Amy West, founder of AmyWestTravel.com, is a content creator, media influencer and CEO of the Hive Society, a new influential community of content creators from the First Coast and beyond. With a mission to raise the standard of influencer marketing through meet-ups, endorsed events and workshops, West hosted the society’s first HiveCon Sept. 29, at Sweet Pete’s Candy in downtown Jacksonville. At the event, participants spoke, networked and bonded during colorful photo shoots.
“We wanted it to be very intimate and information-based,” West said. “So, even though it’s called HiveCon, it’s basically an extended workshop. Learning from the brands always is really insightful.”
West hoped for at least 50 people to attend the event and she was pleased with the turnout. The welcoming reception overflowed with digital world influencers. After the reception, participants migrated to Sweet Pete’s “Candy Room,” where panelists spoke. Representatives from multiple local brands, including Curate & Co. and Visit Jacksonville, discussed the importance of Google analytics and online engagement. In addition, influencers Cecile Charlotin, from Cecile a la Mode; Kristin Coffey, from For the Love of Coffey; and Megan Killis and Vicky Lane, from Jacksonville Mom, explained their journeys to success, along with strategies they’ve used to succeed in the industry.
“This is a great event with all like-minded influencers together in the same room,” said Bryana Dunn, an influencer known as her food-and-travel Instagram handle, @WebWithDunn. “HiveCon is really showing some insight and giving a lot of good tips. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use them in the real world and my social media and make an impact.”
Dunn said she had been looking forward to the brand panel, hoping for insights on collaboration. “They’re the ones we market ourselves to, so we want to hear what they’re looking for, how to pitch to them.”
Smaller seminars took place in the “Chocolate Room,” featuring Blythe Brumleve of Brumleve Brands, LLC.; YouTube Vlogger (video blogger) Valencia, from “Valencia’s Life;” and Natasha Moody, founding member of the Hive Society and blogger of www.MoodyGirlinStyle.com.
Topics of discussion included the importance of building a website that is not a social media account, the basics of vlogging on YouTube and creating chic and unique photos for online fashionistas.
“Everything I’ve done has been all about people I’ve met, fostering those relationships and growing together,” said West, who can be contacted for more information on the website www.thehivesociety.com.
