Thank you to VoyagePhoenix Magazine for interviewing me for their feature as a top Trailblazer/Influencer in Scottsdale. Honest and real answers about what make me who I am, where I came from, inspirations, what I have overcome and an all around really informative interview for friends, family and followers. Some of you might know and most of you don’t! You have never walked a day in my shoes and I have not walked a day in yours but this gives a glimpse of moi. Enjoy!
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
From Northern California originally, graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arizona but moved to Los Angeles following graduation to work for MTV, the William Morris Agency, Irving Azoff, and CAA in the music business (behind the scenes because I break car windows and make dogs bark when I try and sing). This was fantastic until I realized I was approaching 30’ish and no longer wanted to be a groupie in a rock band. So, I packed my things and relocated back to San Francisco where the freaks got weirder and my dating life nearly stopped because the guys were more interested in looking at each other than me which brought me back to Los Angeles. In LA, I had the opportunity to work in Marketing and Promotions with numerous high profile tours. I saw the change shifting in music to online media and enjoyed learning about social media. After suffering a few personal hardships, I wanted a change. I went down to Barnes & Noble, picked up a book called Blogging for Dummies, read 5 pages and started on my way. This is when I started MelanysGuydlines.com. It is my cathartic outlet. The blog began as a dating blog but is now a lifestyle site. I wanted to cover more than relationships and discovered that brands were looking for influencers who wanted to monetize their followings. After completing another 2-year sentence in LA, I wanted a more “normal” life and relocated once again to Scottsdale, Arizona. Upon arrival in Phoenix, Melanysguydlines gained a lot more traction and I grew my social media following considerably which is now over 300,000 (not including my dog, Teddy Brewski’s following who has over 12K followers as well). The landscape has rapidly changed in the past 5 years but it has been a challenging journey full of interesting experiences. I have worked with some of the biggest brands for the blog and now primarily as a social media influencer because people don’t really like to read blog posts and would rather look at pretty pictures or watch video. Myself included! Also, I am the youngest member on the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board and guest lecturer in social media. BEAR DOWN!
ROCK ON!
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
It hasn’t been easy and being successful never is. It is a constant battle staying relevant and true to myself. I always say I won’t post anything my parents wouldn’t be proud of sharing. Have pride in your name and what you and your brand represent. Success doesn’t happen over night and there is no such thing as easy money. It takes time, patience, falling down over and over again and picking yourself up even more times. Let your business evolve but stay true to who you are. Ask. The worst they can say is no. If you don’t ask, you will never know. Never stop learning. I am constantly studying, learning and testing new waters.
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We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a brand, organization or service provider? What sets you apart from others?
MelanysGuydlines is a lifestyle blog. My social media channels are representative of my sense of humor. I am known as the queen of snark. Snarky is witty, but younger and better looking. HA! Social media is an escape for me and a place to laugh at myself and the people around me. Life is hard and social media give me a cathartic outlet to escape.
I don’t believe in automation and people follow me on different channels for various reasons. Each day I try and tailor posts my specific audience on each social media channel. I write personal, honest and snarky posts with engaging images. Interaction is key to social media and pride myself on building relationships with my followers. A lot of my time is spent researching and interacting with each and every person online. I try my best to do this still. Brands I work with love my honesty & humor. I always go above & beyond showing my unique personality in posts. If I don’t promote myself, who will?
I have proven myself as a trusted brand ambassador and social media influencer. I love giving back to my followers through partnering with brands and offering exclusive opportunities. I have worked with top tier brands ranging from Microsoft, Lenovo, Cox Communication, Bud Light Lime, Amazon, American Express, Disney, Overstock, USA Networks, Adore Cosmetics, Vanity Fair, MillerCoors, the NFL and many more. I only work with brands I personally use myself. Trust is everything. I only share brands with my followers that I can personally vouch for and remember not all influencers are created equal! Check out my media kit for a list of various and diverse brands I love and have had the pleasure of working with: https://melanysguydlines.com/media/
MelanysGuydlines won the Best Dating and Relationship Blog of 2014, the Shorty Awards Vox Populi 2015 for the most fan nominations in the blogger category, toured the country with Cox Business as an influencer supporting startups, featured on the award winning Cats in the Corner Office show who’s past guests include Steve Kerr and became Fohr verified in 2017. In 2018, I was chosen as one of three influencers to represent MillerCoors for the Arnold Palmer Spiked debut campaign at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The social media campaign led the product to be the top selling new brand of 2018 according to Nielsen. I am also the youngest advisory board member at the University of Arizona College in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
NFL
Arnold Palmer Spiked
Teddy Brewski is a Warriors fan too!
Which women have inspired you in your life? Why?
The women that inspired me are my Grandmother, Mother and Sister. They were and are everything to me.
The biggest compliment anyone has ever given me is that I am my grandmother reincarnated. She was a holocaust survivor, came to this country with a few dollars and built an extremely successful business based on work ethic and pride in her name. It was standing room only at her funeral and she was widely respected by many during her long life and after her passing.
My sister is my eternal best friend. She was taken from us way too soon and I miss her each and every day. She was the kindest person I have ever met. We had incredible experiences, enjoyed life together, rocked out, traveled to many places and WE talked for hours and hours and hours. As the years go by, it does not get any easier and I never forget any of the times we spent together. I truly never had or will have a friend like I had in my sister. I know she is very proud of me and watches over me each and every day. I would give up everything to rewind the hands of time and go back to when my life was much easier and would never take a single moment for granted.
My family created two scholarships in her name at the University of Arizona after her passing in 2010. The two scholarships are awarded to a male and female student and one of the most prestigious at the University. The Brenna Ilana Berger Memorial Scholarship covers a good portion of in-state tuition, room and board, and books. It honors my sister’s memory as an At-Risk School Counselor in Los Angeles by enabling students who have faced significant obstacles in the pursuit of their college education. My family is very active in keeping close contact with the scholarship recipients. I am very proud of this.
My Mother. What can I say? I am the luckiest person to have her because she is truly the best. The line gets longer each and every day asking for people to be adopted by her. Not only is she the hardest working woman but also she is the kindest and most caring mother. Sharp as a whip and there is no problem business or personal related she can’t solve. She is my best friend. My confidant. My idol. If I could be 50% of the woman she is I would be winning at life. The original queen of SNARK. The wisest person I have ever met with a heart of gold and 50% of the best parents in the world.
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Melany Berger
Melanysguydlines
https://www.facebook.com/MelanysGuydlines
https://www.instagram.com/melanysguydlines/
https://www.facebook.com/MelanysGuydlines/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Melanyb1222
https://www.pinterest.com/melanysguydline/
Teddy Brewski
https://twitter.com/SirTeddyBrewski
https://www.instagram.com/sirteddybrewski/
The original article can be found on VoyagePhoenix.
**Stay snarky my friends!**
Melany,
What a great interview. Congratulations on all you have accomplished. I enjoyed reading about you and you are truly someone I will continue to follow through all your crazy adventures.
Thank you and thank you for reading!