How to Learn, Adapt, and Build a Lasting Business on Social Media with Keenya Kelly
"You have to give yourself permission to be terrible at being a business owner when you start."
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In a world where social media platforms change by the week, how do you stay visible, build a loyal audience, and run a profitable business?
Keenya Kelly has done just that—amassing over 500,000 TikTok followers and building a thriving brand across multiple platforms.
In this episode of The Storytelling Lab, she sits down with Rain to talk about the reality behind going viral, how to grow your email list through short-form content, and how to avoid the burnout so many creators face.
They discuss strategies for platform diversification, how creators can start thinking like entrepreneurs, and what it really takes to build long-term success online. Keenya also opens up about her journey from network marketing to becoming a top-tier content strategist—and why personal growth is essential to brand growth.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, this episode is packed with real talk and real tactics to help you thrive in the ever-changing digital world.
In the episode, you will learn to:
Master platform diversification by building a brand across multiple channels and driving audiences to your owned assets like email and SMS.
Unlock the key to lasting success as a creator by adopting an entrepreneurial mindset and investing in your business skills.
Discover the simple strategy to turn viral content into conversions using Keenya’s “sandwich method” of strategic content stacking.
Build a team that supports your vision and reduces burnout so you can stay creative and consistent.
Create a content funnel that nurtures and converts by focusing on opt-ins, micro-offers, and community building.
"You have to give yourself permission to be terrible at being a business owner when you start."
- Keenya Kelly
If you're struggling to monetize your social media and convert your community into customers... this is the episode for you!
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Some of the highlights of the episode:
00:00 - Why Staying Visible on Social Media Feels So Hard
02:00 - How Keenya Kelly Helped Rain Get on TikTok
04:18 - TikTok vs. Email List: Building a Platform You Own
06:24 - How Going Viral Helped (and Hurt) Her Growth
10:41 - The Sandwich Method: Using Viral Content Strategically
12:10 - Should You Have Multiple Social Accounts?
15:23 - How Keenya Accidentally Built a Local Houston Brand
17:25 - What Keenya Would Do If TikTok Was Banned Tomorrow
21:13 - Adapting, Evolving, and Embracing Change
26:53 - Avoiding Burnout as a Creator or Business Owner
32:58 - The 3 Metrics Every Creator Should Track
37:06 - Monetizing Through Paid Products and Brand Partnerships
41:06 - Becoming an Entrepreneur as a Creator
45:29 - What a Content Funnel Actually Looks Like
47:50 - The Mentors Who Helped Keenya Grow Her Brand
51:51 - The Real Reward: Unlocking Human Potential
54:53 - How Keenya Reflects, Recharges, and Stays Grounded
58:50 - What’s Next: Keenya’s 2025 Strategy and Online Summit
As always, I hope you enjoy the episode!
Rain
Follow Keenya on:
Or visit her website HERE!
For more storytelling tips and tricks,
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