SOCIAL DEVIANTS

I believe it's everyone's duty to be useful. I know that if you want to stand out, you must  stand up for what you believe in.

I believe that in order to be interesting online you have to live life offline: you have to be interested in people, places, and things outside yourself. Traveling, volunteering, questioning, listening, connecting,  giving, dreaming, doing...these are the "ings" that lead to the awe and "Ah-hahs" of life.

I worked in music promotion and marketing from the age of 15-35, with a few years at an award-winning ad agency in NYC sandwiched in the middle. Then, I started Social Deviants in 2009, and took it full time by 2011. By 2012, however, I was also working in book events and publishing.  One of my favorite things is working with unknown and new authors, reading new stories, falling in love with new characters, and engaging with new fans.

And, to this day, I am still a huge book dragon, reading way past my bedtime every night. I try to remember that fangirl feeling with every post, every event, every breath I take when working with clients who are building their own communities. 

The same can be said of music. I remember driving home at midnight after a show, singing to the album version of the same song I just heard live,  wondering if the band had any clue how much they meant to me. When I am working for musicians and their fans, I tap into that same enthusiasm and devotion. Because we are ultimately serving the fans.

I've never met a book or music lover who has said, "You know what I'm done. I don't want to discover any new books or music. I'm full."  That's who we want to feed— the ravenous fans who can't get enough. So let's make sure the knife (social media) is clean and sharp, to cut through all the noise out there.

I believe that mindset comes first, then marketing. If you don't believe you deserve the success, none of the marketing and strategies will stick. 

I work with trusted creatives to help me elevate my client's marketing and reach their goals.

I currently live in Nashville with my two kids, one Scottish Kilt cat with a diva complex, and a senior rescue dog named Tuesday.

​Janet Hudson Hagan is at the helm of Social Deviants, a brand & marketing agency for creatives and creative companies.

An avid event producer, she founded UTOPiAcon in 2012, a writing conference dubbed "the con with heart" by Publisher's Weekly, and the UTOPiA Awards, the first literary awards that recognized the contributions of indie- and self-published authors,  service providers, and social influencers in publishing, as well as the first to have awards celebrating LGBTQIA+ main characters, and genre awards that celebrated best leads, villains, best friends, hottest couples, and book cover models regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Janet also founded Next Chapter Retreats –immersive, international retreats for those in the publishing industry looking to uplevel their careers through deep-dive discussions with experts on current industry hot topics. Past locations: London-Orient Express-Venice with Charlaine Harris, Oregon wine country with Lindsey Ramey of Wattpad Studios, Palm Springs with “Malibu Rising” showrunner and “Little Fires Everywhere” co-executive producer, Amy Talkington, NYC with PR powerhouse Jill Fritzo and bestselling author of DILLA TIME, Dan Charnas, and more.

Previously a brand strategist for an award-winning ad agency featured in The Guardian, she has worked directly with clients such as Oxygen Women’s Television, Film4 London, Elle magazine, The Elvis Estate, Justin Timberlake, and author of YOU ARE A BADASS, Jen Sincero, as well as dozens of NY Times bestselling authors. 

As a global public speaker, Janet has shared how to effectively attract raving fans, loyal clients and increase sales while building businesses of purpose using your creative powers for good.