Hello there, Vilien!

Our nearly 10 000 Facebook followers have surely noticed that there’s been a lot more activity lately – we have a wider variety of photos, videos and news, and reader posts and comments have increased. The person behind all of this is Vilien Coetzee. We asked her about her new role as Platteland’s social media manager.

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Durbanville. I obtained a BA (Hons) degree in Afrikaans literature from Stellenbosch University, with extra MPhil subjects in copy editing.

I previously worked as a sales assistant at Protea bookshop in Stellenbosch, as a lifestyle assistant and then creative production manager for Huisgenoot, and as junior editor at NB Publishers. Since 2014, I’ve freelanced, among others as content manager for What’s On in Cape Town/What’s on in Joburg. And now, of course, I look after Platteland’s social media.

I strive to live my days slowly, and for each to be rewarded with rich experiences. I have a wall map with thumb tacks indicating places I’ve been to, and those I would love to visit. My dog, Lulu, keeps me close to nature – I take her on daily walks on the mountain or in the forest near Claremont, where I live. I enjoy volunteer work and doing bits of DIY.

You’re a journalist and copy editor. How did you get involved with Platteland’s social media?

I worked on the Garden Route for three years, and was sad to see small businesses with bigger dreams than profits fail. I grew interested in marketing and realised how important it was to have a good presence on social media. Regardless of your location, people will seek you out or do business with you online.

Platteland offers a solid platform to support, and indirectly promote, small businesses and entrepreneurs outside the main urban centres. The magazine also acts as a much-needed connection between big city and small town. Simply through reading Platteland, I, as a city girl, have come to discover a small business in the Free State that sells merino wool.

How have you experienced Platteland readers so far?

They are extremely loyal and supportive. And they enjoy a good chat. They’re mostly very positive about the magazine and they enjoy telling others about it. They’re down to earth, and open to new ideas and ways of doing things. They also have strong opinions, and some can get quite worked up, not hesitating to fire off irate emails. My inbox has also been inundated with mails from people who’re actually looking for the Platteland clothing brand or the Platteland music venue in Centurion.

Do you have anything interesting planned for Platteland’s social media?

The popularity of TikTok has prompted Instagram, like Facebook, to start giving preference to video content. All I can say is, “Let the cameras roll, guys!”