Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Isom.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a new mom of two under two, I was intimidated to take my kids out on adventures. There were so many unknowns as to what it would look like and how I could navigate an activity with my kids. I started small with walks around our neighborhood, local libraries, and simple grocery trips. But once I got the hang of going out with my kids, I was hooked! I love taking my kids out to explore our great city and all the wonderful businesses and attractions right in our own backyard. I’m passionate about sharing things to do with kids around Kansas City to help inspire other families to get out of the house, off the screens, and exploring the local sites we drive by every week.
I got my start in social media management at a non-profit, where I managed the children’s services account. Then, when I had my two kids, I started working part-time as a virtual assistant and social media manager for a wedding venue, Emerson Fields. I loved creating engaging content in those positions. I then decided to branch out and try my own thing – sharing things to do around Kansas City with kids. I never expected it to take off as quickly as it did, but it has been such a fun and exciting ride!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Juggling the Instagram algorithm will never be a smooth road, but it keeps me on my toes, always adapting and trying something new. Once I got into my groove, I was able to find out what type of content I liked to create and what my audience got excited about viewing. It can be a challenge to promote content creation as a marketable skill, but I have hope that it will only continue to grow and increase in value as companies see the power of social media.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My business, Kids In KC, aims to provide parents and caregivers with a directory of exciting things to do, places to go, and memories to create around the Kansas City area. My Instagram page serves as a hub for exploring new ideas for parents or caregivers to reference when they are looking for something fun to do out of the house. Some of my favorite things to share are family-friendly attractions, local parks, and locally-owned businesses.
My work involves reaching out to local businesses, setting up visits, shooting content, SEO research, editing content, creating hooks and captions, and promoting the content on social media. Not to mention having my kids tag along to enjoy the adventure with me most of the time! I also share long-form information on my blog, kidsinkc.com, as it can be easier to elaborate on a lot of things at once on a blog versus a quick Instagram reel.
What sets me apart from a typical Instagram “influencer” is that I’m focused on family-friendly ideas, with the occasional date night or mom’s night out. I’m one of the very few individuals on Instagram right now exclusively promoting kid-friendly and family-friendly things to do! My account is less about me and my family or our personal lives and focused more on the THING or PLACE. I hope to bring an outward-focused view into the very inward-focused world that is Instagram and social media.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was quiet and shy, but I always came out of my shell around my close friends. I loved reading, learning, and getting lost in imaginative play. I also always loved being around kids – volunteering at church events, leading VBS, teaching, nannying, or babysitting. My career has always involved working with kids, and I love that now I can use that knowledge and experience while I spend quality time with my own children.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kidsinkc.com/
- Instagram: @kidsinkc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidsinkc
Image Credits
@haleighhowellphotos
