Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sharnell James. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sharnell, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
The name ‘Dear Self Care’ came from my favorite show at the time ‘Dear White People’. I was binging the show as I was preparing to launch the blog, but I still did not have a name that would grab people’s attention. I continued watching the show and enjoyed how it was created to discuss the injustices and microaggressions brought on by our white counterparts while keeping it entertaining. Each episode had a different topic, but all related to the series name ‘Dear White People’ and that’s what I wanted for my blog. I wanted an ‘umbrella’ term that focused on the importance of mental health and self-care within the Black community.
Sharnell, 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?
Hello Readers! My name is Sharnell James, and I am the creator of Dear Self Care. I created Dear Self Care in 2017 as a blog to shed light on the importance of mental health and self-care within the Black community. The passion that I grew for this topic stems from my own experiences with depression and anxiety while pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University. Although I did not know much about mental health, as it is a taboo subject, I did know that my lack of self-care is what led me to this dark place. I didn’t know who to talk to because I was scared of being considered weak or crazy, so I hid it from everyone. That’s when I knew I needed to create a safe space for me to share my experiences as well as be a testimony to others; it is okay to not be okay!
Since 2017, Dear Self Care has grown so much as I have now turned it into a business. I have now created my own line of self-care items that helped me throughout my journey with mental health and self-care, such as journals, self-care challenges, and much more. It is my intention to both eradicate the stigma around mental health as well as provide my community with the tools to care for themselves. Self-Care is not selfish!
I specialize in helping millennials overcome their mental health struggles by providing self-care strategies, tips, and a safe space. I like to believe that I am different than most business owners because I have a story behind it. I went through a tough time and created something great for myself as well as those around me. I am so proud of how far I have come with Dear Self Care. I had times when I doubted myself, but I look back on all the things that I have done thus far and just smile because I really did it! I want readers to know that I am here to talk about mental health and self-care. If you’d like for me to speak at an event, I do have a website for you to book as well as purchase my journal or a self-care challenge.
How did you build your audience on social media?
When I first launched Dear Self Care, I built my audience around college campuses. I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, so I used my connection with Greek life along with being active in Grand Valley’s community to build my target audience. Now that I have continued my work for Dear Self Care, I have broadened my audience to not just college campuses and I am forever grateful for that.
My greatest advice to anyone trying to build their audience is to focus on your advantage. If you are actively involved in an organization, group, college, etc., use that as your leverage as that could only expand your audience.
The saying ‘tell a friend to tell a friend’ is so real when building your business from the ground!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I honestly believe that my authenticity and consistent relatable content as built my reputation. When I put myself out there as the Mental Health and Self-Care Advocate, I make it a priority to be as authentic as possible with my audience along with making content that they can relate to as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dearselfcare.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearselfcare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3451843931555355
Image Credits
Derick Motley – VTH Visuals