Influencer Dani Dudek Of Spill the ATX On How To Build A Large, Loyal, & Engaged Social Media Community
An Interview With Karen Mangia
Post about things you truly care about. Even once you start making money, be very selective about paid promotions. When you are passionate, it resonates with your audience and you never want them to think you’re a sellout or that you’re doing something just for the money.
We often use the term “Influencers” to describe people with significant social media followings on platforms like Instagram, Twitter TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Influencers have become today’s media titans, sought after for everything from product placements to timely trends. What’s the difference between influence and impact? Fans and followers? Sizzle versus staying power?
In this interview series, called, “How To Cultivate Community In A Click to Connect World” we are talking to influencers about how they define success and what we all need to discover about the true nature of influence. As a part of this series I had the pleasure of interviewing Dani Dudek, Lifestyle Content Creator and Founder of Spill the ATX.
Dani Dudek is the Emmy-award-winning lifestyle content creator and influencer behind Spill the ATX, a pop-culture and lifestyle brand known for capturing the buzz around all things entertainment, travel, and more. What began as a personal blog evolved into a dynamic brand that garners over 1 million monthly views. Not only does Dani spend her time spilling the hottest tea in Austin but she is also steeped with experience that helps other businesses and brands succeed in the digital space as well.
Thank you for making time to visit with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. How did you discover your career path and what got you to where you are today?
I always knew I wanted to work in media. In fact, I started my career in TV while still in college. For two decades, I worked in promotion and marketing at TV stations around the country. It was a dream come true, and for those two decades, I loved every minute of it. But, after gaining 12 Emmy nominations, four wins, a stint at the Fox Network in Los Angeles and a Director position at a #1 station, I had accomplished everything I set out to do and I was ready for a new challenge. That’s when I decided to make a bit of a career pivot by focusing the majority of my time on my own brand. I also started my own agency, focused on content creation, consulting and managing social media for both small businesses and myself.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way that influences how you operate now?
Be authentic. Trends are great, but they only work if they truly align with you and your brand. Never lose sight of who your audience is and why they follow you.
Many of our readers are influencers as well. Others have tried and have yet to succeed. What words of advice would you offer to aspiring influencers, knowing what you know now?
In addition to being authentic, the most important thing to remember if you want to make a living as an influencer is that it’s a business. Be professional. Be ethical. Maybe you didn’t go to school for media or marketing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t represent yourself and your brand as a pro. Proofread, pay attention to grammar, continuously work on your craft — you are a producer and a boss, so behave like it!
Success is often a matter of perspective. I’ve always resonated with Henry David Thoreau’s quote, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” How do you see success – or define success – for yourself now?
This is tough because sometimes we put our heart and soul into something and it bombs! It’s the worst feeling. But creativity is subjective. And algorithms don’t always work the way they should. If you are proud of your work and can stand behind it, then you are a success. Never forget that.
What are your strategies to make room for who and what matters most?
Think things through, and don’t get caught up in FOMO or the feeling that you HAVE to do something because everyone else is. There are only so many hours in the day and you want to spend them doing things that matter. Don’t waste your time or energy on things or people that don’t add value to your life.
How do you reduce or mitigate stress?
Social media detox is essential. This is easier said than done. Believe me, I know. I severely struggle with disconnecting. I wish I could say that a workout, meditation, or spa day works for me, but it doesn’t.
I have found that I have to separate myself from everything to find a little peace. That’s why every couple months or so, I take a trip. Once I reset, I gain clarity and it helps to reduce any pent up stress or tension I’ve been holding on to. When things begin to overwhelm me again, I take another trip. Travel is my therapy.
I’m going to try a few of your tips, and I’m hopeful our readers will, too. Now it’s time for the big reveal — the moment our readers have been anticipating. What are your five strategies to cultivate a large & engaged social media community?
- Be authentic.
- Be consistent.
- Engage with your audience. Nobody likes to comment or message and get no response. Plus, the more you converse with your audience, the more they feel like they know you.
- Post about things you truly care about. Even once you start making money, be very selective about paid promotions. When you are passionate, it resonates with your audience and you never want them to think you’re a sellout or that you’re doing something just for the money.
- Never lose sight of your goals and celebrate all the wins, no matter how small they may seem.
What do you do to create a greater sense of connection and community among your fans?
Be real. When I decided to step away from my career and try something new, I moved back home and lived with my parents — at the age of 40! It was hard, frustrating, and even embarrassing at times. But it was also necessary. If you want to be successful, you have to do all the things, even the hard ones. Sharing those kinds of struggles and stories with your audience only helps to make your connection stronger.
As an influencer, you are, by definition, a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
To put it simply, I wish for more positivity in the world. Stop with the clickbait. Stop with the hate bait. Let’s focus on sharing the love. And if you see something online that isn’t for you, keep scrolling. It’s just that easy.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He, she or they might just see this. 🙂
I’m always happy to connect with anyone and everyone. You never know how we can enhance and elevate each other’s lives. The possibilities are endless!
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
You can visit my website, SpilltheATX.com, and follow @spilltheATX on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
Thank you for these thought-provoking insights. Here’s to your continued success!
Influencer Dani Dudek Of Spill the ATX On How To Build A Large, Loyal, & Engaged Social Media… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.