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

Hi Victoria , thanks for joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

I manage my own social media for my platforms

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

At the age of 21, I had just finished up my internship with the Disney college program. This was also around the time that Instagram started and i wanted to stay connected with my Floridian friends and express my love of the theme park. As time went on, i was able to self-teach and understand the community i had found myself in and the power of social media. I expanded this from instagram to tumblr to twitter and today, tik tok where i strive to inform, give advice and encourage others to travel and see the world, particularly theme parks while staying authentic to myself.

With my platforms, i am able to provide up to date information, advice and tips in a comedic manner regarding mainly theme parks. I have also found myself to be a vehicle for many brands and small shops to promote their products in an aesthetically pleasing manner that i feel will help my audience.

Combined with being a travel agent, i help ease the burden of travel planning and stresses when it comes to vacations. By providing information, tips and unbiased opinions, regardless of one is a client or not, i can manage to help a wide variety of families make their travels easier and allow them to step outside their comfort zones to try new experiences.

What sets me apart from others is my authenticity and genuine thirst to continue to gain knowledge. I am a firm believer that humans are constantly evolving creatures and by striving to learn and stay on top of everything in my industry, i am able to better inform my audience. I have always stay true to myself when it comes to my platform, It allows me to be relatable and not talk down to my audience. Not to mention, i am willing to learn from them as well!

What i am most proud of is being seen as a great source in my industry as an african american woman. It’s a double whammy in my community being a woman and a minority. But i have managed to stand out, not conform and still be somewhat successful. I have been in several publications, worked with several prominent brands and have amassed a decent following. It is difficult to do that but i never let that discourage me in the 10 years i have been in the game. And i am just getting started.

What i want people meeting me for the first time to know is that what you see is what you get. I don’t give you news wrapped in a pretty bow. I make sure to give you useful information, tips that will assist you and my opinions are strictly my opinions. If i am in a silly, goofy mood, you will see that. If im excited about something, you will see that. If i am down in the dumps, you will see it. At the end of the day, i am me and you get different aspects of my personality. But i will always strive to make sure that my audience is given the truth and the best i can offer to them.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I feel that social media has allowed people to be whoever they want to be. For example, on my socials, i may come off as very extroverted but in reality i am a very introverted person. Social media allowed me to have a creative outlet. But for someone who is a non-creative, one may see the fruits of hard labor that are gained. One may see PR boxes, product exchanges from brand collaborations or other creatives having great times in exotic or fun places. A non creative may see the glitz and glamour.

But because most creatives are so used to curating a picture-perfect experience, the non creatives don’t see behind the scenes. We as creatives pick and choose what our audience sees. One may not see the mental health toll that all the work takes on us. And in turn, we as creatives have to be mindful of how what we showcase affects the mental health of our audience of non-creatives.

As creatives in my industry, we do the work of what a full fledged brand has to hire a team for. We are the idea person, the manager, the photographer, videographer, editor, secretary and more. And it’s not an overnight success for everyone. The goal should not be to go viral, but to curate a community. For Most creatives it can take years to get to that point.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started out with reaching out and building connections with others in my community. It helped that i was able to make relatable and fun content within my community. You cannot be afraid to engage with others. Do not be afraid to be silly and do not compare yourself to others. Remember that people are coming to see you, not a carbon copy of someone else. starting out, do not be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. I learned alot of my social media skills from hubspot and asking questions and ultimately making those connections within my community.

Figure out your niche, what service you will provide to others and how to make yourself stand out within your community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hecallsmepineappleprincess.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hecallsmepineappleprincess/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriawade14?trk=author_mini-profile_title
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hecallsmePP
• Other: tik tok: pineappleprincess340