Content creators, influencers, small businesses don't miss SocialCon 2025

Yahoo

04-02-2025

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A Shreveport couple is upping the social media game and allowing local creators, digital marketing strategists, and businesses looking to increase their online visibility to network and showcase their offerings.
SocialCon 2025 is an event slated for June 2025 and is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Kalli and Ryan Combs.
The Combs say SocialCon presents a unique opportunity to Shreveport and the surrounding areas because there isn't another event that will bring local and national content creators together to learn and grow businesses.
'My husband and I have been in the social media world and digital world for a little while for ten years, and as we've been in this space in Shreveport, there has been a scene of tons of content creators and entrepreneurs and influencers that not only want to get into social media more but also have a following and growing a following online,' Kalli Combs said.
The couple is firmly grounded in social media. Kalli's background is in digital marketing. Ryan, who his wife manages, has been a content creator for about 10 years. He said his sneaker love caused a pivot in his content.
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'I started off in music, but I've actually just switched over into sneaker, you know, influencing. So now I've always been a sneaker lover, I've been using that space to basically broaden people's ideas of shoes that are less expensive and shoes that are very, very expensive,' Ryan Combs said.
Before you turn your nose up at the idea of 'sneaker influence,' creating an 'aspirational lifestyle' is a big business that brings in tens of billions of dollars in influencer marketing, according to Revolt. There are levels of influence one has and a wide variety of ways to convert a love of athletic footwear into direct deposits.
When asked why they chose Shreveport over another more 'popping' social media scene like Austin, New Orleans, or even similarly-sized Birmingham, Kalli's response was as expected, 'Why not Shreveport.'
'We have a growing community here. I think with the success of Humor and Harmony and 50 Cent and all the other things that are coming, it's a unique opportunity to align with the movement. Our economy is rapidly, you know, growing. It reminds me back when I was in my twenties and we had the Red River district scene and it was thriving. It was things to do,' Kalli Combs said. 'So I think we're right on the cusp of that again. So we wanted to not only create this space for entrepreneurs and influencers and content creators, but it's a unique opportunity as well to be involved in where the city is going in the future in the digital space.'
They are blazing a brand new trail by bringing creators from other areas to network and share experiences and insights with local businesses and creators.
'We're going to be talking about different things and social media, whether it's authentic storytelling, how to build your brand, how to connect with brands and collab with brands online,' Kalli Combs said.
They will learn from people who have already seen success and built brands through their social media platforms. Another lesson the couple expects attendees to take away is that creating a brand on social media is NOT EASY.
'Yeah, you know, I'll tell you one thing. Going viral is hard. So it's a lot of work, but it's consistent. It's consistency. That's what I've learned from Kalli, being in social media management. It's a lot of consistency. So a lot of work that you got to put in long nights,' Ryan Combs explained.
There's another part of SocialCon that is very exciting – awards submitted by and voted on by online users.
Kalli Combs explained, 'We're going to add something called SocialCon Awards, and that is a community-involved award voting where people can vote on different categories and we will announce the winners essential.'
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If you know and love an online creator, you should head to the SocialCon awards page on their website and nominate your fave for awards in one of the seven content categories. According to Kalli Combs, nominations are open for any creator as long as they fit the criteria, and like any democratic online award – vote as many times as you like.
Kalli and Ryan Combs believe that SocialCon will open the Shreveport creator community up to the more than $20 billion influencer marketplace.
'There's so many opportunities. If you are creative enough and committed to pursuing whatever it is that you love, there's something in that space for you,' Kalli Combs said.
If you want to learn about content creation, are a creator looking to expand your network and audience, want to incorporate influencer marketing into your business, or are just curious about what all of this means, visit socialcon.org.
SocialCon 2025 is set for June 7, 2025, in the 11 Events Building, 1529 Texas Ave., Shreveport.
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