Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shanea Shayon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Shanea, 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 think every new creator should manage their own social media accounts, at least in the beginning. I think learning, understanding and growing your platform gives you a wealth of knowledge that no one can take from you. I personally manage all my own accounts and platforms. I do understand maybe having an assistant or outsourcing certain things because content creation can burn you out! I plan on outsourcing things like YouTube intros. Simply because it’s time consuming. I already have to Be the content, film the content, edit it, schedule it, etc.. so being able to outsource certain things is helpful. I’m just super hands on & take pride in running my accounts personally.
Shanea, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am Shanea Shayon and I’m a Fashion/Lifestyle Influencer specializing in Petite fashion inspiration. I started Livin 4 Shayon to show woman that we are all beautiful in every size. I didn’t see a lot of “Petite” models or brands that carry petite fashion option for women that are shorter than 5’3. I also didn’t see a lot of brands that carry sizes XS or Petite XS for those of us who are very lean & short. It was always a headache finding clothes or stores that carry item that were made for women like me. I also advocate for women who are in their late 30’s and up chasing their social media dreams later in life. I feel that representation is key & I want women like me to know you are not alone & there are others just like you out here.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my social media community to over 15k followers & subscribers within 1 year. The key was honestly- Consistency! Even when I had 50 followers I carried myself & my platform like I already had 10k. I posted everyday, Even when I didn’t get any likes or engagement. I started a YouTube channel without knowing a thing about vlogging or How To start a YouTube channel. I researched, I learned, I watched videos & other YouTube Channels that were doing what I wanted to accomplish. If you are just starting out on your social media journey my advice would be “Don’t get Discouraged” your audience will eventually find you & don’t forget to HAVE FUN!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
There was a time for about a month straight I saw no growth on my Instagram, which was my main platform at the time. I would put in so much effort and time with my content & see nothing. I wanted to quit! So I took a few days away from social media to simply clear my head. I finally posted about 4 days later & that Reel went viral! Like 3.4 million views viral. I didn’t even want to post anymore but I took a chance. That one post got me 3 thousand followers, 2 paid brand collaborations & the amount of women in my inbox who could relate to the content I posted was overwhelming. I was helping people feel represented and didn’t even know. Since then I’ve cared less about the numbers and more about touching my social media community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/shop/livin4shayon?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsflivin4shayon_NEHE3F9S77P2KGB5PPZ8
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/livin4shayon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Livin4shayon
- Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@livin4shayon?_t=8aX49VE3z4M&_r=1