Meet Alana Vorda

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

Hi Alana, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

When I started my business, no one in my family was exactly thrilled—which I think is pretty common. The people closest to you usually just want what’s best for you, and that often means they don’t want to see you struggle or fail. In my case, starting my own social media marketing company wasn’t related to my degrees or most of my previous work experience, so everyone was skeptical (and I get that). And yep, I did it anyway. Now, four years later, I’m running my own company, working with clients I love, and doing work that actually feels aligned with who I am.

I’ve learned that persistence really comes down to conviction. If your choices align with your values and goals, you can’t truly be wrong. Even when things don’t go as planned, you learn something and keep it moving.

For me, it’s about trusting myself even when other people don’t fully get it yet—because owning your mistakes makes owning your successes that much sweeter.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

What’s exciting about social media—especially right now—is how we’ve transitioned to authenticity. The era of perfect grids and “aesthetic feeds” is over—and thank goodness. People want connection. They want personality. You can literally record a 20-second selfie video on your phone and make more impact than a standard thousand-dollar ad. This shift has made the past year one of my favorite times to create (and honestly, one of the easiest times for small business owners to stand out—which I LOVE).

I run a social media marketing company here in Houston, where my goal is to help people show up confidently and consistently as themselves—the faces behind their brands. I actually started my business working solely within the Houston real estate industry, which can sometimes feel repetitive content-wise. But what I quickly realized is that the same formula works across every field: be human, be consistent, and tell your story in a way that actually sounds like you. Do that, and you’ll find your community.

Now I get to work with all kinds of clients—from builders and artists to a dietitian and a local charity—and it’s been so refreshing to collaborate with people who truly show up as their authentic selves. That’s what allows for real connection, which is ultimately what we all want—and what social media is uniquely able to foster.

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

Build real connections within your industry. Networking can feel daunting or even transactional sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be. For me, it’s about making genuine connections—the kind where you actually like the people you’re learning from. You never know when someone will refer a client your way or share something that completely shifts your perspective. The best part is having a community that just…gets it. You can vent, share ideas, and grow together.

Then, find mentors you trust. Mentors serve a different purpose than peers—they give you perspective you don’t always have when you’re in the thick of it. None of my mentors are in my industry, but they all have integrity, experience, and honesty. They’ve helped me see blind spots and challenged me in the right ways. You don’t need a dozen—just one good one who will keep it real with you.

And finally, self-trust. When you’re building something on your own, everyone will have opinions. It’s easy to get caught up in what you “should” do, but the more you move with conviction, the more confident your decisions become. It’s something that builds over time—by keeping promises to yourself and staying open to learning as you go.

For anyone just getting started: nurture relationships, stay curious, and trust that your intuition will get sharper with every step. The messy middle is where you actually build your confidence.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

If I had to choose one, I’d say go all in on your strengths. For example: I can shoot video—but do I love it? Am I great at it? No and no. That’s why I hire videographers. Would I turn a larger profit if I did it myself? Probably. But for me, it comes down to making the highest and best use of my time—and part of that means protecting my peace while delivering a better product than if I tried to do everything myself.

I think of it like carrying buckets of water—you can only hold so many before you start spilling them. Every task you hand off frees up a little more space for the things you actually enjoy and excel at. It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing what you do best, really well.

I’ve learned that the quality of my work—and honestly, my happiness—goes way up when I stop trying to carry every bucket on my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vordasocial.com
• Instagram: vordasocial
• Facebook: vorda social
• Linkedin: vordasocial