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If you’ve been following us for a while, you know how much we love talking about LTK, which is why we’re so excited to be joined by Reesa Lake, VP of the Head of Creator Agency & Partnerships at LTK. We discuss her role in bringing economic opportunities to creators across various platforms, categories, and demographics. 

Reesa is known for being a relationship builder and connector, and in our conversation, she highlights the power of networking and relationship-building in the creator economy. We also cover her shift from her previous agency to LTK, where she shares her advice for maintaining positive relationships when transitioning in the industry. Plus, for those interested in joining LTK, Reesa shares exactly what they look for when approving creators! 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- (10:09) LTK's collaboration with agents, managers, and creators

- (14:46) How to know when it's the right time to make a career transition 

- (16:43) The importance of relationships and networking

- (25:00) What is LTK and its best creator practices? 

- (30:47) The ways LTK can support you with diversifying your revenue

- (34:03) What Reesa looks for in creators applying to LTK 

RESOURCES

Today, we’re chatting with April Lockhart, a clean beauty expert, marketer, lifestyle creator, and former Director of Influencer & Partnerships at ILIA. With six years of experience in the influencer space, April has a deep understanding of social media marketing and how to inspire a digital audience. She is also a passionate advocate for disability awareness in fashion. 

In our conversation, we discuss how April transformed her side hustle into a full-time career by combining her corporate background with her extensive experience in the beauty industry. We also unpack April’s content creation process and how she grew her multi-platform following. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- (11:23) April's experience at ILIA as Director of Influencer & Partnerships

- (14:15) Advice for building an influencer community and aligning with brand values

- (20:36) Tips for leaving a corporate job to pursue freelance content creation

- (24:14) How April grew her following

- (28:41) The internet’s influence on April's confidence in sharing content as a disabled creator 

RESOURCES

Today, we are joined by Callen Hamilton, founder of Sway Social and a long-time collaborator, to discuss the world of influencer project management, adjusting to the algorithm, and affiliate marketing. With her extensive experience working with creators, Callen highlights the importance of building a collaborative team to grow your brand. 

In our conversation, Callen emphasizes that consistency, authenticity, and prioritizing engagement over follower count are crucial aspects of being a successful digital creator. We also explore the keys to affiliate marketing, why it's an essential strategy for creators, and how to get the most out of LTK. From micro to macro creators, Callen shares valuable insights that can elevate your brand to new heights!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- (5:19) How we connected with Callen, and why she believes strong relationships with management companies are vital for success

- (9:22) Recognizing your strength as a creator and outsourcing the weak areas to drive growth 

- (13:24) Seeking opportunities for improvement as a leader and the importance of overcommunication with your teams 

- (19:50) Strategies Sway Social uses to assist clients in their Instagram growth

- (25:57) Tips for affiliate marketing and utilizing LTK 

- (34:56) The criteria Callen considers when selecting clients to work with

RESOURCES

When Jenny Park was rejected by the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, she set out to create her own opportunities. Now, she is a personal finance content creator and leader of brand partnerships at LinkedIn, collaborating with high-profile talents like Ryan Reynolds, Mindy Kaling, and Mr. Beast. Jenny joins us today to discuss how she bridges the gap between creation, storytelling, and operations at LinkedIn while balancing her content creation side hustle. 

In our conversation, she highlights LinkedIn as a valuable tool for recruiting and fact-checking during the hiring process. Jenny uses TikTok content creation as a creative outlet, and she shares her tips for juggling a full-time job with being a content creator, increasing creator marketplace interest, and making six figures in brand partnerships as a micro creator. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- (6:31) Jenny's background in brand building as it relates to her current position at LinkedIn 

- (12:56) Using LinkedIn for recruiting and fact-checking during the hiring process

- (17:56) How LinkedIn collaborates with brands, high-profile creators, and entrepreneurs

- (19:36) Jenny’s experience juggling a full-time job while being a content creator

- (22:16) Tools for streamlining your content editing 

- (30:42) Advice for generating huge earnings as a micro-creator 

RESOURCES

In this episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with Chelsea Becker, the founder of Becker Editorial, to unpack the behind-the-scenes content curation of your favorite creators. Becker Editorial specializes in helping creators, influencers, and small brands grow by planning their digital content, strategizing Instagram feeds, aligning creativity with their goals, and much more. 

