Success has a couple interpretations for me. I have always been an overachiever growing up, so I’ve had to really appreciate milestones when they come like surpassing a million followers on platforms or when I get sponsorships with brands I dreamed of working with. Whenever I accomplish one of my goals, that’s my version of success because it proves I worked hard towards something and can move on to another goal.
As a part of our series about leaders who are using their social media platform to make a significant social impact, we had the pleasure of interviewing Ana Saia.
Ana Saia is the self-proclaimed “red headed Latina” on TikTok, who inspires her audience with comical and accurate portrayls of Mexican American heritage. The Las Vegas based creator often feels conflicted when others place their own racial or ethnic assumptions upon her and disregarded the Mexican heritage she has grown to love throughout her life. Her TikTok account is meant to share her unique life with others, and to show them how she embraces her insecurities.
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 discovered my career while I was a sophomore in college pursuing a degree in journalism and media studies. At one point in my college career, I was part of a student run show where we’d often do social media takeovers highlighting different parts of our day and sharing it on the show’s platform. That was my first taste of creating content that I normally keep to myself, but I loved the freedom that came with posting who I was without feeling judged which made me want to pursue a career as an influencer. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family. They gave me a strong understanding about being proud of who you are, especially my Mexican heritage, and without their love and support I don’t think I’d be where I am today.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way that influences how you operate now?
I’ve learned that you can’t make everyone happy and that’s ok. People are always going to criticize you, sometimes before you can even speak. I stay grounded and resonate with the close people in my life and online that I know I’m helping by making fun videos at the end of the day.
We’re all searching for some good news. How are you using your platform to make a positive social impact?
I’m using my platform to encourage people to embrace their Hispanic heritage regardless of your appearance or how efficiently you can speak Spanish. I also embrace the “no Sabo kid” title (someone who doesn’t speak proper Spanish and often messes up in the language) to turn it into a positive idea by embracing my mistakes when I speak Spanish which in return encourages others to do the same. This way more people don’t feel judged when they practice Spanish.
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?
My biggest advice to aspiring influencers is to be your most authentic self and let that shine through in every video/post you make. When you’re brutally honest about who you are and what you love the more people will trust you and want to see more posts of you and your passion.
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 or define success for yourself now?
Success has a couple interpretations for me. I have always been an overachiever growing up, so I’ve had to really appreciate milestones when they come like surpassing a million followers on platforms or when I get sponsorships with brands I dreamed of working with. Whenever I accomplish one of my goals, that’s my version of success because it proves I worked hard towards something and can move on to another goal.
What are your strategies to make room for who and what matters most? (family, friends etc.)
My strategy for making room for the things that matter the most is by working around them. If my mom wants to meet for coffee one morning, I make my schedule around that and move when I plan on filming/editing my content. I’m thankful that my work right now is very flexible, so I try my best to be as available for others when they need me.
How do you reduce or mitigate stress?
Whenever I’m stressed, I turn to the simple things I’ve loved since I was kid including: reading, journaling, painting, even rewatching old barbie movies.
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?” Please share a story or example for each.
My first strategy is to know your audience. Most of the videos I post revolve around growing up Hispanic and the struggles of learning a language that everyone else in my family seems to know. I know that this is the reason my audience follows me so when they comment “pt 2” or “you should try saying this phrase in Spanish”, I listen. My next strategy is learning algorithms, specifically tiktok and instagram. Every week there’s a new trend with a new sound and it’s important to stay up to date and replicate the trend for your niche. Like there was a sound from the movie Rio “you’re right it’s not my fault, it’s your fault” and I replicated the trend but with a text overlay “my Hispanic mom: it’s not your fault you’re a no Sabo kid”. The next strategy is holding q&a’s, mine are mostly via my instagram stories. I use my story to reach people on a different level so it’s more personal for each response that I make. My other strategy is staying consistent with the content I upload. I always post one tiktok Monday-Saturday and depending on my workflow I reupload those videos across instagram and Youtube shorts. My final strategy is sharing my own personal stories. This is one that not many think of but when you share an experience online there is an entire community who might’ve had something similar and that forms an immediate connection.
What do you do to create a greater sense of connection and community among your fans?
I always try to upload content that has meaning behind it. Normally it’s to help share a laugh or two but in a social platform like tiktok it’s easy to get lost in trends and sounds that are on repeat on everyone’s for you page. So, I try to stand out and make original content whenever I’m able and my audience sees this and loves to connect through comments where I’m able to respond to a couple as well.
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?
If I could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people it would be the dreamer’s movement. In a world filled with realists it’s important to give support to those who have big dreams whether it’s going to college, starting a business, being an artist, etc. So many people are so quick to judge because they took a different path in life but those who have aspirations and are often ridiculed for their individuality need a support system that can give them the necessary tools to reach those dreams.
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?
If I could have a private breakfast/lunch with anyone in the world it’d be Selena Gomez. I’m sure a lot of people would too but she’s been my idol ever since I can remember. She seems like a very kind, sincere person who would give probably the best older sister type of advice that I could ever ask for.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
The best way for people to follow my work online is to follow me @ ana saia on tiktok, Youtube, and instagram.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your important work!
Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Ana Saia Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.