Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamilah Jackson.
Hi Jamilah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
“A Jack of all trades is the master of none.” I consider myself to be multifaceted and talented at a lot of things. When I was first coming up as a journalist and influencer, I thought I had to monetize every hobby I had. It became exhausting. I had to take a hard look at what I had in my skill toolbox and decide what I wanted to capitalize off of and what I wanted to keep to myself to bring me joy.
That’s when The Nomadic Blogger was born. I was post-breakup from a 5-year relationship and needed an outlet. I wanted to create a platform where I could guest blog frequently; moving from site to site like a nomad! This would allow me to grow my brand while introducing my followers to like-minded writers. I moved entirely too fast. Invested thousands for hats that only select family and friends would buy, pumping money into random ads with no strategy; it was a hot ass mess! But I’m grateful for that experience because I learned so many lessons.
After a year or two, I started to notice that my writing was mainly about my journey through therapy and dating. I was getting away from what I originally started blogging for. So I took the time to reset and strategize. In February 2020, I relaunched the brand as Bae The Blogger, a blog about therapy and relationships. It all came together with a launch event; speed dating for Black millennials in Detroit. The event was a success but then BIg Rona hit and I had to pivot again.
What was I going to do at home? How was I going to engage my audience? Virtual Happy Hour with Bae became my baby. I decided to partner with my favorite tequila brand, Anteel Tequila, to interview young professionals on Instagram live while showing my audience some of my favorite cocktail recipes. After the interviews, the party started. I had multiple DJs on IG turning us up in our respective homes. We may not have been able to party together physically but it was a good time and a great distraction from the losses we were experiencing at the time.
Virtual Happy Hour with Bae then became Happy Hour with Bae: The Podcast. Same concept but I was able to partner with AudioWave Network (one of the largest Black-owned podcast studios in the Midwest) to reach a much larger audience.
And well, the rest will be history!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Deciding to be an influencer is hella hard.
You have your internal struggles: imposter syndrome, inconsistency, self-doubt, etc. And then there’s the external barriers: ever-changing algorithms, people not partnering with you because you don’t have a million followers. The list goes on.
But I did my research. I found the people that allowed my content to speak for itself rather than outdated KPIs. I partnered with other small influencers and small businesses to help grow our brands together. When I decided to create for fun and not just for the numbers or the “aesthetics,” the work became easier and enjoyable!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Jaxon Strategies is a boutique social media agency that focuses on organic and consistent growth for entrepreneurs and creatives.
Social media management can be a nightmare but Jaxon Strategies is here to help people like me navigate the field. I see so many business owners or creatives get frustrated with social media and want to walk away from it forever but they know it’s such a useful tool to gain more customers. My business’s goal is to create simple solutions for the everyday person to navigate social media so they can stop stressing about content and focus on their passion; THEIR BUSINESS/CRAFT!
Jaxon Strategies offers content creation, content publishing/planning, campaign curation, copywriting, influencer marketing programs and much more.
I think what sets my business apart from others is that I am a certified social media manager (yes, I have a certificate that has to be renewed bi-annually). While I make sure my business is professional, I also like to approach my clients’ work in a fun way. So many people hate trying to figure out the cheat codes to social media that they forget all these platforms were created FOR FUN. JS is going to make it fun for you again.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think so many people see the influencer lifestyle and think there’s a formula you have to follow. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to influencer marketing. Be yourself! Find your quirks and make them a part of your image. We’re all different and we’re all out here trying to figure it out.
I tried living up to the Black Girl Luxury standard but my pockets were not matching. I decided to just give my followers my full, authentic self and they responded better than when I was being someone I wasn’t.
If you want to be an influencer just to get new products and take pictures, by all means, do it sis. I got into this industry because I saw how my writing was connecting with people and made them feel a little less alone in the world. That’s my why and my North Star. Growing your platform takes time; it’s not going to happen overnight. But if you stay at it, stay true to yourself and the mark you want to leave on this world, the results will come. You’ll find your people.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@jaxonstrategies.com
- Website: jaxonstrategies.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/baetheblogger instagram.com/jaxonstrategies
Image Credits
Black and Silver dress: Dre Dotty Green Dress: Charles Kennedy Jr. Purple Dress: Unc Whlgn Brown Dress: Z. Cunningham
