Alexandra Helene
Content Strategist / Content Creator / Beauty Expert / Copywriter
New Jersey
instagram @alexandra_helene
Q What do you do?
“I’m a beauty & skincare content creator...”
on Instagram & TikTok, passionate about sharing my favorite products and application techniques. I create engaging, relatable, and educational content that helps my audience cut through the incredibly saturated market to hone in on what I truly believe to be the best products out there. I'm also a freelance marketing consultant, specializing in social media & content strategy. I work with my clients to bring their brand stories to life via compelling imagery and copy, and help them foster a loyal and engaged community.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I had a very non-linear career path, which felt frustrating for a long time, but in retrospect I can see how helpful it was in allowing me to identify what I love to do. I was a print journalism major in college, but started off my career in a finance role. During that job, I started a beauty blog which helped me learn how to translate my writing into the digital arena, channel my creative energy, and ultimately how to craft a social media presence and engaged online community. I contributed to various publications, writing articles about beauty and lifestyle, and ultimately landed a full time gig as a social media manager for a major brand. Since then I've gone on to work for both brands and agencies in leadership positions, and now work with clients in the luxury real estate, beauty, tech & event planning industries. I’m passionate about constantly learning from those around me, and working with people and brands I respect and admire.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I try to take a thoughtful approach with my work in a space that is incredibly fast-paced and saturated. It doesn’t always make sense for a brand to have a presence on every single social platform. I’d rather hone in on which ones are most strategic and dedicate the time to creating a meaningful presence and highly engaging content - as opposed to trying to be everywhere. I always say I can do 10 things well, but I can do 5 things with excellence. For me it’s truly about quality.
Q What are you working on right now?
In addition to building upon my personal brand online, I'm working with an amazing client roster on projects that span the gamut from social content strategy to email marketing and content creation.
Q What’s your style?
I would describe my style as moody, bold, and glamorous. My personal Instagram feed is a good representation of this in the way that I capture beauty products. I really see them as works of art - everything from the packaging to the flecks of glimmer within the product itself, to the way they twinkle in the sunlight.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Content creation, for sure. Whether it's photography, shooting videos, compiling and editing Reels, etc. -- celebrating the culmination of the creative process blossoming into a beautifully crafted piece of content is truly the most rewarding part of what I do.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
That there is no one-size-fits-all manual out there for building your own business! I have so many ideas, and trying to execute them and stay on top of the more practical to-dos is definitely challenging in terms of prioritization and time management.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Prep healthy meals for my family and me. I’ve always found cooking to be the most daunting thing in the world after a long work day.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would have told my early 20-something-year-old self to stop worrying about having a job that sounds/looks cool on Instagram. I feel like social media put so much pressure on young professionals to identify themselves within the context of their jobs. I wish I had spent more time identifying the kind of life I wanted to live vs. trying to land the “dream” job. A lot of things sounded way better on paper - and looked way cooler on Instagram - than they actually were, which I learned the hard way.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I’d love to talk to an entrepreneur about their experience in switching from a stable, traditional job to owning their own business. I’d want to learn about the things they wish they knew in the beginning stages, and any mistakes they made that ultimately helped them grow.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m looking for content strategy, copywriting, and content creation projects -- and ideally to have the opportunity to combine those services for a holistic approach and long-term working relationship.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My dream client is a niche beauty brand who is looking to either start their social presence from scratch, or looking to reimagine their approach. I want to work with clients who are excited, open-minded, trust my expertise, and want to celebrate our wins together!
I recently started working with a client on shopping guides, handling everything from the graphic design of the guides to sourcing affiliate links for the products. I've helped them create an entirely new revenue stream for their business! It's not a service I had initially pitched, but I absolutely love it, and realized how much opportunity there is out there to utilize my skills in ways that can really help clients move the needle for the business goals - while getting to diversify my experience!
Q: What is your rate?
My rates are project-based and depend on the scope and scale of the project. I arrange an introductory call to align with my client on expectations, specific KPIs, and overall impact of the initiative. We'll work collaboratively on defining a clear SOW to ensure a successful partnership.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email me! Please be as specific as possible in terms of what your needs are - and you get bonus points for telling me what your favorite beauty/skincare product is!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I consume a LOT of content to get a sense of what's trending and what seems to be most impactful. But it's equally as important for me to take digital breaks, to allow myself to get into a clear head space. And I've recently taken up acrylic painting! I can't draw a stick figure to save my life, but painting has been incredibly relaxing, therapeutic, and inspiring when I need a good re-set.
This member profile was originally published in November 2021.