Meet Alex George | Social Media and Influencer Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex George and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own business was not something I had in my life plan – under unfortunate circumstances, I got laid off from my full-time job, and I had one side job I was helping a company with social media and influencers. Luckily, they added a few more hours to my contract work time. I posted on my social media account that I had been laid off, and multiple people reached out about needing help with social and. Just like that, I went from one client to three, and low and behold, I signed up for my own LLC and started AyeGeeMedia. There definitely wasn’t time to think about it; it all just sorta happened for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My story is quite unique as to how I got to where I am now. I went to school for Marketing and graduated in 2011, back when the internet was just ebaumsworld, YouTube, Facebook, and Perez Hilton blogs. Social media was not a household phrase, so when I told my mother I was starting an internship after college with theBERRY.com, the sister site of theCHIVE.com, to manage a blog and post content on the internet, she was very confused and doubtful of what path I was taking. Fast forward ten months into my internship, I am offered my first full-time role as a social media at their HQ in Los Angeles, CA. My role at Theberry.com consisted of mainly blogging and searching for content on the internet, but in 2012 Instagram changed everything for the industry. As a content channel, Instagram blossomed around this time, and my career started taking shape. They moved our company to Austin in 2013, the beginning of the tech boom in that city, and after managing content, blogs, and posting on Instagram/Facebook, I transitioned to the companies e-commerce branch, theCHIVERY.com, to manage their social media (both organic and paid.) I worked with models to send them merch for them to post on social (early influencer stage) work on events, photoshoots, live content, you name it. The title of social media manager was more than just posting on social; working for the company I was working for, I was also known as a personality for the brand. Not only was I involved in content shoots, events, and traveling for special occasions, I was also managing the strategy, partnerships, tracking analytics, and everything in between. I was with Chive Media Group for eight years, and in that time, the internet changed ALOT. I was so lucky to get into this space early and was able to adapt and learn as the media world transformed into what it is now. After the Chive, I managed the social media and influencer strategy for a high-quality pet food company called NULO. I developed my influencer managing skills deeper with this company by working with influencers, content creators, and celebrity brand ambassadors for content creation for our social channels. I learned a lot in this role. I was with the company for a total of two and a half years, and I did everything from managing photographer influencers, activating off-site events with influencers at events like SOBEWFF to flying to Toronto for a photo shoot with Toronto Maple Leafs player and his dog for a new campaign. I developed my skills and felt more confident in this industry that was now becoming its own entity and a part of many companies’ marketing strategies. Once Covid hit, the culture and strategy shifted at NULO, and it no longer felt like a right fit for me. My old boss from the Chive reached out for a social media role for a new product, GummiShot Energy Gummies and the position was remote (huge win in 2021) and long story short, I took the job, and unfortunately, this was the company that laid me off after a year. Still, without it, I wouldn’t have been able to start my own business. When I started at GummiShot in June 2021, the next month, the NCAA passed a law that college athletes could monetize the name, image, and likeness, NIL, which in simple terms, means that college athletes can now be influencers. My boss at Gummishot wanted me to fully dive into this and make it a main part of our social media strategy, and once again, I was able to hop into a new industry from day one. I grew together with the NIL space and learned along with everyone else; this opened many doors for me with athletes, sports agents, new brands, sports agencies, etc. Once I was laid off, my two main clients were NIL strategy-focused, Everytable, and Bijan Mustardson. Bijan Mustardson was one of the fastest-growing NIL businesses of a college athlete in 2022, and it was featured on ESPN, College Gameday, Fox Sports, you name it! It was a huge boost not only for my new skill set but for my agency and my career. After the football season ended, we wrapped up with Bijan Mustardson, and I am awaiting the new season! One of the biggest challenges as a self-employed social media manager is how much time you have to dedicate to your clients. Social media never sleeps, and it is hard for me to turn it off on the weekends, so I am one of those people who are constantly on their phones, and it’s because I have to, not because I want to. It has been a long journey for me; in the beginning, people didn’t truly understand what I did for work, they thought I was posting photos on Instagram, and that’s it, but as this industry has grown, the validation for my work has proven itself over time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I just moved back to Atlanta after not living here for 10+ years, so I would almost consider myself a visitor, I am exploring as I go. I am fortunate to live in one of the city’s best areas, Inman Park, so when friends come to visit, I have a few things up my sleeve that I like to do. Walking the Beltline alone is a unique experience in the city; I love discussing the art along the path and stopping at the breweries and shops on the way. Ponce City Market is the best place to take people to eat, especially when it’s hard to decide what to eat, because everyone can have a little bit of everything there. After a day of shopping and exploring, I love to take my friends to a fun rooftop for drinks, LOA is one of my current favorite spots right now, and if the night continues after rooftop cocktails, Johnny’s Hideaway in Buckhead is the final stop. A few honorary mentions for out-of-towner activities are the aquarium, a Braves game, and hiking Kennesaw Mountain.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

All my peers who referred me to brands, clients, and businesses to use my service. I realized how valuable my work ethic is when I received numerous calls/texts/ emails, reach outs for my time. It was a humbling experience for someone like me who never felt good enough or doing the most in my industry.

Website: itsalexgeorge.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayegeemedia/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lageorge2/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexgeorge5

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/da1alexgeorge/

Other: https://www.instagram.com/alexgeorge5/