Hidden Gems: Meet Brandi Edwards of Your Social Media Experts and 5 Star Web Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Edwards.

Hi Brandi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi! I am Brandi Edwards, a single mother of two beautiful children I am very proud of, Baylie and Xavier. I am the Founder of Your Social Media Experts and 5 Star Web Design. My journey started when I graduated from Smithville High School six months early and attended Paris II to earn my Nail Tech License in the State of Missouri. Since I was ahead of the game, I intended to have a backup plan while attending my journey through college. Once I graduated from Paris II, I attended Maple Woods Community College for my Associate’s Degree. I went from Maple Woods Community College to Devry University to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems. I was offered a full-ride Academic Scholarship to Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri, where I studied Computer Information Systems and changed my degree. I am originally from West County, St. Louis, so this offer was bitter-sweet! What’s better than being closer to where I grew up?

I worked for my father and mother, Phil and Nicki Edwards, throughout most of my life for their company Meta-Health Weight Management and gained my entrepreneurial spirit and skills from them. I thank my parents daily for the opportunities, lessons, and skills they have provided me throughout my life. I am humbly grateful and fortunate. I also attended Kansas City School of Bartending, which helped me through college as a backup plan for earning my Bartending Certification. In my last year in college, I left the Main Land and took my journey to the breathtaking island of Maui, Hawaii. I finished my Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Computer Information Systems online from Regis University of Colorado. My journey continued after graduation, and I attended Tech Skills for my Oracle DBA 8i Certification, New Horizons for my CompTIA A+ Certification, Adobe and Microsoft Certificates, and last but not least, I received my Fortinet Security Sales Certification. I love school and learning because it simply opens the doors for more opportunities. Tech Savvy is the key, and in more ways than one.

Although I received all this training and education, my true passion has always been in the “arts” and technology’s “creative” side. I went back and trained in Web Design and Social Media Management with many different resources. Ultimately, I decided to put both Web Design and Social Media together, and THAT is when it all came to fruition.

I first started in the Outdoors Industry, working with major corporations and many hunting and fishing pros. That’s when I decided to create and develop a social network called Outdoorsmen Social Network. I spent many hours and years on this project, which was gratifying. I met some of the most special friends in the outdoors industry, and those friends became my very first clients. Outdoorsmen Social Network gave me a lot of expertise, yet it was more of a hobby rather than a career.

After putting many hours and years into my work with trial and error, I was getting quite savvy about what I could do for many companies and individuals. My favorite part was pressing my boundaries on what I could and couldn’t do, and gaining more knowledge. These different techniques taught me quite a bit and advanced my skills to the next level. In turn, I received more and more referrals. I worked in the corporate world for many years in between and during the time of building both Your Social Media Experts and 5-Star Web Design. Unfortunately, I had lost a job, and I did what anyone else would do, I panicked. So, the entrepreneur in myself immediately sparked an idea, set a plan, and I started building from ground zero! My main goal and plan was to focus on making as much money as I did in the corporate world first. Within 3 months of leaving the Corporate World, I had not only met my goals but surpassed them.

I started getting my friend’s accounts, then their friends and family accounts, and THAT led me into other industries with greater opportunities. Your Social Media Experts and 5 Star Web Design has been growing rapidly ever since. I am so grateful for the referrals and support I have received throughout these years from many different people and companies.

Your Social Media Experts offers Social Media Management tools, Social Media Management, Social Media Ad Training, Graphics, and more. Features include: Social Media Management, Engaging Content, Graphics, Review Alerts, Reputation Monitor and Management, Social Contests, Social Deals, Extensive Social Analytics, and Social Shopping Carts, 5 Star Web Design offers Web Design for Startups to Corporations. We have been in business since 2011 and have over 18+ years of experience.

I always remember a famous Henry Ford quote, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right,” which emphasizes how much attitude determines success or failure. Although I have failed along the way, and or life has failed me, I knew I could, so I did. Here is to our continued future success!

www.yoursocialmediaexperts.com and www.5starwebdesign.net

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge I faced along the way was overcoming the fear of the unknown and standing on my own two feet to support my children without a guaranteed salary. Success was my goal, and with many obstacles I faced, I continued to stay on track, building both companies with a positive mindset. Once I put my plan in place, everything else followed. Gratitude and prayer were a huge influence and practice in my life, leading to my success.

I am gratefully well known for my Social Media presence and skills. What sets Your Social Media Experts apart from competitors is price, recognition, passion, trial and error, education, and 18+ years of experience.

What sets 5 Star Web Design apart from competitors is the unique designs, PRICE, 18+ years of experience, and the high quality of websites you get with our amazingly low prices. 5 Star Web Design likes to stay under the industry prices intentionally to make it affordable and easier. We believe money should never stop anyone from fulfilling their dreams. Our quality is the same. We love startups! We also work with medium to larger sized companies, saving them thousands of dollars in overhead costs. We can design websites on multiple platforms as well, not just our own. Sky’s the Limit!

On 5 Star Web Design’s platform, we include Cloud Based Hosting, Security SSL Certificates, SEO submission, maintenance, all updates and in-house graphic design.

As a bonus for our Website clients, we offer our Social Media Management tools with Your Social Media Experts for a discounted price, at only $49 additional a month. It’s an amazing package and a perfect add-on!

When using Your Social Media Experts Social Media Management tools, work-life becomes much easier and less time-consuming. You will turn hours and hours of work into minutes of work with just a few simple clicks of a button. You will have the capabilities to know who exactly your target audience is on Social Media through Your Social Media Experts thorough analytics feature. It costs less than most of our competition, including Hootsuite and many more. It’s a Hootsuite alternative. We offer unlimited social media connections, making an opportunity for viral posts more possible. Cost starts as low as $99/mo. Analytics are AMAZING!

We work with all budgets and will adjust to someone’s business budget if needed. We are honest about what you need and what you don’t need. If we do not think you will benefit from our services, we will not pressure you into buying them. We pride ourselves on customer service, and we want our clients to be happy.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any essential lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Covid-19 Crisis, we quadrupled in business. If anything, anything can happen, and you have to work for what you want. It is possible to be successful in something you love. Take that passion you have, take risks, and make it happen! Don’t let anything stop you.

Pricing:

• $99/mo. up to $299/mo, Your Social Media Experts Software
• $500/mo. up to $2500/mo. for Social Media Management, Ad Spend Separate
• $750 Social Media Ad Training
• $700 up to $,$$$ Website Design Varies
• $150 Logo Design or Graphic Ad Design

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yoursocialmediaexperts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoursocialmediaexperts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoursocialmediaexperts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/outdoorsmengal
• Other: www.5starwebdesign.net and [email protected]  support@yoursocialmediaexperts.com and support@5starwebdesign.net
• Contact Number: 816-877-5295.