🤝 Marcus Reid

Community Manager & Brand Partnerships Coordinator

Hey There! I’m Marcus Reid Community Architect | Brand Connector | Conversation Starter | Age 28 Chicago-based engagement specialist who believes that a food blog isn’t defined by its recipes, but by the people who cook them.

My Story

I’ve always been the “connector” in my group of friends. You know that guy who organizes the group dinners, and actually responds to the group chat? That’s me.

Growing up in Chicago, a city obsessed with its food culture, I learned early on that eating is a social activity. My parents ran a small local catering business, and I spent my weekends not in the kitchen, but out front—talking to customers, solving problems, and making sure everyone left with a smile.

I studied Public Relations and Marketing at Northwestern. I quickly realized that traditional PR felt cold and one-way. I didn’t want to broadcast messages; I wanted to have conversations.

I landed my first gig managing social media for a group of restaurants. It was fast-paced, but I loved the immediate feedback loop.

Later, I worked for Taste of Home and Yummly, managing communities of over 500k followers. That’s where I learned the difference between an audience and a community. An audience watches; a community talks back.

The Turning Point

The biggest shift in my career happened during a holiday campaign that went wrong. A technical glitch meant thousands of people couldn’t access a turkey recipe on Thanksgiving morning. The comments section was… intense.

Instead of hiding or posting a generic statement, I jumped in. I spent 12 hours replying personally to hundreds of comments, DMing screenshots of the recipe, and even emailing PDFs directly to panicking grandmothers.

By the end of the day, the angry mob had turned into a fan club. People were thanking me by name. That day taught me everything I needed to know: People forgive mistakes; they don’t forgive silence.

From then on, my mission was clear: to be the human heartbeat behind the digital brand.

What I Learned the Hard Way

Managing a community looks easy—until you do it.

I learned that:

  • Trolls feed on attention, but customers feed on empathy.
  • You can’t automate genuine connection (bots are the enemy of trust).
  • Authenticity wins over canned, corporate responses.
  • The comment section is a goldmine for content ideas if you actually listen.

The biggest lesson? Don’t just reply to the influencers. The home cook with 12 followers who took the time to make your cake deserves just as much love as the verified account.

My Approach Now

My philosophy is simple: Human First.

Whether I’m negotiating a sponsorship deal or replying to a comment, I treat it like a real conversation.

I focus on:

  • Active Listening: Hearing what the audience actually wants.
  • Value-Driven Partnerships: I only bring in brands that make sense for our readers. No random detox teas—only stuff we genuinely use.
  • Consistent Tone: Ensuring our voice is warm, helpful, and fun across every platform.
  • Speed & Empathy: Making sure no question goes unanswered for too long.

What I Believe

💬 Comments are content. The best ideas come from the readers. 🤝 Partnerships should feel like recommendations from a friend, not ads. ❤️ Kindness is a strategy. It pays off in retention and loyalty. 👂 Listening is more important than posting. 🚀 A loyal community of 10k is worth more than a ghost town of 1M.

How I Can Help You

At Easy Cooking US, I handle:

  • Community Engagement: Managing comments, DMs, and emails across all social platforms and the blog.
  • Brand Collaborations: Scouting, negotiating, and managing sponsorships with food and lifestyle brands.
  • Ambassador Programs: Building relationships with micro-influencers who love our recipes.
  • Feedback Loops: I tell the editorial team exactly what the readers are loving (or hating).

My goal is to make sure that when people visit your site, they feel like they’ve walked into a kitchen full of friends.

A Little More About Me

When I’m not glued to my phone or email, you’ll find me:

  • Searching for the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago.
  • Running along the Lakefront Trail to burn off said pizza.
  • Listening to tech and culture podcasts.
  • Trying out new street food recipes.
  • Trying to keep my houseplants alive.

Let’s Connect

If you’re a reader with a question or a brand looking to partner with an authentic community, I’m your guy.