Meet Bella Horrocks

We recently connected with Bella Horrocks and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Bella with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I grew up with two incredibly entrepreneurial minded parents. From starting nonprofits to coffee shop skate parks to business consulting to flipping houses, I had an inside look of what it means to be an entrepreneur and the work ethic that comes with that from a very young age. I witnessed their discipline and resilience when it came to running their businesses every day and that has truly inspired me to carry on this same, strong work ethic in running my own business.

Apart from that, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur because I could never imagine myself in the confines of a cubicle or corporate business that stifles creativity. I know that I might have to work a little harder than others by choosing to run my own business, but the knowledge that I am creating the life I always dreamed of for myself encourages my work ethic.

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?

When I think about my life, becoming an entrepreneur makes sense based on how I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, but I never expected to be a full time freelancer running my own business straight out of college.

I first picked up a camera at 15, and photography quickly became something I loved. This inspired me to think about pursuing a creative career. After I graduated with a Communication degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I knew I wanted to work in social media marketing after completing a social media internship with a local nonprofit.

I applied for jobs after graduation but never felt truly led to work at an agency or in a traditional full time role. That fall, I traveled to Big Island, Hawaii and participated in a workstay program on a coffee farm. While there, I volunteered to take photos for the farm’s social media and ended up pitching my first social media management proposal before returning to Tennessee. One thing led to the next, and this farm became my first client. It wasn’t until a year and a half later that I decided to quite my nannying job and officially launch my social media management business — Belrose Creative. This was a huge leap of faith, but I knew that there would never be a “right time” to launch.

Today, I primarily focus on Instagram social media management and work with clients both locally and remotely. My services include building social media strategies, editing Instagram Reels, designing carousel graphics, writing captions, handling outbound engagement, and creating content through photography or in-person video shoots. These services are typically bundled into custom packages for each client, depending on their unique needs and goals.

To me, social media management is more than just posting photos on Instagram. It’s about creating sustainable strategies and curated content that actually help your business grow, contribute to meaningful brand awareness, and build communities. I’m passionate about working with creative entrepreneurs and service providers who are tired of doing it all for themselves. I especially love working with clients who aren’t just focused on selling a product or service, but who genuinely want to build connection and community through their content.

One of the best parts of this work is bringing my clients’ visions to life in a way that truly reflects who they are as people and business owners. And honestly, the most rewarding part is the relationships I’ve built with all my clients and the trust they have in me!

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

Resilience
Resourcefulness
Collaborative

Resilience is definitely a key part of being a business owner that works on a client basis. When you’re beginning to seek out clients, there can be a lot of no’s and a lot of ghosting. The best thing you can do is keep pushing forward and be the one that believes in yourself until you get that ‘yes’! I also found that in my case, I did not have anyone close to me to teach me the ins and outs of starting a social media management business. I turned to Facebook groups, connecting with other social media managers on Instagram, and business coaching. Without all of that, I truly would not be where I am today! And last, I’ve found it incredibly important to be a collaborative person when working with clients. Be someone that your client knows they can bring ideas to without you shutting it down!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

As a business owner, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. There are endless tasks and to-do lists. You’re doing everything from marketing your business to managing clients on your own. It can be a lot. After 2 1/2 years of running a business full time, I’ve learned that I can’t produce my best work when I’m feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. I’ve found that the best thing I can do when I’m feeling overwhelmed is to take a break from work. Personally, I feel 10x better after spending time outside, so I’ll go on a walk, spend time in nature, or even just sit on the porch to get a break from the screen. Stepping away for a moment doesn’t mean I’m falling behind. It actually allows me to come back with more clarity, creativity, and energy. At the end of the day, taking care of myself is just as important as taking care of my business, and that’s what truly allows me to show up fully for my clients.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @belrosecreative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bella-horrocks-298a0a1ab/

Image Credits

photo in red shirt: Honey Grace McNaughton (HoneyGracedCreative)