Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Aguilar.
Joey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
SABoyExplorer started right after the COVID-19 lockdown, during a time when I realized I wasn’t truly enjoying life to the fullest. I knew I needed to stop just talking about my passions and actually step out and pursue them. With motivation from some of my closest friends, I began exploring small businesses, hidden gems, and local events with the purpose of promoting them, building brand awareness, and helping drive exposure—and ultimately revenue—during a difficult time following the lockdowns.
Everything I did was rooted in my love for San Antonio and my desire to support the city I know and love by helping businesses recover and grow. At the same time, I was finally able to pursue my passion for marketing and social media. I had graduated from UTSA with a marketing degree in 2020, right in the heart of the pandemic, and wanted to break out creatively by doing my own marketing simply for fun and to see what results I could create.
Little by little, SABoyExplorer began gaining traction, driving real traffic and engagement, and evolving into the platform it is today. I’m now a professional marketer in the healthcare industry, while also living out my passion as a hospitality and lifestyle influencer through SABoyExplorer. I continue to focus on growing, learning, and evolving every day—both professionally and personally.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? Not always. It hasn’t been the best, but it hasn’t been the worst either. It’s been a mix of wins and challenges. With the high saturation of creators doing similar content, it can be hit or miss. That has pushed me to focus on what makes me different by exploring and showcasing unique places, sharing the history behind them, sometimes with a haunting twist, and staying true to my original goal of promoting small businesses. Those challenges have helped shape my creativity and keep me evolving rather than blending in.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart is my purpose-driven approach to content and the pride I take in making a real impact. I don’t just showcase places. I tell their stories by highlighting unique locations, the history behind them, and the people who make them special, while staying true to my mission of supporting small businesses.
The moments I’m most proud of are when I know I’ve made a difference. Recently, I visited a local hidden gem called SunnySide Lounge. It’s not your ordinary bar. It feels like a quick getaway from San Antonio, even if just for an hour. They aren’t a large-scale or widely known spot, but after posting a 15-second TikTok and Instagram Reel, they shared that it brought in new customers, some of whom could become lifelong patrons. Hearing that meant everything to me. It reassured me that I’m using my platform the right way by giving attention to small businesses that truly deserve it and by building genuine appreciation and trust within the community.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is being able to do what I love. I’m incredibly thankful for being raised by an amazing family and parents who gave me strong values, support, and the resources and education that allowed me to grow into the professional I am today. I feel truly rich in life because of what I have experienced, the lessons I’ve learned, and the meaningful relationships I’ve built along the way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: SABoyExplorer
- Other: Tiktok: SABoyExplorer
