We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Bousquet recently and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?

When I began my freshman year at Quinnipiac University in 2017, I had a clear vision of my future: to become the next big sideline sports reporter. I immersed myself in journalism, covering campus sports and producing for the university’s sports show. But as exciting as the work was, something didn’t quite fit.

The summer after my freshman year marked a pivotal turning point. I applied for a marketing internship at Yale University, not knowing that it would redefine the trajectory of my life. I fell in love with the creativity and connection that marketing offered. It felt like I had finally found my spark.

This newfound passion led me to shift my academic focus toward marketing, and by 2020, I landed another internship—this time for college credit—with Kaleidoscope Events, a Boston-based wedding planning company. Here, I discovered the magic of working with small businesses, helping them build their brands and connect with their audiences. It was the perfect blend of creativity and strategy, and I knew I was on the right path.

When I graduated in 2021, I started a full-time role at A Fluent Vision, an IT marketing agency working with major tech companies like Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft. It was remote, flexible, and financially stable—a dream start. But as someone who has been known to dream big, I quickly realized I wanted more.

I began to lay the groundwork for my own business. Nights and weekends were spent building my website and applying for freelance gigs on Indeed. By the end of the summer, I had a handful of clients in addition to my full-time job. It was exhilarating but exhausting, balancing multiple priorities while trying to envision what even “more” could look like.

In 2022, I decided to channel my marketing expertise into growing my personal brand. I launched a TikTok account in October and committed to posting three times a day. It wasn’t easy—I sacrificed weekends, sleep, and more than a little sanity—but the results were undeniable. Within two years, I built a community of over 25,000 followers and was averaging nearly 3 million video views per week. Some weeks, my content was reaching tens of millions of people.

Growing my audience has been one of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of my journey. There were weeks when engagement dipped, ideas felt stale, and self-doubt crept in. But I treated my personal brand like my most important client, experimenting with strategies and analyzing results until I found what worked. It’s this mindset—treating each challenge as a learning opportunity—that has been my biggest takeaway from scaling up.

Today, as of January 2025, I’m still juggling my full-time role, freelance clients, and personal projects. My ultimate goal is to become my own boss, fully supporting myself through my creative work and passion projects. The journey is far from over, but I’ve built a foundation that I’m proud of, one that inspires me to keep pushing toward the life I’ve always envisioned.

The road to scaling my business hasn’t been linear. It’s been a story of late nights, countless job applications, moments of doubt, and even failure. But it’s also been one of resilience, adaptability, and finding joy in the process. If there’s one lesson I hope others take away from my story, it’s this: scaling up isn’t about having a perfect plan—it’s about showing up every day, ready to pivot, grow, and chase the dream.

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.

I offer a blend of marketing expertise tailored for small businesses, creative entrepreneurs, and personal brands looking to grow their presence and connect meaningfully with their audiences. My services include social media strategy and management, content creation, brand storytelling, and helping clients navigate the digital landscape to achieve measurable results.

One of the biggest problems I solve for my clients is helping them stand out in a crowded marketplace. Many small businesses and creatives struggle to tell their story or reach the right people. I help bridge that gap by crafting strategies that not only elevate their visibility but also build genuine, long-lasting connections with their audiences. Whether it’s optimizing their social media presence, creating engaging campaigns, or showcasing their unique value, I’m passionate about helping others grow and thrive.

What sets me apart is my dedication to experimentation and data-driven creativity. I’m not afraid to try new things—whether that’s committing to a rigorous posting schedule on TikTok to grow my personal brand or testing unique approaches for client campaigns. I combine this adaptability with a deep understanding of what makes people click, engage, and feel connected.

I’m most proud of the impact I’ve been able to make for both myself and my clients. Growing my TikTok audience to over 25,000 followers and averaging nearly 3 million weekly video views is a testament to the strategies I teach—and proof that they work. It’s been rewarding to see how these strategies can also transform my clients’ businesses, helping them reach new heights.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want them to know that my brand is built on authenticity, creativity, and results. I truly care about every project I take on, and I thrive on helping others achieve their goals while inspiring them to dream bigger. Whether I’m working with a small business owner, creating content for my own platforms, or brainstorming ways to tackle a new challenge, I bring passion and persistence to everything I do.

Ultimately, my work is about making connections—whether it’s connecting a business to its ideal customers or helping my audience feel seen and inspired. That’s what drives me, and that’s the heart of everything I do.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

One of my favorite marketing stories is actually my own personal content creation journey. When I started posting on TikTok in October 2022, I had no idea what I was doing. I cringe now when I look back at those early videos, but they were the foundation of everything I’ve built since.

The real turning point came in April 2023. My sister and I had planned a little ice cream date at Helado Teyaki in Providence to try their Japanese ice cream in a fish cone. It wasn’t anything extraordinary—just a fun outing—but I decided to film the experience. I posted the video with no expectations, but within hours, it started to blow up. Over 700,000 people watched that video, and hundreds of new followers poured in.

That moment was electric. It felt like I had cracked a code I didn’t even know existed. Suddenly, it was clear what people wanted: localized content that highlighted the best of Rhode Island. From that point on, I pivoted my strategy to focus on sharing hidden gems, must-visit restaurants, and unique experiences in my home state. Not only did I love showcasing Rhode Island—a place I’m so passionate about—but it was also resonating deeply with my audience.

This lightbulb moment taught me the power of leaning into what feels authentic and personal while also delivering something people are genuinely excited to engage with. It’s a moment I’m still so proud of because it marked the shift where my content started to really take off, both in terms of numbers and meaningful connections.

Looking back, that risk of trying something different—focusing on a hyper-local niche—changed everything for me. It’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest ideas, rooted in what you love, can have the biggest impact.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One of the hardest parts of my journey as a creative has been dealing with judgment from people who just didn’t understand what I was doing. Some of the harshest words have come from people I thought were closest to me—“loved ones” who couldn’t see beyond their assumptions about social media.

If you’re not a creative, especially one who understands the opportunities social media can provide, it’s easy to judge. To outsiders, it can look like you’re just chasing likes or obsessing over followers. But for me, it’s always been so much deeper. Social media is the foundation I’m building to achieve financial independence in an uncertain economy. It’s not just about creating content; it’s about creating a future. It’s a long-term plan to grow my personal brand into something powerful and sustainable.

Putting so much of yourself online, sharing your creativity with the world, and dedicating hours to perfecting your craft—all while facing negativity from people who don’t get it—can be draining. But over time, I’ve learned to let go of those who cast doubt and negativity.

My advice to anyone navigating a similar path is this: surround yourself with people who believe in you and align with your journey. When you find your people—the ones who cheer you on and understand your vision—the road becomes so much easier and so much more enjoyable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sammbousquet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammbousquet/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthabousquet/
• Twitter: https://x.com/sammbousquet
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sammbousquet
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammbousquet

Image Credits

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