Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Taylor.
Hi Alexandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Alex and I recently started a local Instagram page called “Between the Lakes”, focused on happenings in Hermitage, Donelson, and Old Hickory.
I live in Hermitage and work a full time corporate job in Nashville—this is a passion project for me. I’m not an influencer or marketing expert, just someone who genuinely loves this area and wants to help connect the community and highlight local spots.
My husband and I lived near downtown for four years and when we moved to Hermitage we were so excited to try new restaurants and support local businesses. The only issue was that there wasn’t a page that covered our area for local shops, restaurants, and events. We love to explore and I decided to create a page to share what is going on in the area.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing is ever easy or simple, but it creates excitement! I understand why social media has become a full time job – it takes a lot of work, time, and effort. I have only been working on the page for about 2 months and it is a very big commitment, but I am lucky to have met so many great people and have the support of my husband.
A big struggle is learning all of the new techniques on social media. Between planning content, editing, and dealing with the Instagram algorithms, you are constantly working on how to improve your page. The options are endless and you have to figure out your niche and where you spend your time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Between the Lakes is a local lifestyle and community page all about highlighting the best parts of Donelson, Hermitage, and Old Hickory — from hidden gems and coffee shops to local events, markets, small businesses, and fun things to do around the area.
I specialize in creating community-focused content that helps people discover places they might normally drive right past. I love sharing local spots in a way that feels fun, approachable, and authentic while also helping small businesses get more visibility and connect with new customers.
I’d say I’m most known for making local content feel exciting and authentic without losing the community feel. Whether it’s putting together local guides, event roundups, collaborations with businesses, or “hidden gem” features, the goal is always to make people feel more connected to the area and excited to explore it.
What I’m most proud of is seeing people actually support local because of the page — trying a new restaurant, attending an event, shopping small, or discovering a business they didn’t know existed. It’s been really rewarding watching a passion project turn into a trusted local resource and community.
What sets Between the Lakes apart is that it feels genuine. It’s not overly polished or “influencer-y” — it’s rooted in real community connection and a genuine love for these neighborhoods and the people behind them.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think of risk as being willing to put yourself out there and try something before you have everything perfectly figured out. Starting Between the Lakes was definitely a risk for me because I had no idea if people would connect with it or if it would actually grow into something meaningful. I am not a social media or marketing expert, so this was all new to me.
There are a lot of local content pages now, so I knew the only way it would stand out was by making it feel genuine and community-focused instead of overly polished or transactional. A lot of opportunities came from simply taking chances — reaching out to businesses, trying new content ideas, and saying yes to collaborations even when I felt nervous or inexperienced.
I’m not someone who takes reckless risks, but I do believe some of the best things happen when you stop overthinking and just start.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @btwthelakes
