Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Elliott.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been a creative person, whether that’s playing dress-up, singing, dancing (I did ballet and colorguard), learning piano and guitar, writing songs, editing videos, or just trying to make people laugh. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, but moved to Fort Worth to study Communication with a Film and Media Studies minor at Texas Christian University. I graduated in December 2024 and now live back in Dallas.
In high school, I started dabbling on a social media app called Musical.ly (now TikTok), and today, I manage three TikTok accounts (@katie.writes.music, @LydiaTexasGrandma, and @shmates). In college, I managed social media for University Park Life Magazine (now Greet Magazine) and a student organization, which helped me build solid skills in content creation, branding, and community engagement.
One of the coolest opportunities came after graduation, when I started working with Lydia Blair, better known as LydiaTexasGrandma, who got a lot of attention after her spotlight on Season One of Million Dollar Secret on Netflix. I currently work as her Social Media Manager for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I love creating content, studying keywords and hashtags, keeping up with trends, and building content calendars. I also design and manage her merch, run her website, and manage her Amazon storefront. Honestly, I think I have one of the coolest jobs! Lydia gives me a lot of creative freedom, where I come up with content ideas, execute them, build monthly spreadsheets to track performance, and manage engagement. I especially enjoy brainstorming new series and seeing what resonates with her audience.
Besides social media, I’m also pursuing my own music, which is how I express creative storytelling. I write songs that feel like diary entries or little snapshots of what it’s like to be in your twenties, figuring out life, dating, identity, etc. I have one song out on Spotify called Weatherman by Katie, and more music on the way. Furthermore, I run a TikTok account focused on promoting my music. It’s funny because I used to be really scared to share what I wrote in school, but now I talk to the camera confidently, have performed my music live four times, and love sharing my creative process. When people hear I do social media for work, their reactions are usually “cool” or “cringe,” but for me, it’s been transformative. I grew up shy, anxious, and insecure, and posting funny or random videos online helped me grow into a more confident person. I feel like I’ve finally found my voice. When people ask about songwriting, I tell them it’s my creative outlet, like journaling, art, or photography for others. I follow up by saying I feel everyone needs a creative outlet.
Right now, my focus is on social media and music, but I’m always open to new creative challenges. In interviews, when people ask what I want in a job, my answer is always the same: I want to have creative freedom in whatever I do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not, but I don’t think life is supposed to be. I’ve dealt with a lot of self-doubt, especially growing up as a shy and anxious kid. Even though I loved performing and creating, I was terrified of being seen. It took me a long time to feel comfortable sharing my work or even speaking up, and honestly, that’s still something I work on.
One thing that’s shaped me, even if I didn’t fully realize it at the time, has been growing up with an older brother who has Asperger’s. Patience is key in social media, and in life, and while we don’t always see eye to eye, he’s taught me a lot about patience, empathy, and understanding different perspectives. I’m not perfect, and being patient isn’t always easy, but it’s something I’m constantly practicing.
I’ve learned that confidence doesn’t always come naturally, and sometimes you just have to do things scared. Posting content, performing music, pitching ideas, even just speaking up, were all things that used to terrify me. I was so afraid of coming off as cringe or being judged, but the more I kept showing up, the more confident I became in myself. I still don’t feel like I’ve “made it” or reached some perfect version of success, but honestly, I don’t think anyone really does. Every day is a chance to learn something new and grow, and I think that’s the point.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a creative through and through, in work and in life. I specialize in building community online by staying authentic, leaning into branding, and adding humor wherever I can. Whether it’s a TikTok about the chaos of postgrad life, a fun audio over clips of Lydia, or a song I wrote on a random Tuesday night, everything I create is rooted in storytelling, connection, and a little bit of silliness.
I’m most proud of the creativity I bring to the table. Even during my internship last summer, where I was in charge of creating a year-long Bible study, I found ways to make it fun, adding silly prompts and photos to keep people engaged. However, my favorite creative outlet is songwriting. I love the challenge of taking a simple idea or tune and turning it into a story. I’ll play with literary devices, tweak details about people, and connect songs together to tell a bigger narrative. It’s like building a tiny world, one lyric at a time, and I love talking about that process. It feels like magic to me!
Earlier this year, I released my first single, Weatherman, and built out a full promo campaign around it. I used symbolism, storytelling, and Easter eggs across multiple platforms to make it feel like an immersive experience, not just a drop. For me, it’s not about getting famous, it’s about being intentional and making music that sounds and feels good to me. If people connect to it? That’s just an added bonus!
I’ve also had the privilege of managing social media for others, most notably Lydia. Working with her has been the perfect balance of strategy and creativity. I handle everything from trend research, content calendars, and posting, to merch design, website management, and overall creative direction. I also love collaborating with her and brainstorming how to reuse content in new ways.
What sets me apart? Honestly, maybe the fact that I’ve stopped trying to be. I think a lot of us grow up being told to stand out, be unique, and “find our thing.” I tried that for a long time, but it always felt like a slippery slope leading to competition, jealousy, and a whole lot of “I’m not good enough”’s. If I wasn’t a child prodigy at something, I didn’t feel like I had the right to claim it as “my thing.” That mindset left me feeling frustrated, constantly comparing myself to others.
I think everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but unless you’re an actual genius in something, humans are all a lot more similar than we let ourselves see. I feel like we’re taught that being different gives you more value, but recently I’ve learned maybe I’m not all that different. Maybe none of us are, and weirdly, I find comfort in that.
I’ve stopped chasing the idea of being “set apart” and started focusing more on just being myself and engaging with the things that feel most aligned with me. Maybe what sets me apart isn’t in standing out, maybe it’s just acknowledging that I am just like everyone else on this earth.
When I write songs, make videos, or build content for others, I’m not trying to be perfect, I’m trying to be real. I want someone to stumble across a post and feel like, “Wait, I thought I was the only one who felt that way,” or “Wow, she feels like a real person!” I think that’s what connection is, not shouting your uniqueness, but offering your normal-ness in a way that lets other people feel seen. Humans crave connection, and in a time where people feel more comfortable seeking that online, the need for authenticity has never been more important.
So if anything sets me apart, maybe it’s just that I’m okay being part of the crowd, and finding my voice from within it, not above it.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
When I was in preschool or early elementary school, I’d spend hours singing and dancing around my older sister’s room. She’d help me pick out fun dress-up outfits, and I’d proudly strut downstairs to my parents in some truly iconic looks. She even did my makeup, usually with way too much sparkly purple Libby Lu eyeshadow, and came up with the word “Spectable” to describe anything stylish or fancy. In fact, we still use that word to this day.
I wore so many accessories, giant tutus, and plastic princess heels that were two sizes too big, but I loved how confident I felt in just being my goofy little self. Honestly, when I grow up, I want to be as confident as little me again. She was ahead of her time!
Pricing:
- Social Media Manager $35/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://katieelliottweb.my.canva.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieelliott01
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-elliott-67353329a
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kTpKsq21ByvnIqR0sbriG
Image Credits
@iiistrikesmedia
