Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Nelson
Hi Lauren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started in the content creator realm back in 2011 through blogging. I had just moved to San Antonio from Denver with my then boyfriend (now husband). I discovered blogs searching for DIY projects for our home. Blogging was so much fun for me as it provided my love of writing, advertising and branding. People were creating a brand for themselves through blogs online and I was hooked. I attended blogging conferences, figured out how to code, collaborated with other bloggers and experienced a lot of growth through trial and error.
Bloggers naturally transitioned into using social media as another medium to expand their brands. I was a Beta tested for Pinterest, I loved watching & using Instagram as it evolved over time, I was creating Vines (now TikTok) with my Brother in Law whenever we could! It wasn’t so much sharing things about me that intrigued me about social media, but the numerous ways people can be reached through a variety of avenues on social media.
I started to notice bloggers monetizing their Instagrams and that was very intriguing. My husband jokingly challenged me to gain a certain amount of followers for our dog on Instagram in a short time period. I played around with hashtags, posting times, engaging on other accounts and more. After that I decided to focus on the growth of my personal Instagram page. I was hooked and have since used my page to share lifestyle content and partner with a variety of different brands.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growth on social media is challenging and frustrating at times. My number of followers and engagement hasn’t increased a lot in the last few years and that can be frustrating. It was a lot easier a few years ago to grow across all social media networks. Now social media is a lot more saturated with content creators and due to a variety of logistics it’s harder to be organically discovered. I do preach though it’s not about the number of followers or likes, but the quality of engagement with your audience. You want followers who truly enjoy what you’re sharing! That means more than anything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a content creator and I share about my family in an unfiltered format, I share things that make me laugh, I share my favorite shopping finds, I share about sports and I share a sprinkle of pop culture as well.
Nothing makes me more proud than when people say that my social accounts put a smile on their face or make them laugh. My content on Instagram, Facebook, etc isn’t going to change anyone’s life, but I do hope it is something people generally enjoy consuming.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’ve moved a ton for my husband’s job. We both grew up right outside of Denver. I attended the University of Colorado and my husband attended the University of Missouri. After college we moved to San Antonio for his first job. We spent a few years in San Antonio and moved back to Colorado right before we were married. After we were married it wasn’t long before we moved to Detroit with our 2 year old and our second baby on the way. From Detroit we went to Tulsa had our third baby and then we were transferred to Austin. During the pandemic in 2020 we were relocated to our current home in Southlake.
Moving is tough, tough, tough and it’s not easier with little kids. There isn’t much time to make friends or network for that matter. However, through social media I was able to do that- virtually network and find other like minded creators.
I went to a lot of events I really didn’t want to go to and I put myself out there much more than I would have ever done so in the past, but that’s how I was able to meet so many new people. Ripping the bandaid off and going to events and contacting people you admire is what helped me grow my brand and helped me to grow personally as well. Slide into the DMs of those you admire, the worst they can say is, “No”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.laurenleah.com
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/laurenleahn
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/laurenleahnel
- Twitter: https://Www.x.com/laurenleahnel
