Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Vanderlaan.
Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Seven years ago, I packed up everything I owned, left my hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, and moved to Nashville completely on my own. I had just graduated from Grand Valley State University with my nursing degree and was ready to start a new chapter working as a registered nurse.
During my second year as a nurse, the world changed when COVID hit. When I wasn’t working long shifts at the hospital, I found myself at home with extra time, so I started learning how TikTok worked. Since it was one of the few safe activities at the time, I’d drive around Nashville filming luxury homes and sharing lifestyle content. To my surprise, some of those videos started going viral.
What began as a creative outlet quickly became a passion. For years, I balanced full-time nursing with creating content on the side because I genuinely loved it. Looking back, it really wasn’t a surprise. I was the little girl who was always carrying around a camcorder, pretending to be a news anchor and filming anything and everything. Storytelling has always been part of who I am.
Eventually, I realized that while nursing was meaningful, it wasn’t where my heart was. I made the difficult decision to leave healthcare and pursue a career that gave me the opportunity to build something of my own. Today, I own a social media business where I film, edit, and create content for brands, businesses, and real estate professionals.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. Building your dream is rarely a straight path, and social media is one of the most unpredictable industries to be in. The algorithm is constantly changing, so there’s never a formula that guarantees success. You can spend days planning, filming, and editing a video that barely gets seen, while something you threw together in 20 minutes ends up reaching millions of people. Learning not to tie my self-worth or motivation to numbers has been one of the biggest lessons along the way.
The other challenge has been balance. For years, I’ve built my business while working a full-time job because walking away from a steady paycheck simply wasn’t an option. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, I had bills to pay and couldn’t afford to gamble on a dream before it could support me.
That has meant a lot of early mornings, late nights, and weekends spent working. During the day, I’m at my full-time job. Before and after work, I’m filming, editing, meeting with clients, and creating content for my own platforms. It’s definitely a grind, and there are days when it’s exhausting, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that every hour I’m investing is helping build something that’s truly my own makes all the hard work worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started Erika Vanderlaan Media with one simple goal: to help businesses and brands show up confidently online without making the process feel overwhelming. I truly believe you don’t need an expensive production team to create content that connects with people. In fact, everything I film is captured on an iPhone, which allows me to create high-quality, authentic content while keeping my services accessible for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Today, I work with a variety of clients, including luxury real estate agents, wedding venues, local businesses, and brands. Some clients hire me to film and edit their content from start to finish, while others simply send me their footage and trust me to turn it into engaging videos and trending social media content.
What sets me apart is that every piece of content I create, is created with the goal of helping my clients connect with their audience. I also pride myself on making that experience easy and enjoyable. Being in front of a camera can feel intimidating, so I want my clients to feel comfortable, confident, and excited throughout the process.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built. My clients know they can trust me to care about their business as much as they do. At the end of the day, my success comes from helping other people tell their stories, grow their brands, and feel confident showing up online and that’s exactly what I love to do.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memories are the summers my family spent at our cottage on West Lake in Michigan. Every year, we’d pack up for a week at the lake, and I’d usually bring my best friend along. Our days were spent tubing, swimming, catching frogs, turtles, and crayfish, and staying outside until the sun went down. At night, we’d end the day with a bonfire and a movie.
Looking back, those summers were simple, but they were some of the happiest moments of my childhood. Even now, I still try to make it back to the cottage every summer if my schedule allows. No matter how busy life gets, being there always feels like home and reminds me to slow down and appreciate the little things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/erikamarievan
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikavanderlaanmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BpuaJGn95/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erikavanderlaan
