=89B3B5DA-0F00-49FD-9104-5E9101ACD5C3&share_app_id=1233

Image Credits
Priscilla Cavazos with portraits by Priscilla