Without our people, Helix House would be nothing. Well, it'd be a business but it wouldn't do much for our clients! When it comes time to running AdWords campaigns, creating new content for client websites and email blasts, ‘Helix House’ isn’t crushing the keyboard, it’s Brett fine-tuning those campaigns, it’s Simone building out those emails. It's important to us to recognize our team who make this all possible so, without further preamble, this time on the Helix House blog, we’re focusing in on our lead social media strategist, Vianka Villa! Since starting full-time in November 2017, she’s become the Social Queen here at Helix, helping brands and businesses reach their audience in massive ways, (not to mention helping the rest of us look great in our own posts too!) In this interview we take a look at just what Social Media Management is, how Vianka got started, and of course answer burning questions like 'Who is going to sit the Iron Throne?'

Social Media Strategist - Vianka Villa

In your view, what does social media management entail?When people ask me what I do and I say Social Media Strategist they’re like ‘What the hell is that?’ Basically, I manage, create and produce our client's social media, including their social paid advertising. That entails any social media outlet, but preferably that’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, we used to do Google+ until --RIPYeah RIP, and then Pinterest. Those are the main platforms we do use as a company, but anything else we could reach out and do as well. Not only do I do monthly management (organic daily and/or weekly posts) but I also produce and manage client social paid advertising campaigns to drive leads, revenue, and business growth. Half of my day consists of organic social content, the other half I focus on managing and optimizing social ad campaigns.How’d you get started in Social Media?At ASU, during my junior year. I was interning at Arizona PBS, Channel 8 at the Cronkite School. I was a broadcast intern. After the semester ended some of my friends were student workers there and they were like ‘Hey there is this opening, but it’s going to be in the PR department. Something that you’re interested in, ya know, it’s social media.’I’m a broadcast kid. I’m not a social media guru, so I thought that was interesting. But they recommended me to it and so I said ‘Ok, let’s try it.’Ever since I did their social media daily, working on their Twitter, Facebook, I did a lot of PR campaigns for them. It was very small which was good for me to learn.So you did a lot of on the job training?Definitely, that’s the cool thing about Channel 8, they let their student workers do hands-on work, it’s the real thing. I would cover yearly events that they would also broadcast. They hired me on because I worked in the broadcast department, so I already knew the team and kind of understood when they produced and broadcasted their daily show.So, that’s how I got into it. It was kind of weird at first and then I thought, well it’s really hard to get into news, at least what I wanted to do. I wanted to do photojournalism, be a videographer and at the same I didn’t like how news was going, and I still don’t. So I thought maybe I’ll take a break with news, branch out, and work more in PR and Social Media marketing. But once I graduated, I got a video production intern position at a Power Plant - but I didn’t enjoy it.Then I got a job down the street from Helix House for this company called Toolbox. They’re a techy company.On the job learning, by myself, and any mentors, basically my internships - that’s how I learned. Everything was hands on.I really enjoy doing this (social media) and it’s something I want to continue to learn because there’s so much. People think it's black or white, but it's not. It's such a different beast.Preferred social media? Personally and for businesses? For you and for work?For personal, I would say Instagram for sure. I’m just a photo-j kid at heart, I love taking photos, I think it through - that’s why I don’t post much on my personal account. It’s either a family post or a landscape/event post. I do have a Finsta and with that I could actually take shitty photos, I don’t have to edit them and--What’s a Finsta?It’s a fake Instagram, just like 10 of my friends and close family.Some people don’t care, but for me I do take my craft seriously as far as content. I do try, it takes me forever to edit photos. That’s why I like to use Instagram as far as personal, I can be more creative. For work, definitely Facebook. Just because everything is on Facebook as far as ads manager. I love creating Facebook ads, rather than Instagram ads. You can do a little bit more as far as copy, description, and photo. Some people think ‘Instagrams better,’ but there’s more people on Facebook with the demographics I try to target.So Facebook is a more robust platform to do ads on?Yeah.

What's something you have enjoyed most about Helix House?The freedom and the people here. That's such a huge thing. Working with people that actually care and are on the same page. The fact that we can try anything creative within our departments with no limitations.Who or what inspires you?Definitely my family inspires me. In a way that they motivate me to do BETTER. My grandparents didn't finish their education and my parents didn't either. So I hope I have set the bar a bit higher. They're great people so, I'm biased! My coworkers, people grinding everyday, getting it done, and actually trying. That makes me want to do better.What makes for a killer Facebook post?Facebook post: visually pleasing image and little to no text on the image. Image depends on the client and what ever content they are trying to organically reach. (Unless they make it into a boosted post for further engagement)Facebook ad: visually pleasing image and little to no text on the image, less than 20%. Image depends on the client and whatever content they are trying to promote. A killer first sentence and headline in the copy, something that calls out to the audience to catch their attention. A very detailed targeted audience is also a plus.What's one thing everyone should know or understand about social media?It is ALWAYS changing. Social algorithms are constantly changing, so be aware of that and open to learning new techniques every few months or so.Alright, let's shotgun through some fun stuff!What are you binging on Netflix?Just finished Girl Boss, BARELY started watching The Office, I knooooow, I know!It's alright!I'm like on episode 3 but it's hilarious so far.You’ve fallen dead (oh no!) and are now a ghost. Where do is you haunt?The people who have done me wrong!!What’s on your bucket list?Travel more, go to New Zealand! I would also love to go to different parts of Europe and Asia. Work on more creative projects in social media and film.Who is going to sit the Iron Throne?- Jon Snow, just because he doesn't want the Iron Throne lol. He needs to man up and just do it.What’s a question you wished someone would ask you?- I wish people actually asked me on what projects I'm working on rather than just ask how's work going. Maybe because I do care to ask people on the different things they work on.