Meet Jade Shebelski | Social Media Manager/Content Creator

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

Hi Jade, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Once upon a time, a little app called Instagram launched, which was created to share photos and captions to connect with like-minded individuals via the world wide web. At Instagram’s infancy, I ran a side hustle business selling vintage home goods and clothing on Etsy. I was such a nerd of stying the vintage wares and clothing that people were commenting on the posts (pre-DM Instagram feature) on if they could Paypal me and would I ship?

I would pop up at different craft and flea markets in Chicago, and vendors would come up to me and ask me how I was selling things off of Instagram before making it to my website. At the time, I had no idea; I mean, this was before businesses were using it as a marketing platform. So I’d meet with the business owners for coffee and tell them exactly what I was doing. Eventually, I would get an email from them asking how much to hire me to do it a few weeks later.

With that question, I realized I was standing in the future of business only in email form. Instagram was gaining new users at a rapid rate daily, and business owners needed to be present on this new app that they didn’t have the time to learn or master. I thought about what to charge for this service, what I even call it, and how I would do this.

Instagram recently turned ten, and here I am nine years later; my made-up job is now my full-time passion. Major companies have teams dedicated to social media management, caption copy, and content creation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl I would read expired National Geographic magazines and make up stories and type them up on my grandmas teal typewriter. When anyone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I would say a Photojournalist for National Geographic and I guess in a way that’s what my job is, except for products.

Every person and every business has a story, it’s unique and it should be shared. If we all shared our stories I feel like we would see that we are all more alike than we are different. Every product or service that a business creates also has a story and it’s through story that we connect and nurture that know, like and trust factor that leads to successful a successful marketing campaign.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well I’m a newbie myself to Colorado but in Loveland there are three places I seem to take all the out of towners who come and visit. The Feel Love Coffee Shop, pack up a picnic dinner for the Twin Cinema Drive In and an afternoon at Horsetooth Reservoir.

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?
My shoutout goes to a woman named Jen. Jen has been with me since the beginning of this journey. She showed up to every vintage market I was at. As an entrepreneur herself, Jen helped me navigate how to price my services and what I needed to do to have my own business. She caught the tears on the nights I wanted to give up; she’s always been that person who proofreads your important emails before sending them. She has never stopped encouraging me to embrace my talents and buys and follows from every one of my clients. Without her unconditional support, I’m not sure I’d be here.

Website: http://mavenandmusemedia.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mavenmusemedia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-shebelski-14bb96118/

Image Credits
Image Credit Ashley Courter