We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tory Lemoine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tory, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My channel started out by me sharing all of the fun things my family and I do in our beloved state. By sharing so many local spots, I realized what a passion I had for small businesses and seeing them thrive. As my account grew, I never strayed away from that and my favorite videos to make are still the ones trying out new places and encouraging others to support them as well. Small businesses are the heartbeat of our state and country and there’s an undeniable charm in the dedicated Cajun families that pour their heart and soul in these special places.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tory and I am a TikTok creator from south Louisiana. Three years ago I started posting the fun things my family loves to do- visit museums and local attractions, learn about the history of our state, think up new and exciting adventures, and try new restaurants and enjoy the incredible food that Louisiana has to offer. As we ventured out beyond state borders, I brought my followers along on our journeys and shared other fun activities that can be found in other states, like Minnesota! This can allow people to explore other places virtually while also giving them ideas for their next family vacations. Countless hidden gems lie tucked away in other states waiting to be discovered, and TikTok acts as a conduit, introducing people to these amazing places. I’ve been enticed to try new places myself, thanks to creators sharing their experiences on the platform. It adds an element of joy to life, inspiring people to step out of their comfort zones and explore new horizons with their loved ones. While my heart remains in Cajun country and I don’t ever intend to uproot or stop sharing everything I love about my state, I’ll always enjoy taking everyone along on my out-of-state adventures as well and share what I love about the other places we love to explore.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I started posting on TikTok, I had no intention of growing a significant following nor could I foreshadow what was to come. But I have always loved videography and creating videos, long before social media. As a millennial, I’ve been around since before TikTok, Instagram or even Facebook. Before we had high quality cameras in our back pocket, I had a Flip camera that I would use to capture grainy videos, then spend hours uploading them to my computer and editing them, adding music and emotion to create something fun to share with family and friends. So it came natural to me to create these videos for this new platform that I found myself on. I think viewers enjoyed my style of videos and the ideas that it gave them to do with their families. I think to build a following and community on TikTok, you have to offer viewers something that they can use, whether it’s recipes, home decor, tutorials, or travel ideas. People want to see content that can help them in some way. And ALWAYS stay authentic and true to yourself. If you don’t, people will pick up on that and see right through it.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

After creating videos on TikTok, I realized that I’ve always had a passion for small businesses and social media. This led me making a career shift, transitioning from the world of Veterinary Medicine to becoming a Social Media Manager for local businesses. It was quite a change and a big learning curve for me, but I am constantly growing and I’m proud of how far I have come in such a short amount of time. Although TikTok has become a more lucrative endeavor for me, I will never stray away from my passion for helping small businesses thrive through their online presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msha.ke/torylemoine#links
• Instagram: @tiktoktorylemoine
• Linkedin: Tory Lemoine
• Other: TikTok: @torylemoine

Image Credits
Hannah Herpin Creative