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

Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?

I manage my own social media, but I also do it for others. My journey started with a few combined passions coming together: my love for art and film, my fondness for being in front of the camera, and my fascination with astrology. All of these I still cherish today. I began posting on TikTok in 2021 about astrology. I went viral quickly after starting my page and began receiving requests for readings. I was running my first business but didn’t even realize it. I grew tired of using something so dear to me to make money and took any opportunity to work with socials that I got. I pivoted my career just so I could get paid to post on Instagram and created a whole business based on my passion for building, growing, and nurturing a brand and community! I made the decision to do this not only because I loved it so much but also because I’ve seen it work. I was serving part-time while beginning my business, with my first client being the restaurant where I worked. I witnessed sales go from nothing on day one of opening to gradually building up when I took over Instagram, which was a game-changer. Restaurant margins are some of the toughest to navigate. If you breathe wrong, you could mess it up. To have a restaurant breaking even in the first couple of months, all because they had the right social media manager, was something I couldn’t ignore. When I heard a coworker explain how, because of the money he made that week, he could buy more work shirts, that was something I couldn’t ignore. And when the reservations started pouring in just minutes after collaborating with a local foodie, it was something I couldn’t ignore. That’s when I realized the power of social media and how crucial it is for a business in 2024.
If you’re thinking about social media, my answer is not only yes, but it’s something you need. However, you have to do it right. Throwing money at someone who is inexperienced isn’t going to help you; it might hurt you. I work with many business owners who tell me they made the wrong decision because they hired their sister, cousin, or niece to run the Instagram page. Because it’s just posting, right? No, it is not just posting. It’s creating, storytelling; it’s art, but not only that, it’s analytics, it’s posting times, it’s engaging. It’s showing up when you don’t want to. To do this, you cannot do it halfway. You need to be fully in love and invested in this process for it to truly pay off. Social media can change your life if you pour yourself into it. I suggest that if you cannot find someone to hire, get a one-on-one coach who can teach you how to run it. So when you do hire, you know what to ask and look for.

Samantha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Samantha Naelani, the owner of 333 Media. As both an artist and business owner, I entered my industry by simply taking the leap, and things fell into place organically. My journey has been fueled by a blend of passion, disciplined learning, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. What sets me apart from many others in my field is my open-mindedness and willingness to embrace change. In an industry that constantly evolves and is driven by humans who often resist change, I thrive on adapting and evolving alongside it.
At 333 Media, I offer a range of services including content creation, brand strategy, posting strategy, and coaching. What I want people to understand is that 333 Media is founded on the genuine desire to help businesses thrive. Every business deserves to have a strong online presence, and I’m here to ensure that happens. I firmly believe there’s enough success to go around for everyone.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I like to think of myself as a not creative creative. I believe everyone is creative they just need to find their outlet. I love numbers, strategy, and the act of working on something and making it perfect then producing a result. That in itself I think is creative. Just because you’re not painting, singing or acting doesn’t mean you’re not creative. it’s about finding a love of what you produce and loving the process even more.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I have built many social media presences. The post that usually does the best is that one that either makes you feel something deep in your soul and or don’t expect it to go anywhere. Social media is meant to be social. So be SOCIAL. The balance of things being organic but still looking good is something that goes on forever and from my experience people love something that you probably don’t think is even worth posting. I know there is a viral post sitting in someones drafts that if they posted could change their entire life. Creating content and posting is like any other skill you have to build it. before I went viral on TIK TOK I had put in years of work in posting content on YouTube. Be patient and post stuff to interact with your community!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.333mediamarketing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/333mediasocial/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/333mediasocial/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-naelani-3037162a1

Image Credits
Faith ray photography 333 media photography