What does my Social Media Lifestylist brand mean? If I have heard this question once then I must have heard it a hundred times. I actually happen to LOVE the question because it means that people are not quite familiar with the term. Why is that? That is because I created it. I designed it and I am sculpting it into the most perfect title for me.
When people ask me this question, my answer is usually two-fold. In my mind, there are two core components to my brand.
- I teach people that social media is not something that you DO. It is something that you add to your lifestyle. Just as all hobbies become part of your lifestyle, so does social media. Let’s say, for example, that you love sailing. You try to get on the water as much as possible and find that the more you participate in the sport, the more it becomes a part of your lifestyle. Of course, there are varying degrees to which it can be a piece of your lifestyle but my point is that if it is an activity that you enjoy, it is something that you WANT to incorporate into your life.
- The second piece of being a Social Media Lifestylist involves the brands that I love to represent. I call them “lifestyle brands” and most of them involve fashion, art, culture, food and more. A few examples are yoga studios, dance studios, restaurants, artists and salons. They tend to be progressive in style and represent sophistication. That is my niche market and that is where my passion rests.
I am going to go into a personal story right now that explains a little bit about the “Lifestylist’s” life. A few nights ago my 
sister and I went out for sushi and martinis. We went to a place we knew well because it happens to have a fantastic ambiance. It draws in a (relatively) young crowd for creative cocktails and out-of-this-world sushi. This restaurant has three locations and I have now been to them all. Last night was my first time at the third location and, as I expected, I was quite happy there.
I will be honest. I did not dress as well as I should have. I was tired prior to dinner so I threw on jeans (tight ones, but they were still jeans), a glorified tshirt, a Banana Republic jacket and boots. I carefully applied my face with an assortment of MAC products so at least I did not slack in that department! I was not in the most “stylist” mode so I really did not have the intention of working. However, my genetics are strong and my gift for gab took over as soon as I saw the manager of the place. I started talking to him, about our mutual friends and about social media. Business cards were exchanged, scheduling a meeting was talked about and when I left the conversation, the bartender extended a round of drinks (on the house from the manger) to my sister and me.
A few minutes later, I looked at my sister and had the following exchange:
Me: I FINALLY found what I want to do!!!!
My sis: Get free drinks??
In case you are wondering, no, that is not what I want to do…exactly. However, it is a part of it, I suppose. It actually has nothing to do with perks but it has everything to do with immersing myself in my favorite spots. I want to spend time with these lifestyle brands, become a part of their culture and really take a look at where improvements can be made to increase clientele, brand awareness and revenue. What better place to do this work than in the places that I already love and frequent? These brands already have a fan in me because of great service and hospitality so, naturally, I am only happy to take them to higher levels!
I hope that this clarifies any questions about my brand. When people ask you about your brand, how do YOU answer them? Are you able to clearly explain your passions and strengths?
