Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Aponte.
Hi Gabriela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Social media management has always been something I have been interested in, in one way or another. As a millennial social media developed and grew right alongside my generation. So it’s been a big part of my life. I started as a private social media manager for a local restaurant in 2015 and handled that off and on until I took it over entirely in 2020, when the pandemic hit. At that point, the biggest focus was ensuring the business stayed relevant and keeping the customer base engaged during such an excruciating time in everyone’s lives. From there, I noticed that my skill set was advancing, and other small businesses could benefit from these skills too. I knew immediately that I should be marketing this skill to small businesses needing help with their social media pages. Whether it’s an owner who needs help keeping up with their social media pages or maybe they need help understanding all the ins and outs of social media, hiring a Social media manager is a valuable asset.
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?
Not an entirely smooth road. But I have always been the kind of person who is cautious of a smooth road. Anything worth something will be hard work and will take a lot of work. If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it! As a social media manager it can be difficult keeping up with the trends and creating original and engaging content for each business I manage. That’s a lot of creativity daily; sometimes, my neurodivergent mind gets the best of me. But I make sure I hold myself accountable, and to-do lists help keep me on track! Covid was another rocky point in the road. There was a heavy reliance on social media advertising and marketing because everything was virtual. But it was an amazing learning experience and helped me embody the flexibility needed in this business. A technique that works now likely won’t work 3 months from now, but being adaptable and flexible is key.
As you know, we’re big fans of Media.By.Gabriela. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
At Media.By.Gabriela, I offer social media management services, content creation, and graphic design in English and Spanish. But I add to those services as I grow and learn new skills. Specializing in small businesses allows me to get to know each business, personalize my services to each customer, and treat them as family. Their success is my success, and that’s all I’m worried about! My company differs from others because I focus on organic and paid growth. I strive to provide original content that embodies the essence of a company instead of solely relying on paid ads and generic content. I am extremely proud of myself and my company as a whole. As the daughter of a Venezuelan immigrant and a mother of 3, I am extremely proud of my heritage in Venezuela and America. This is a huge reason I donate my time and services as the Director of Social Media for the Venezuelan Association in Missouri (AVMO). This organization offers educational scholarships to Hispanic students and helps the community in many ways. Knowing that I am helping my community and offering my services to Hispanic businesses, helping them grow, is very fulfilling. Supporting small businesses and giving back to my community has always come naturally to me and will always be a core pillar for myself and my company.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and are any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The covid-19 crisis certainly was a transformative period for everyone—one of the greatest lessons I learned was embracing change. Very few things always stay the same; some of life’s greatest achievements come after many changes. During covid-19, things changed frequently and aggressively. I was a mom of 3, working full time, navigating my kid’s schooling, and keeping everyone healthy and sane. It taught me to trust myself to handle those obstacles and take them one step at a time, so I could grow and move forward. And those are tools I use daily in my personal and professional life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Mediabygabriela.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/media.by.gabriela/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Media.By.Gabriela/
Image Credits
Mindy Miles Photography
