Meet Jessica Wagner

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Wagner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessica, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

As a digital marketer, creativity is a big part of my daily life. From social media posts to gaining traction from a blog post, creativity is at the heart of it all.

Creativity flourishes when we make room for it, especially in a constantly online world. For me, staying unplugged is a vital part of nurturing my creativity, and it comes down to being intentional about disconnecting. Whether I’m spending time with friends, immersing myself in nature, or on vacation – finding ways to stay unplugged is vital to nurturing creativity and avoiding burnout. Here’s how I keep my creativity alive by being unplugged:

One of the most significant ways I unplug is by leaving my phone behind during meals, particularly in restaurants (after I’ve photographed my food, of course). By focusing on the people I’m with instead of notifications, I’m able to have meaningful conversations and give my full attention to those around me. At home, I often leave my phone in the kitchen during dinner and while we are winding down for the evening. This break from my phone allows me to recharge mentally, allowing my brain to shut down and get a little rest from the day.

Nature has also always been a key inspiration, and I make it a priority to spend time outdoors. Evening dog walks and weekend hikes when weather permits are a big part of my routine. I like to use the All Trails App to explore new trails with both the dogs and my significant other, Kelly, giving us a way to enjoy nature’s endless variety together. Hiking offers a natural sense of adventure as well as peace that fuels my soul and leaves me feeling accomplished. That small boost of serotonin really gets the creative juices flowing.

Traveling also plays a huge role in my creative life. We try to take extended weekends with the dogs to explore different places within driving distance and aim for one or two longer vacations each year to experience other cultures and perspectives. These trips immerse me in diverse environments, bringing a fresh wave of ideas that I draw on throughout the year. New foods, languages, and landscapes spark thoughts and ideas that wouldn’t come to mind while at home, and I feel so fortunate to be able to have these experiences.

When it comes to work, brainstorming with others is an important part of how I stay inspired. Beyond Kelly, who is my biggest inspiration for creative ideas, I have a network of individuals who are always willing to exchange ideas. I find that sharing thoughts with like-minded people is a great way to open up new creative directions. When I need a creativity boost, I’ll delegate the task of creating content for clients, especially during particularly busy times. This not only gives me a break but allows me to look at the work from a fresh angle. I always go back to fine-tune it before it hits the web but the perspectives that others bring sometimes spark my creativity in unexpected ways, and revisiting their work lets me see it through a refreshed lens.

All of these methods keep me on top of the importance of taking time away from the screen and connecting with what’s around me – because being a creator, marketer, and business owner it can be easy to forget to shut off. By stepping away, whether it’s through quality time with Kelly and the six pets we have, outdoor adventures, new cultures, or brainstorming with creative peers, I find that my creativity stays alive and thrives.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Since I started Jus B Media in April of 2015 I’ve become the Social Media Editor of Women’s Journal Magazine, the President of FemCity Akron, and learned oh, so much about website design and development. Jus B Media has blossomed from your “local social media girl” to a well-rounded Boutique Agency that can handle all the things.

Throughout my six years in business I’ve also realized some gaps in the budding digital agency industry so most recently, I’ve created propriety software to help with on boarding and asset organization called The Honey Pot App, available in 2025.

My goals for Jus B Media are to continue to successfully drive business in the background using social media, influencer marketing, and creative strategies for my clients. I want to teach them that social media is not only the most cost-effective answer to their marketing needs but also the most potent way to engage with their audience. I love to watch my client’s bottom lines soar. I’m passionate about what I do, and because of that, I want nothing more than to see my clients booming in their industry.

While I have clients in various industries I thrive when it comes to e-commerce-based businesses, particularly in food and beverage manufacturing. Hospitality, bars, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and cafés – anything to do with food and bev – are all also a big part of what we are especially good at.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

A natural entrepreneur, I started my first business, Exhibit A Models, when I was 22. In 2002, the social media world wasn’t any where near what it is today. I mostly operated on MySpace and a site called OneModelPlace. I honestly feel that if social media would have been as mature and accessible then as it is now, I would have achieved even greater success. I ran my promotional modeling company through networking online for seven years. Connecting with people using the internet fascinated me so the truth is, I never really stopped networking online.

Through the years I have always stayed involved with the growth of social media and invested hours in researching techniques and staying on the cutting edge of professional social media marketing techniques. I’ve partnered with other agencies to learn their tactics, I hire budding marketers to learn the latest trends, and I’m constantly looking for new ways and tactics to integrate into our boutique agency. I also love researching how current successful brands are doing it right. I feel that social media genuinely levels the playing field for small start-ups, local retailers, and small businesses.

At 30, I realized I would finally need to earn a college degree to obtain any type of job in the current economy. The obvious choice for me was to attend an accredited university, you guessed it, online. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Communication in June of 2015. Throughout my 4+ years of getting my education, I mostly worked from home doing social media for local organizations in my hometown of Wooster, Ohio. The more I did it, the more I realized it was what I wanted to do but not on the small scale I was currently providing services at. I wanted to be the first person in my region who was doing social media marketing for businesses and take it off the hands of businesses that weren’t involved or even believers in the impact social media marketing can have.

The best advice I can give to those interested in finding a professional career in the social media industry is to find an organization that specializes in whatever it is you want to do (Social Media Marketing, Web, SEO, Content, Graphic Design) and ask if you can intern or join an apprentice program with them. You will learn more in 6 months or a year of interning in the real world than you will with any level of schooling.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m looking to build valuable partnerships and collaborations, especially within the food and beverage sector. We specialize in working with e-commerce clients, particularly food and beverage manufacturers, where we’ve had great success driving growth and engagement. I’m always open to connect with businesses interested in expanding their reach through strategic giveaways and influencer marketing, which are powerful tools for audience growth and brand visibility.

I’d also love to collaborate with hotel groups or restaurant owners managing multiple locations. This sector has a unique potential to create memorable guest experiences that can be shared widely on digital platforms, further enhancing brand loyalty and digital presence. If you’re a business owner and/or brand manager in the food, beverage, or hospitality industries and want to explore collaboration, I’d love to have a conversation with you – even if it’s just to gain education on failures and successes in your particular industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jusbmedia.com
• Instagram: @jusbmedia
• Facebook: @jusbmedia
• Linkedin: @jusbmedia
• Twitter: @jusbmedia
• Yelp: @jusbmedia

Image Credits

TM Knight Photo