Today we’d like to introduce you to Fiona Golden.
Hi Fiona, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For me, content creation has really been about sharing experiences and helping people discover things they might not have known existed.
I’ve always enjoyed exploring, whether that’s food, travel, culture or finding something new right here in Philly.
I shared an online clothing boutique with a close friend. We were our own models and we handled the editing, photography and overall presentation. This eventually led me to creating content on a personal level.
As I continued creating, I started paying attention to what resonated with people. And I realized there was a real interest in discovering local businesses, especially Black-owned businesses, hidden gems and experiences worth spending your money on.
That’s when I started becoming more intentional about Figi.Rated. It wasn’t just about showing people where I went. It was about giving them a reason to go, supporting businesses and sharing experiences that could bring value to somebody else.
And along the way, I learned that content creation is so much more than taking pretty pictures or making content. It’s storytelling, building trust, creating community and understanding your influence.
I’m still learning, still evolving and still figuring out what’s next. But one thing I know is that I’ve been able to turn something I genuinely enjoy into opportunities I never imagined.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Without challenges, there’s no growth, improvements or discovery. I experience burnout, anxiety, lack of appreciation and more.
You find yourself putting a lot of work into creating and sharing and sometimes what’s of interest or importance to you doesn’t resonate with others. I continue to create content that makes me happy on a more personal level, but I also follow the insights and analytics.
There’s always a desire to chase viral moments and create shock value content and I actually resist it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Lifestyle Influencer and I just turned 50 years old. There’s not a lot of people in my demographic who are creating and sharing experiences.
I specialize in curating the Black experience. That doesn’t mean exclusion, but it does help guide many of us along the journey or spending within and supporting our community.
I am most proud of the way I’ve been able to use my platform to highlight and support small businesses and experiences, especially women owned and Black owned.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I don’t want to just show you where I went. I want you to know whether it’s worth your time, your money and your energy. Give people something they can actually use.
Try a bunch of different things and styles and listen to the reception from people. This will guide you in the direction of creating content.
Be consistent and it doesn’t mean posting daily. But I encourage you to start with a lot of different things as an experiment. Little to no input equates to the same output.
You don’t need thousands of followers to be impactful and always be kind.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/figi.rated
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@figi.rated