In our conversation, Chelsea highlights her organization and collaboration techniques that drive brand success. She emphasizes the importance of investing time in your business, being consistent with audience engagement, and delegating tasks to those who know them best. Plus, Chelsea lets us in on the benefits of using Pinterest in your business strategy and ways to make your email newsletters shine. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

(6:21) The ways Becker Editorial assists influencers, creators, and brands

(9:28) How Chelsea works and communicates with her clients 

(12:24) Why you should have a website or blog in addition to your social media 

(18:07) Tools for effectively managing time while juggling multiple clients 

(19:25) Tips for incorporating Pinterest into your brand strategy

(26:06) Advice for being a collaborative and successful creator across all platforms

RESOURCES

Maddie Raedts, a creative entrepreneur who launched her first company at 21 and is now working on her new venture, Bond, joins us today to discuss her career in entrepreneurship and her goal of revolutionizing influencer marketing. 

Maddie introduced Bond to disrupt the traditional commerce model. In our conversation, Maddie breaks down the details of starting your own company and how taking risks to follow a career in alignment with your passion can have major results. She walks us through the steps of selling a successful agency, the challenges of developing her new app, and how diversifying revenue streams can make you money in your sleep. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- (5:30) Maddie's journey into influencer marketing and where she got the idea for her agency 

- (8:49) Maddie’s experience in selling her business 

- (11:56) The qualities that set Bond apart from the rest of the market

- (14:04) Diversifying revenue streams for passive income 

- (19:57) The challenges of introducing Bond to the world of influencer marketing 

- (23:58) Advice for pursuing your passion in creative entrepreneurship 

RESOURCES

On today's episode, we’re chatting with our new haircare bestie, Dianna Cohen! She is the founder and CEO of Crown Affair, a haircare brand empowering people to redefine their relationship with their hair through accessible luxury products, guidance, and community. In our conversation, Dianna shares her journey building the brand and her approach to managing a team. 

With her extensive experience in marketing, including running an agency and working with brands such as Harry’s, Outdoor Voices, and Yumi, Dianna provides valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship and influencer marketing. Dianna launched Crown Affair just weeks before the pandemic hit, and she opens up about how it impacted the foundations and evolution of her brand. As a leader, Dianna takes a realistic, empathetic, and feminine approach that fosters trust within her team and empowers them to learn and grow so they’ll thrive in whatever they do next.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- Engagement on Instagram vs. TikTok 

- How the pandemic impacted Dianna's brand launch 

- Utilizing influencer marketing for product promotion

- Tips for engaging directly and vulnerably with your consumers 

- Dianna's unique mentorship program

- Ways to foster trust within your team and empower them to make decisions 

- The benefits of a hybrid work environment when building a brand 

- Dianna’s realistic and empathetic leadership approach

- Advice for transitioning from masculine to feminine energy

CONNECT WITH DIANNA

In the current digital space, it's more crucial than ever before to diversify your online brand and develop multiple revenue streams, because you never know if platforms like Instagram or TikTok will suddenly shut down. Today we're joined by Jules Acree, a multi-platform digital content creator and entrepreneur, as she shares her insights on mindfulness, creating digital products, and focusing on steady and sustainable growth as a creator. 

In our conversation, Jules reminds us that success looks different for everyone, and the most important aspect of digital creation is finding alignment, passion, and fulfillment in your social media presence. Plus, with almost a decade of online experience under her belt, Jules shares her expert advice for moments when you’re feeling uninspired or you need to unplug from social media. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- Tips for getting started with meditation and implementing cycles into your daily routine

- The ways Jules unplugs from social media

- Jules’ journey into the creator economy 

- Reaching financial milestones through passive income from digital products 

- The importance of being excited by the content you’re creating 

- How Jules works with a team and a manager to maintain her brand

- Finding alignment while evolving and diversifying as a creator 

RESOURCES

Between the dwindling follower counts and unpredictable engagement, Instagram is one of the most frustrating platforms for creators right now. We invited social strategist Taylor Loren onto the pod to learn about how to cut through the noise on Reels and grow on Instagram. 

