Inspiring Conversations with Taylor Comer of Comer Connect

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Comer.

Hi Taylor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Marietta, GA, to two loving, god-abiding and education-driven parents, Ronald and Beverly Comer. As a young child, I was always involved in something – church basketball league, oratorical contests, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Club programs and more. I learned what my passion was early, utilizing my voice and serving the community. Whether it was participating in the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year program, working on my Eagle Scout project, or engaging in dialogue with friends, family and students, I was an opinionated kid with a masterful imagination. That passion translated to my collegiate studies at the Alabama A&M University, my father’s alma mater.

Once I settled on the campus of Alabama A&M, my commitment to utilizing my voice and serving the community continued to grow. I immersed myself in various organizations and spent my afternoons volunteering at the local Boys & Girls Club. Between volunteering and the organizations like Toastmasters International that I participated in, I focused my studies on Marketing. After graduating, I started a career in technical sales, returned to Alabama A&M for my Master of Business Administration degree and reached a lifelong dream of becoming a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I have now become an author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. All of these titles are connected to my purpose and passion, utilizing my voice and serving my community.

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?
My journey has been more of a roller coaster ride than a road, as life usually is. My experiences range from eviction and incarceration to multiple distinguished awards and meeting lifelong milestones. The reason for me writing my first book, Hard Sips Through Hardships: Testimonial of a Tested Time, is the main example of the adversity I faced as a college student working through a personal identity crisis and my road to mental health recovery. This book is a self-help testimonial focused on dealing with anxiety and depression that can be consumed in a condensed timeline. In this story, I speak vulnerably about a personal experience in hopes to impact others who may deal with anxiety and depression and face similar problems. The book is jam-packed with information and inspiration and is described by its readers to be “utilized as a manual for personal mental health growth.”

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Comer Connect?
I started my organization, Comer Connect, which combines several of my interests. Comer Connect is segmented into three divisions, Digital Marketing and Social Media Management services, Apparel and Merchandise and Media and Blogging. My goal is to enrich small to medium-sized businesses with knowledge about modern marketing principles and to bring awareness to our community in the areas of mental wellness, education and innovation.

I bring a tailored approach to all facets of Comer Connect. With our digital marketing and social media management service, I spend time with each organization to understand their goals for their brand. We develop a centralized message and marketing strategy to optimize their digital presence. We discuss high-level concepts of overall brand messaging and consistency to in-depth concepts like SEO, content marketing and optimizing current trends in social media.

With our Apparel and Merchandising division, we develop rich, intentional products that are purposeful in design. Our first release, the Hard Sips Through Hardships Collection, is targeting mental health awareness. Clothing is an expression of oneself, and this particular brand is for those declaring their support in the education and advocacy of growth in our community. A portion of the proceeds will benefit various mental health organizations like the Black Mental Health Alliance.

Our Media and Blog division is focused back on bringing the innovative and intriguing discussion to the forefront of our society. I am focused on creating colorful content and commentary in the areas of mental wellness, education, sports, finance, entrepreneurship and many more topics. We have already partnered with radio stations and podcasts to share impactful content with the world. Lastly, I partnered with several alumni and friends that I made at Alabama A&M to create Beyond The Hill. Beyond The Hill is a service organization created to serve our community through education advocacy and service.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I personally believe networking and mentorship is instrumental for career and personal success. I am a passionate LinkedIn advocate, as every internship and professional opportunity I have encountered is a direct result of leveraging LinkedIn’s professional social network. As for mentorship, I am still searching for one in my areas of focus.

However powerful mentorship and networking are, I am also an advocate for personal work ethic and time management. In this age of information and social connectivity, we have the necessary tools to carry out our dreams. I truly believe personal scheduling time for yourself and being a “serial researcher” can be the catalyst of success. As a person of tremendous faith, I believe tools are placed in our lives everywhere. From the people we interact with to the content we consume, the information and guidance have never been more accessible than it is present.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.comerconnect.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comerconnect
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comerconnect
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comer-connect

Image Credits
Thronzo Ward