Social Media Consultants in Chicago to Watch for in 2025

Chicago Area Social Media Experts to Know in 2025

Chicago isn’t just the Midwest’s cultural capital—it’s a national powerhouse for bold ideas, brand innovation, and digital storytelling. From startups in River North to nonprofits in Hyde Park, brands across Chicago are investing in smarter, more authentic social media strategies. And behind that momentum? Some of the most creative, strategic, and human-centered social media consultants in the country.

At Digital Reference, we’re committed to making professional reputation more verifiable, human, and search-friendly. That means helping leaders in the social media industry stand out for more than just what they post—but for how they build trust, tell stories, and drive results. This list is part of that mission.

If you're a consultant yourself or hiring one this year, check out these helpful article to clarify the distinct roles of different marketing professionals, and how they can help your business grow.

How We Built This List of Social Media Services

This isn’t a popularity contest. Our team looked at:

• The originality and clarity of each consultant's digital footprint (LinkedIn, portfolio, etc.)
• Demonstrated success in campaigns, content creation, and strategy
• Client testimonials, measurable results, and community engagement
• Alignment with Digital Reference values: trust, visibility, and human storytelling

Meet the Featured Chicago Social Media Consultants 

Holly Sias

Founder & CEO, Socialite Media Group
Socialite Media | LinkedIn

Holly Sias leads with clarity, confidence, and cultural fluency. As founder of Socialite Media Group, she partners with real estate professionals, business owners, and public figures to bring intentionality to every post and presence.

• ✨ Polished, Personal Brands: From media kits to Reels, Holly helps entrepreneurs build consistent, confidence-driven online identities.
• 💼 Small Business Champion: Holly is passionate about empowering small and medium sized businesses to build lasting digital visibility and connect with their clients.
• 👩‍💼 Woman-Owned & Led: Socialite Media Group is proudly founded and run by women, centering female leadership and vision in digital strategy.

Whether you're launching a brand or refreshing your digital presence, Holly brings both insight and intention to the process.

Aaron M. Welch

Founder & Chief Strategist, Lift Digital Media
Lift Digital Media | LinkedIn

Aaron Welch blends decades of digital marketing expertise with a sharp focus on helping businesses grow their online communities and lead funnels. As founder of Lift Digital Media, he specializes in strategic consulting for small- to mid-sized businesses.

• 🚀 SEO + Social Expertise: Aaron helps clients scale with organic and paid strategies, fusing content creation with keyword research and conversion optimization.
• 🧠 B2B and B2C Fluency: Aaron brings experience across industries, helping both business-facing and consumer brands fine-tune their voice and generate results.
• ⚙️ Process-Oriented Growth: With systems and workflows built in, Aaron ensures that strategy turns into sustainable action—not one-off wins.

For brands that want scalable growth with a grounded strategy, Aaron brings practical tools and proven results.

Mariel Mudrik

Co-Founder & Executive Producer, Dephimedia
Dephimedia | LinkedIn

At Dephimedia, Mariel Mudrik leads with empathy and strategy. Her background in social media, branding, and advocacy fuels campaigns that prioritize both audience connection and client clarity.

• 🌱 Built for Small Brands, Big Impact: Mariel focuses on helping small to midsize teams compete with big-budget brands through compelling, cost-effective video content.
• 🛠️ Collaborative by Design: Her studio culture is rooted in creative exchange—clients don’t just receive a deliverable, they co-create a vision.
• 🧑‍🎓 Millennial & Gen Z Focused: Dephimedia speaks the native language of younger audiences, building campaigns that feel natural, relevant, and real.

If your brand values both aesthetics and audience alignment, Mariel is a consultant who can translate big visions into everyday impact.

Anna Weih

Founder & Creative Director, Creative x Anna
Creative x Anna | LinkedIn

Anna Weih is a brand designer and social media consultant with a minimalist eye and a maximalist commitment to impact. Through her firm Creative x Anna, she helps creative professionals and small businesses define their digital look and voice.

• 🪄 Minimalism with Meaning: Her aesthetic is clean and uncluttered, but every detail is chosen with intention to evoke trust and emotion.
• 📣 Content That Reflects You: She helps brands tell stories that match their personality—clear, compelling, and totally custom.
• 📊 Data-Driven Creativity: Anna uses insights from analytics to inform strategy, ensuring each feed facelift isn’t just beautiful—it performs

If you're starting something new—or refining something meaningful—Anna is a visual guide and strategic partner.

Thomas Brown

Founder & Managing Director, Innova Digital Group
Innova Digital Group | LinkedIn

Thomas Brown leads Innova Digital Group with a strong background in digital marketing and strategy. His firm partners with government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses to deliver smart, scalable marketing solutions tailored to complex challenges.

• 🔥 Innovative Content Creation: Innova Digital delivers bold, creative media designed to cut through noise and captivate audiences.
• 🌍 Global Experience: Thomas has partnered with diverse clients worldwide, adapting to various industries and product niches.
• 🤝 Collaborative Partnership: Works closely with brands as a committed creative partner invested in their long-term success.

If your organization needs an experienced guide for complex communications, Thomas brings the leadership and vision.

Nichole Meyer

Freelance Social Media Consultant
LinkedIn

Nichole Meyer is a versatile and creative freelance social media consultant known for working behind the scenes with local businesses, solopreneurs, and startups. Her approach blends design thinking with platform expertise.

• 📱 Platform Agility: From TikTok trends to evergreen Instagram content, Nichole meets clients where their audiences live.
• 🧵 Custom Packages: She tailors monthly retainers to business size, pace, and capacity.
• ✍️ Content You Can Use: Nichole empowers teams with templates, calendars, and caption libraries to take ownership of their own content.

A strong choice for founders looking for both support and education—Nichole meets you where you are and helps you grow.

Nathan Goswick

Co-Founder & Creative Director, Dephimedia
Dephimedia | LinkedIn

Nathan Goswick is a skilled content strategist and digital experience expert known for developing efficient systems that streamline content creation and delivery. His strengths include crafting targeted messaging and building scalable workflows that help brands maintain consistent, high-quality digital engagement.

• 🧩 UX-Driven Strategy: Nathan prioritizes the end user’s experience in everything from website copy to Instagram Story flows. He combines technical production skills with a strong sense of creative direction to bring stories to life.
• ✨ Creative Messaging Architect: He crafts compelling narratives that connect brands with their audiences through video and multimedia storytelling.
• 🔄 End-to-End Project Management: Nathan oversees the full production pipeline, including videography, editing, color grading, and sound mixing.

Nathan helps mission-driven organizations connect dots between strategy, messaging, and action.

Chicago’s Social Media Future Is Built on Human-First Strategy

The digital momentum in Chicago reflects something deeper than trends—it’s about connection, clarity, and storytelling that supports real communities. These consultants show us how strategy, aesthetics, and empathy combine to create brand narratives that actually matter.

At Digital Reference, we believe in giving social media professionals the tools to showcase not just their output, but their impact. In Chicago and across the country, we are committed to helping social media and marketing leaders connect, grow, and amplify their professional presence.

Because in the end, it’s not just what you do—it’s how people remember you. And these Chicago consultants are worth remembering.

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