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You Can Build A Personal Brand Without Selling Out w/ Barbara Skidmore
Description
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If you’ve ever wondered why some creators feel instantly trustworthy while others feel like walking ads, this conversation puts language to it. We’re joined by Charleston creator and consultant Barb Skidmore, the voice behind Blushing Alpacas and the owner of Outside Center Consulting, to talk about what authenticity actually looks like in personal branding and influencer marketing.
We get into the real mechanics of turning content into a business: choosing brand partnerships you’ll genuinely use, setting expectations around deliverables, and understanding the hidden labor behind a “simple post.” Barb also shares what she sees from the brand side as someone who runs social media marketing for restaurants, catering companies, and real estate, including how to keep up with Instagram Reels and TikTok trends without losing your voice. We also dig into paid media basics, like when boosting helps, when targeted ads matter, and how goals like reach, clicks, and conversions change the plan.
Then we go to the part businesses rarely hear out loud: comment pods, bots, and inflated engagement. Barb explains what to look for, what questions to ask before you pay, and why great content still has value even when the audience signals are messy. You’ll also pick up travel hacks using Google Flights alerts and deal tools, plus the mindset that keeps her work sustainable.
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South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors.
King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.com
Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association
Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions
Annual Sponsor: SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority
Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus
CAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen,
Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.com
Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising
Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse
Score by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase
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