Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Richt.
Hi Anna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2019, my husband made somewhat of a career change and decided to start a business. If you are familiar with owning a small business, you also probably understand that finances can be tight at the beginning. I was a stay-at-home mom so that I could give round-the-clock care to our daughter, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Crohn’s Disease. I had this sinking feeling that we wouldn’t be able to afford her expensive medication, so I started thinking of ways that I could help financially while also having the flexibility to care for her. It was actually my sister who said, “You always get asked about your outfits and workouts, you should start sharing them on social media.” I was not very familiar with “influencing”, but I had seen other women have success with social media marketing while raising their families, so I decided to try it out. I started posting pictures on Instagram of my outfits and at-home workouts. Looking back I have to laugh at those early posts because they were pretty terrible, but I learned as I went and within a month I landed a paid collaboration with a big fitness brand. To this day they still use my picture for their ads which is pretty cool because it gave me some confidence early on.
While making sure my daughter’s medical expenses were paid for was the catalyst, it’s really so much more than money. I truly love what I do. I can’t believe the opportunities that have come from this and the relationships I’ve built along the way. I don’t take it lightly. I’m so grateful for the people who have decided to follow along and trust my recommendations, and knowing that I’ve helped them even in small ways is what fuels me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I knew absolutely nothing when I started. There is so much more than goes into it than posting a picture on social media. I had to learn how to create media kits, understand contracts, build relationships with brands, and structure finances. Social media marketing and really just social media in general can be tricky. There’s no clear guide and it’s always changing. There’s been a lot of trial and error for me to really hone in on what I’m passionate about and feel most authentic sharing or promoting. Plus, we’ve all heard of the toll social media can take on one’s mental health. While social media is my workspace, I really try to set healthy boundaries in order to balance my work and home life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in social media marketing and digital content creation. If I had to give myself a title, I would say I’m a Lifestyle Influencer which basically means I share just about everything. On any given day, I might share an outfit idea, a glimpse into our family life, or partner with a business to bring awareness to their brand.
While I’ve been fortunate to partner with some large brands such as Walmart and Oreo, I’m actually most proud of the partnerships I’ve made with small businesses. As I mentioned earlier, my husband and I are small business owners so I have a soft spot in my heart for local small businesses. I love working with them because I know their heart and soul is tied up into their business and I want to help them succeed.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ll be honest with you; I’m not naturally a big risk taker. I’m more of a rule follower who loves stability. I believe the biggest risk I took was starting in the first place. I had no clue what I was doing nor did I know if it would even work. I think we get caught up in thinking we have to have it all figured out on the front end but there is so much value in learning along the way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna.richt
Image Credits
Repurposed Photography
