We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alana Vorda. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Alana, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think people misunderstand how deep social media management actually goes—at least the way I do it. A lot of people still think it’s just posting a bunch of content and picking whatever trending sound is hot that week.
But I’m also an entire extra customer-service arm for my clients. I’m answering DMs, replying to comments, catching leads before they disappear, and making sure every single person who interacts with the page feels seen. Whether they’re selling a product or a service, part of my job is showing their audience, ‘Hey, this brand actually cares—and they know their stuff.’
So yes, I do all the things people expect: planning strategy, shooting content, editing, writing captions, tracking metrics, and handling creative direction. But honestly? The part people don’t see is the most important: keeping my clients’ voice consistent, educating their audience, filtering out spam, nurturing real relationships, and making sure their brand feels human.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Alana, and I run Vorda Social–a social media management business here in Houston. I work with builders, architects, dietitians, small businesses—basically anyone who wants to stop guessing on social media and actually grow with intention.
What I do is a mix of creative direction, content strategy, and being the extra arm my clients didn’t realize they needed. I handle everything from planning shoots to writing captions to answering DMs and comments, so their social media feels like a real extension of their brand. My goal is to take as much off my client’s plates as possible so they can focus their time and energy on what they’re experts at.
What makes my business a little different is that I don’t run things like an agency. It’s collaborative and personal. I get to know each client’s voice, their personality, their audience, and I build content around them, not around what’s trending that week. And because I’m hands-on with their community, people feel like they’re actually connecting with a human behind the brand.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My mom taught me the most about work. I grew up with two entrepreneurial parents, but I really admired my mom—not just because she was a working mother, but because she was a successful immigrant business owner. I just assumed I’d do the same one day. It wasn’t even a question.
I’m the youngest of three, but I was the first to open my own business, and I know it’s because I watched her build something from scratch and carry it herself. She made independence feel normal. She made entrepreneurship feel possible.
She taught me to be honest to a fault, to work hard, to be disciplined, and to be strong enough to do the ‘hard things.’ And that’s exactly how I show up for my clients and my business now.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
The last time I changed my mind about something important was when I realized I don’t have to take on—or keep—every client. In the early days of my business, I thought saying ‘yes’ to everyone was the smart business move. But the longer I’ve been in this industry, the more I’ve learned that alignment matters way more to me than income.
One of the first times that really clicked was when a client bought fake followers after I had several conversations with them about why it hurts their account and goes against my ethics. The second I saw the spike, I ended our working agreement. It wasn’t dramatic—I just knew I needed to stand by my values.
Changing my mind about what real success looks like—and realizing that integrity sometimes means stepping back—has made me a better business owner and probably a better human.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the social media industry is that followers equal success. Yes, followers add credibility—I won’t pretend they don’t—but the obsession with big numbers is so misleading. Some of the strongest, most profitable accounts are the ones under 5K followers because they’re less boastful, more approachable, and they’re actually talking to their audience instead of flexing for them.
It really comes down to what you want social media to do for you. If your goal is to become an influencer, then sure, let’s chase followers and brand deals. But if you’re selling a service? The goal shouldn’t be vanity metrics—it should be leads, trust, and authority.
I have a client, Draft House Design Studio, who has under 2K followers and gets DMs every single week for new projects. We post once a week. No viral dances, no daily content grind, no pressure to ‘hit 10K.’
If you’re a business owner and want to know the real metrics here are the questions to ask yourself: Are the right people finding you? Are you converting? Are you building a community that actually wants to work with you? Followers look good on paper, but aligned engagement and real inquiries are what pay the bills.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely—and honestly, I already do this. A lot of my clients don’t even ask for metrics or check in that often because they trust that if something isn’t working, I’ll tell them and pivot on my own.
I take a lot of pride in my work—probably more than anyone realizes. I check metrics monthly whether anyone asks or not. I pay close attention to every DM and comment, watching for leads, responding quickly, and making sure people feel seen.
I genuinely care about what I do and about my clients’ success. Praise is nice, but it’s not the fuel. What actually motivates me is watching their brands grow and knowing I was part of that progress. That’s the kind of thing that keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vordasocial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vordasocial/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/alana-vorda
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vordasocial/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
