Meet Jessica DeFeo | Social Media Coach & Branding Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica DeFeo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I turned 40 in January of this year, and was a pivotal moment for me. I know 40 isn’t old, but in definitely seems like I could have accomplished, or at least lived, more by that time. The last few years of my thirties kept proving to me over and over that if I wanted a drastically different life, I was going to have to make drastically different decisions. At some point the excuses for staying in the same place became obnoxious and exhausting.

So when the opportunity came for me to make a decision: go back to the world and career I had known for 20 years because it was safe and consistent and predicatable OR start my own business doing what I know I can do well with business strategy, social media marketing and website design even though it was none of the other things I thought I needed to be happy, I chose the latter.

It turns out that when you make a decision to follow what it is that does inspire the hell out of you, and trust all the training and experience you had leading up to this decision, amazing and magical opportunities will flow to you. So there wasn’t necessarily a thought process behind my decision but more so the crystal clear realization that if I wanted to start actually living a life that brought me joy, purpose and financial abundance I was going to have to start making radical decisions.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own JMD Creative Consulting LLC, and I just started this adventure 6 months ago. I am a social media coach, branding strategist and website designer specializing in women owned businesses. My dream and vision for my business is to create a one-stop shop for women business owners to create (or rebrand) their business with an elevated, intuitive business strategy that from the beginning, brings to life their brand online in the most authentic way possible.

Having only been in business for 6 months, I have already had the opportunity to be on 2 TV spots promoting my business, and my team and I were just hired to create the social media strategy behind Houston Fashion Week happening November 18th!

For 20 years I was in retail management and leadership, training and developing sales teams to connect and sell over a million dollars a year, each. I am self-taught in everything I know: sales, branding, website design and social media. I realized that my training and experience in sales for 20 years has allowed me to succeed in the online space as well, using the same strategy.

I am able to use my talent and passion for supporting women, building a business, creating a connection and story behind your brand, and using your passion and intuition and emotion in your marketing strategy is key to building a fan base obsessed with your brand. I offer a perspective about social media marketing that I think is missing in most strategies and teaching: your emotion, story and passion behind your business model is vital in establishing a lasting relationship with customers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well I live in The Heights, so I’m slightly partial to the area and would definitely start out walking through Heights Boulevard, and then down White Oak and Studemont. Ready Room is an amazing craft cocktail bar along 6th that offers live jazz music on the weekends. Memorial Park is awesome to visit, as well as all the trails along Allen Parkway with the perfect view of the downtown skyline. Galveston of course to visit the beach!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout belongs to the army of women I have in my life that have fiercely supported me and believed in me even when I didn’t have the ability to do that for myself. There is something life changing around someone else to fully see you and still unconditionally love and support you. I am lucky enough that I have so many incredible women in my life that do this for me. Thank you doesn’t even do it justice, the amount of gratitude and love I feel for everyone that helped me to realize this dream.

Website: www.jessicadefeo.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicadefeo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.defeo.16

Image Credits
Natalie Donofrio