Background
Rich Rodriguez, a 22-year-old social entrepreneur based out of New York City, experienced his breakthrough after dedicating himself to a niche online. A source of humor, entertainment, and wisdom, Rich’s determined persistence to maintain a viral Snapchat account goes far beyond the norm of fruitless indulgence. Contrarily, his commitment to the pulse of online culture is a communal triumph; among a sea of digital nomads, Rodriguez’s involvement is a hallmark of mindful minimalism- BEY.
The Interview
Q (Jack Cohen): How did you start building your social media brand?
A (Rich Rodriguez): I started my whole brand like everyone else, small, with little to no capital. I used to do youtube which put me on the map to some extent; then merged to Snapchat and officially became a snapchat influencer full-time.
Q: Who is Rich, and how does he contribute to communities online?
A: I try to promote a positive environment online for all ages with comedy or other niched content and hopefully my influencing helps make other people’s days!
Q: Why should people invest in their public image?
A: I think investing in yourself in general is very important. If you’re trying to learn a skill or promote a product or creation of yours; it will benefit you in the long run.
Q: If you were to start over, what would you do differently?
A: I would spend less time worrying about what others are doing and what worked for them. Not everything that worked for others will work for you.
Q: What are some challenges you faced when building your company?
A: Trying to stand out at first was a major challenge at first. Being a social media agency is becoming a very popular business tactic in todays social media craze.
Q: Should everyone pursue entrepreneurship?
A: 100% YES. Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to pursue hobbies, travel, meet new amazing people I would have never met if I didn’t take the first initial step.
Q: What do you suggest to people looking to “start over” their social media?
A: Brand yourself. It’s a major key when you’re starting off your social media. Also make sure to trademark your name and logos too!
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you offer to entrepreneurs at all levels?
A: Risk management. Always question everything, ask a million questions before you make a final decision whether you should invest into the project or not.
Q: What does the future hold for your business?
A: We’re looking to stand out more like other major companies and try out new marketing tactics. We’re all young and innovative here at BEY Media and we’re hoping to expand soon!
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Ghandi
~ Jack Dylan Cohen for ThriveGlobal