Meet Felicia McDermott

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felicia McDermott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Felicia , 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?

One of the biggest ways I keep my creativity alive is by staying curious and seeking out new experiences. I enjoy visiting new restaurants, attending local events, and traveling whenever I can. These moments inspire fresh ideas for my food content and allow me to see things from new perspectives, giving me something unique to share with my audience.

Another way is connecting with other creators and continuously learning. Engaging with food and travel influencers, collaborating on projects, and observing how others create content has taught me so much.

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?

I currently work full-time for a non-profit organization, where I help coordinate fundraising events, manage social media, assist with creating marketing materials, and oversee volunteers. It’s a very rewarding role, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to give back to the community!

I earned my undergraduate degree in hospitality with a focus on event management. For graduate school, I studied business administration and completed a variety of marketing courses. During grad school, I developed a passion for marketing, especially social media management. I enjoy the creative outlet that comes with developing social media content and marketing materials. I hope to continue growing in the marketing and events field. My Instagram account (foodwithfeliciamcd) has been a fun hobby that has led to new relationships and experiences, and I’m very thankful I decided to create it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I first started creating content, I was staging product photos for the spa where I worked. The spa boutique carried a variety of skincare products, jewelry, clothing, and handbags. I researched each brand we carried and reviewed their social media accounts for inspiration. One of my goals was to create content that the brand would want to reshare. For example, I would look at a jewelry line we carried and stage the pieces in a similar style to the photos they posted. This strategy worked—multiple brands responded to the tagged posts asking if they could share the photos on their social media platforms. This helped provide more exposure for the spa and grow our social media presence. I learned a lot from this experience and I’ve used this same strategy with my food account.

I would say the three most impactful skills or qualities have been research, trial and error, and building relationships with other creators. With social media, you have to try a variety of strategies because trends and algorithms are constantly changing. When I research brands this helps inspire me and it often leads to new ideas. I also look at other creators work to gain and learn new techniques for shooting content—such as creative camera angles and video editing tools. I joined a few Instagram groups to share content, support one another, and exchange experiences around content creation. I’ve learned a lot through hearing others’ stories, and I enjoy making new connections. Being part of a local group is especially rewarding because we can meet in person and collaborate to support local businesses.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’d like to connect with other local content creators in Sarasota, Tampa, and Orlando. Although my page mainly focuses on food, I’d love to start creating more travel content as well. I always learn so much from other creators, and it would be wonderful to meet people who share similar interests! If you’d like to connect, you can reach me via email at [email protected].

Contact Info:

• Instagram: foodwithfeliciamcd
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-mcdermott-mba-7a307369

Image Credits

Felicia McDermott