Addie Whelan, ’16, is an advertising and public relations major at Loyola University Chicago. She’s developed a reputation in her classes – and online – as one of campus’ social media mavens. Whelan runs no less than seven Twitter accounts, three Tumblr accounts, four Instagram accounts, and five Facebook business pages. I sat Whelan down, outside of the virtual space, to talk to her about how she plans on using this skillset in the future, how she got into it, and what advice she has for other soon-to-be social media gurus.
Her Campus LUC: How did you get started doing social media?
Addie Whelan: I started when I found out one of my favorite bands was on Twitter, so I created an account to follow them in the first place. It was in 2009, when Twitter was beginning to take off.
HC LUC: Did you take to it right away, or was it more gradual?
AW: I took to it right away, because I found out how easy it was to find other people with common interests. It was a lot easier to connect and begin networking with people who liked a lot of the same things that I did. I loved hearing different opinions from people all around the world, especially on topics I love, like music.
HC LUC: How long was it until you opened your second Twitter account?
AW: It was about a year later. A bunch of my friends and I were all beginning to love the social aspect of it. We created an account that was a parody account for our highschool and our local hometown. It got really popular in the area, we usually ended up tweeting jokes or references that only people in the area would get.
HC LUC: What was the next social media platform you joined after Twitter?
AW: I think I got on Tumblr after that. It was a really similar reason, I just loved the opportunity to talk with people from all over with similar interests. Growing up in a suburban town in Minnesota, sometimes it was harder to find people that were interested in the same things I was. I just got to hear about a lot of different view points that I was previously sheltered from.
HC LUC: How many hours do you think you spend on social media every day?
AW: Honestly, probably six hours total. I’m scrolling during my commute in between campuses, or when I’m multi-tasking, such as cooking dinner. Everything happens so quickly in the world today, I have to make sure that I’m sending out relevant content and managing my different accounts appropriately.
HC LUC: How do you plan to use social media after graduation?
AW: I want to develop marekting plans for the music industry. So how releases are timed on social media, fan interaction, etc. I think that that is a crucial part of today’s music industry, seeing as sales are moving more and more to digital platforms or streaming services. Even the 1975 alluding to their new album on social media without having to directly make a statement. I think that’s incredible
HC LUC: What advice would you give other students who want to use social media in their careers?
AW: Developed a personal brand to your personal accounts, because employers will look at your social media if you’re going to run their social media. Be selective in what you share. Also, remember that doing social media as a profession isn’t all retweets and likes, there’s serious business strategy behind it. You’ve got to know your stuff!