Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Kinchen.
Hi Melanie, 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?
I was born and raised in Miami. I would say from a young age; I always knew that I wanted to do something that would help my community. Even with private education, I was able to have a realistic view of the world around me. I thought that I wanted to be a doctor because it was a traditional and respectable job. I would be able to help my community through medicine. As I got older and went to college; I was introduced to different people, hobbies, and interests. It lead me to get a degree in Psychology and moving to New York City for six years. New York City allowed me to explore different interests and begin my passion project that has turned into a business. I started blogging because I wanted to write my travel stories and share all the pictures and videos that I collected on my trips. What’s Next Mel? the blog launched two years ago as a travel blog. As I shared my travel stories and trips; I had friends asking me to share my fashion and lifestyle. Over time, I introduced fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and current events into my blog. People love that I am honest with my reviews and share places that they can visit on a budget but is also luxurious and instagramable. At the beginning of 2021, I turned What’s Next Mel? into a podcast as well for millennial women to connect with other women and men about different topics. We discuss dating, self-love, mental health, entrepreneurship, and more. I did not realize how blogging and podcasting would be so helpful in connecting everyone together. This passion project turned into my business Melanie Elizabeth Media. I not only help my audience with my curiosity on different topics but assist other bloggers and small businesses to connect with their audience through my media company.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish the road to where I am today was smooth but it had bumps. Throughout my life, I always felt that I had to follow the road of having a traditional and routine job. I had this thought process of a traditional job is the only job. No one in my family was an entrepreneur. So, I did not see a creative, non-traditional job as a career. It wasn’t until high school and college that I met people who were entrepreneurs and learned that I can live the life that I envisioned. After college, I moved to New York City and I got into the fashion industry through public relations and advertising. I interned and volunteered at different public relations agencies and showrooms. As I interned, I also worked on NYC 5th Avenue at two different global flagship stores. I am grateful for the work experience because it helped me learn business in real-time instead of in school. One of my major bumps in working in retail is that I got caught up in retail life. I did not have a work-life balance. I also got influence by my higher-ups that I found my niche and was great at my job. It made me second guess myself multiple times on if I should do public relations. I was scared to take a risk on myself. So I stayed in my job until the pandemic. The global pandemic and quarantine were a blessing in disguise for me. All of that time to myself gave me the courage to take that risk and bet on myself. This past year has not been easy in getting influential people to connect with me and being on my podcast. I did not let those no’s bring me down. I kept pushing and sending out emails to people that I believe would help my audience. When I first launched my online women’s store, “This is Me Boutique” only family and friends purchased from me. I took a pause and reset with a new campaign and marketing strategy which led to more attraction and conversion into sales. I learned that you have to pause and reassess your strategies from the past, present, and future. Another major bump was the support of my family. My family is not too familiar with entrepreneurship so they don’t see it as a lucrative job. They see traditional jobs as the only way to have a sustainable life. When you don’t have the support of your family; it is hard to be confident in yourself and your business. When you get out of that mindset and realize that you are doing this for yourself; it gives you the motivation to keep going. As I continue to grow my platforms and my business; I don’t allow fear to hold me back!
We’ve been impressed with Melanie Elizabeth Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Melanie Elizabeth Media is a media agency that focuses on helping bloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and small businesses engage and grow their audience. I assist small businesses, bloggers, and freelancers with pushing their brand to the forefront through a blog. I help redo their current blog by adding new content on their blog that is captivating to their audience. I help them retain their loyal audience and attract new traffic. If they do not have a blog for their brand. I assist with creating a blog for their brand by offering different topics that their audience would want to read about and help with converting their traffic. I think what sets my media company apart is that we focus on content writing services in this digital world that we live in today. We also assist with branding and social media that works alongside the content writing services.
I am proud that people automatically come to my company for blogging and know how important it is even with social media growing. Everyone still wants to read articles and blog posts about businesses and brand products/services. It allows clients to learn about the benefits of working or purchasing from them.
We offer short-term and long-term content writing services for you or your brand. We will jump on a quick discovery call with you to learn more about you and your business. This will allow us to tailor a specific direction for your blog. We also can assist with brand audits of your social media and website for a small fee.
I also have an online women’s clothing business under my main company. This is Me Boutique which is a women’s clothing brand that offers affordable clothing that makes them feel comfortable in their skin. We offer dresses, jumpsuits, set, and basic essentials.
I am also co-owner of MM Showroom Company, a women’s clothing and accessory showroom based in Miami. We assist different designers with branding, wholesale, and events.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I became a serious risk-taker when the global pandemic started. I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to be out of work for two weeks. Two weeks turned into 5 months of not working in retail with our store being closed. I knew that this was the time to really focus and get my business off the ground. It was no longer a hobby or a side-hustle; it needed to be a full-time job. I did not go back to my job when the store opened back up. I was able to save enough money to come back to Miami from NYC and focus on my business. I have put 100% of my time into my company and my blog/podcast.
This was the riskiest thing that I did because I was no longer getting a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks. I had to hustle from when I woke up till I went to bed. It hasn’t been easy but it has been the most rewarding. I learned that I can really handle a lot on my own and that I can rely on myself and the people who support my vision.
I think it’s all about taking calculated risks. You have to know at least a couple of pros and cons of your risk before you jump into it. You have to be open to the experience of the risk and know that it won’t be easy but the outcome is greater than the fear.
Pricing:
- $100 for 500 word count blog post
- $250 for 1000 word count blog post
- $75 for Social Media Audit (45 min call)
- $125 for Social Media/Website Audit (60 min call)
- $$$ for Melanie to host an event (email us at hello@melelizabeth.com)
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@melelizabeth.com
- Website: https://www.melelizabeth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsnextmel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatsnextmel
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatsnextmel
