Meet Neila Rackard | Social Media Marketing Manager & Content Creator

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

Hi Neila, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson my career has taught me is to use what is in my hands.

I always had an interest in social media, trends, and video editing. I started my own YouTube Channel in 2021 and began creating my own content. I enjoyed this as my hobby and learned so much through managing my own YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. However, it was not something I took seriously nor did I think I could ever make a business out of it.

In 2022, my mother asked me to manage her social media for her business and I agreed. I like to say she was my first client! Eventually I helped her cultivate an engaged online audience and successfully grew her following. Even still, this was not something I thought I could do professionally.

During this time, I was experiencing a stand still in my life. I took a break from college and had no real work experience other than food service jobs here and there. To me, it seemed as if I had no real future ahead of me. I was stuck in complacency and it looked like I would remain there. Until, I decided to want better for myself.

I asked myself “How Can I Turn My Life Around?” And I realized I had the answer to that question for a while. I wanted to use the hobby I loved to make something of myself and to help businesses like my mother’s grow.

I decided to create my own social media management company. I began managing other accounts for free, building up my own client portfolio and learning everything there was to know about social media marketing and content creation. With the combination of experience, research, and my faith in God I am proud to say I landed my first major client this year as a Social Media Coordinator for a Primary Care Company! Since then, I’ve made many connections in my field and have helped many businesses grow their social media platforms! I

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Having a diverse client portfolio is important to me. Most social media managers work within a certain niche or industry, whereas I pride myself on working with businesses in multiple industries. This keeps my work interesting because I’m always learning new things and I’m always excited to work with clients and businesses that are different and new to my portfolio.

I think people’s biggest misconception about social media management is thinking all social media managers do is take cute videos, post them and add trendy captions. There is so much more that goes into my work such as: data and trend analysis, tracking reach and exposure, utilization of search engine optimization, measuring audience engagement, aesthetic planning, and a heavy amount of marketing. I had to learn these concepts from the ground up and although it was challenging at first, these tools were crucial to my overall success as a social media manager and producing results for my clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is full of fun and vibrancy. If my best friend was visiting and I wanted to show them the best time ever, I would first take them to brunch in midtown at STK Steakhouse. They serve the best Eggs Benedict dish I have ever had! Then I would take them for an afternoon in Five Points Downtown area. It is full of eclectic shoppes, trendy thrift stores, and venues that many Atlanta natives and creatives come to and explore for inspiration. At night, the Ponce City rooftop in Downtown is full of carnival games and lively music. It’s the perfect spot to end the night!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am thankful to God and the Senior Pastors of Divine Visitation International Church and Ministries for mentoring me and giving me the encouragement to pursue something greater for my life and destiny.

I am also thankful for my mother, Stephanie Rackard, the CEO and Founder of Divinely Inspired Resources. Her nonprofit provides career and entrepreneurial guidance, life skills training and empowerment resources to young girls and women and is responsible for my success in business and entrepreneurship.

Website: https://neilarackardsmm.univer.se/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/neilarackardsocial?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@neilarose?si=c3anDSwV183nqzAb