Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Billings.
Hi Jess, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
About a year ago, I woke up and made the decision to do content creation full time. I was finally in a place where I could prioritize it. I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go in, but I knew that I had the knowledge on how social media worked, plus the desire to create and connect with people. I started by sharing parts of my life and day to day things and quickly fell in love with the actual process of filming and editing. I was able to build an online community that felt safe. I enjoyed creating food content the most. I feel like food is one of the few things that connects everyone, and cooking and plating has been such a creative outlet for myself. I have shifted my content quite a bit over the year, trying to figure out what fulfills me the most. It takes a certain level of vulnerability to share parts of yourself and life online, but I am finally finding a balance and it has allowed me to grow in my love for creating content.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a bumpy ride! When I first began creating for social media, I would say I had a slightly naive approach to things. I went all in, in the sense that I was very vulnerable and shared a lot of personal things about myself, in hopes to connect with others. And I did. I was able to connect with thousands of people, especially young women and girls who could relate, and this sense of community felt very rewarding. But with that has came a lot of backlash. There will always be people who have something negative to say or something to critique, and this is where I would say I was taken aback. However, I have learned a lot through my content creation journey, and have shifted the way I view social media. I have been more aware of what level of vulnerability feels the safest and best for myself mentally. Aside from the mental struggles of putting myself out there, doing social media full time is such a rollercoaster. Views are so unpredictable- they come and go. So I am also learning how to navigate it from a business standpoint.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a lifestyle creator, I share a variety of content. My passions include cooking, writing poetry, traveling, creating art with various mediums, learning to figureskate and storytelling. All of this can be seen through my videos. I have been able to create viral content in all of these areas, and that’s something I feel very proud of. It was very important for me to be versatile with my content, because from a business standpoint, this is what helps content creators stand out. I also didn’t want to be a typical influencer who tries to sell a bunch of things to their followers and further encourage consumerism. I wanted to connect with others and create, and my storytelling has really allowed me to do this. As a young woman, it’s important for me to use my platform to speak on women’s issues and share my experiences to connect with other women- while creating a safe space for all women. I have shared my personal experiences with having painful periods, including the physical and emotional issues that come with it. These videos alone have allowed thousands of girls to share their own experiences, connect with one another and I have had many people reach out to me personally to let me know that my videos have helped them. It feels very rewarding to be able to discuss a topic that so many people avoid and allow people to connect through it.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking is extremely important! Connecting with other people who share your similar passions is an amazing thing to do. I think creating content for social media is a very analytical thing as well, that most people aren’t aware of at first. But really understanding the ins and outs of creating viral content and the formula is essential. Find creators you like, figure out what kind of content you enjoy making the most- which might even be different than the content you consume, and connect with others who share similar goals. From a business standpoint, If you want to be successful as a content creator, it’s important to understand the analytics behind it. As you grow, find a team you trust to manage you- this will bring a lot of connections and help take your platforms to the next level.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesslbillings/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jesslbillings
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jess.billings?lang=en
