Be yourself.
This is the advice Cincinnati-based YouTuber Ferri Hoffner gives to aspiring entrepreneurs using social media to build their business and personal brands.
Authenticity is one of the ways she has been able to grow her YouTube channel “Feli from Germany,” where she explores daily life in the United States from a German perspective and the cultural similarities between the two countries. and talk about the differences. Countries.
Hefner will be a featured panelist for Aviatra Accelerators’ “Social Savvy Masterclass,” which aims to build participants’ social media marketing skills. Aviatra is a Covington-based entrepreneurship nonprofit focused on supporting women-owned startups and small businesses. This class will be held on Saturday, May 11th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Aviatra’s office on Pike Street in Covington.
This panel is comprised of successful entrepreneurs in the Greater Cincinnati area who have experience using social media to market themselves and their businesses. Panelists will provide insights and strategies for effectively speaking to your audience, creating engaging content, leveraging short-form videos, leveraging AI for content creation, working with influencers, building a YouTube channel, and measuring success. will be provided to participants.
Joining Hefner on the panel will be Patrice Adams, owner of The Designer Creative. Candice Gaspar, owner of Digital Candy LLC. Morgan Angelique Owens, CEO and Founder of Professional Pretty. Greg Goshon, owner of Mapping Your Marketing. And her marketing strategist and program manager at Aviatra is Jasmine Hughes.
Like Hefner, Owens has experience using social media to build his business and brand. She told LINK nky that she had always dreamed of becoming a blogger. However, due to the demanding schedule of her previous job as an office worker, she was unable to consistently write blog posts.
Due to the pandemic, she ultimately decided to quit the corporate world and become a full-time entrepreneur. One of the tools she quickly turned to was social media, which is a cost-effective way to increase brand awareness. For Owens, reliability is key.
“I feel like social media has really always been a part of my life,” Owens said.
Many entrepreneurs know social media is an important tool to use, but many don’t know where to start or what to post, says Aviatra CEO Jill Morenz. he told LINK nky. That’s where advice from veterans like Hefner and Owens comes in handy.
“That’s why we created this masterclass and set it up with stars like Morgan and Ferri, so they can look for inspiration and learn how to do this amazing thing that so many people want. We’re there to share our stories, like what we accomplished.’ Do that,” Morenz said. “So it’s inspired and ambitious, but it’s also tactical because the steps they actually took were very generous.”
From Hefner’s perspective, social media, especially video platforms like YouTube and Instagram, allow entrepreneurs to present their ideas in a structured way. Additionally, these platforms provide viewers with an easily accessible way to consume content from creators. Over time, regular viewers of content can develop a sense of familiarity and trust in the creator.
“I feel like social media gives you that extra layer of almost becoming people’s friends and gaining their trust, not just having scheduled ads on TV or in the newspaper or whatever,” Hefner said. .
Entrepreneur Justin Goff once said: “If you try to appeal to everyone, you won’t appeal to anyone.” Owens emphasizes the importance of finding an audience in a specific niche, rather than trying to appeal to everyone. I reiterated this point with emphasis. In this way, influencers can build trust with a core group of people who want to continually hear about a particular topic.
“Social media has really taught me how to find a niche audience instead of trying to impress everyone on social media,” Owens said.
Both creators emphasized the importance of not getting attached to followers or views.
“Don’t get caught up in the chase,” Owens warned. “Please keep posting engaging content.”
Whatever advice Mr. Morenz, Mr. Owens, and Mr. Hefner give, they hope entrepreneurs can cast the widest possible net, but many don’t know how to go about it. Aviatra’s Social Savvy Masterclass hopes to change this.
“I think there are a lot of similarly great people that you meet in your daily life who are business owners who know a lot about the work that they do, but who are in their own immediate bubble. We’re just reaching out to people,” Hefner said. .