There are three main ways to monetize your social media following: in-app, external apps, and brand collaborations. In this episode, I touch on how to flex into each area and diversify your revenue as a content creator. Some of these approaches are more lucrative than others, but the idea is to be in the driver’s seat of your personal brand and maximize what each platform has to offer. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- The first step to making money on social media

- Different features of TikTok’s Creator Fund program 

Kinya Clairborne is an award-winning content creator and the founder and editor-in-chief of STYLE & SOCIETY Magazine. Not only is she an amazing example of how to transition from corporate girlie to full-time influencer, but she’s also managed to heavily diversify her brand and work with big names like Honda, Macy’s, and L’Oreal. 

In our conversation, we talk about how to translate your social following into something more concrete that you own, like an email list or a product line. Kinya also turns the mic back to us and asks about our perspective on outbound versus incoming deals and what we think about influencers working with both agents and managers. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Why jumping around to different agencies can hurt you as a content creator 

• The turning point for Kinya that inspired her to go all-in on being a content creator 

• Examples of what it looks like to diversify your skillset as an influencer 

• Why we’re sick of exclusivity clauses 

• Questions to ask yourself before partnering with a manger 

• Our #1 piece of advice for all content creators

  
  

RESOURCES

Rocsi Diaz is best known for hosting major network shows like BET’s 106 & Park and ABC’s Good Morning America, but she’s stepping into a new chapter of her career as a content creator and brand founder. In our conversation, Rocsi looks back on her career highlights and shares how she’s taking those experiences into her latest ventures: a podcast and a product line. Rocsi also gives advice to influencers who want to be red carpet correspondents or make a name for themselves in traditional media. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• How to know when it’s time to pivot in your career 

• Tips for connecting with your audience while also staying authentic to yourself 

• The secret to being a great interviewer 

• How event coverage and celebrity news has changed with the rise of pop culture content creators 

• Rocsi’s vision for her upcoming podcast and bronzing product line 

  
  

RESOURCES

Siffat Haider, co-founder of the natural supplements brand Arrae, joins us on this episode to unpack the ‘it factor’ that drives her company’s success. She walks us through exactly how she launched a DTC brand and what her day-to-day looks like now that it’s really taken off. 

Siffat has such a unique perspective on influencer marketing as someone who’s both a content creator and founder, and she shares her top advice for people on both sides of those deals. We also get into strategies for community-led marketing and talk about the trend of de-influencing. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• What prompted Siffat to explore the world of holistic medicine 

• The benefits of soft launching a product 

• How Siffat created an influencer marketing campaign with a tiny budget 

• Key marketing advice for brand owners and influencers

• The division of labor between Siffat and her co-founder (who also happens to be her husband) 

  
  

RESOURCES

Jennifer Walker, co-founder of Walker Drawas, joins us on this episode to chat about her career evolution from VP of PR and Marketing at AllSaints to now spearheading some of the most epic experiential marketing campaigns, including VIP Coachella parties and Revolve Festival. 

Jennifer reflects on how she’s worked through some of the biggest challenges in her career and shares her advice for balancing motherhood and business. Plus, she lets us in on what a day in her life looks like and what we can expect from her agency in the future. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• How to set expectations with brands that don't “get” influencer marketing 

• What inspired Jennifer to team up with Adam Drawas to create a full-service entertainment marketing agency

• Ways that Jennifer and her team continue to innovate at Coachella  

• What self-care and work-life boundaries look like for Jennifer nowadays 

• Exploring opportunities outside of fashion, including hospitality and nightlife

  
  

RESOURCES

Lindsay Silberman, luxury lifestyle blogger and founder of Hotel Lobby Candle, joins us on this episode to walk through exactly how she went from brand ideation to a sold out launch in under a year. She shares how she got started with finding the right designer, fragrance chemist, and manufacturer, and how she overcame the many roadblocks along the way (read: launching a products-based business during a global pandemic). 

If you're trying to figure out what type of product makes sense for your personal brand and want to learn more about the tangible steps to bring it to life, don’t miss this conversation with Lindsay! 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• The tipping point for Lindsay to leave her editorial job and go all-in on being a content creator

• How Lindsay figured out business logistics as a newbie in the space 

• The factors that contributed to Lindsay selling out her entire inventory in 24 minutes 

• How Lindsay and her team are getting more strategic as they scale 

• Learning to delegate and get out of your own way as a business owner 

• A peek into what’s next for Hotel Lobby Candle, including new products coming out later this year 

  
  

RESOURCES

Meta just rolled out the new Meta Verified feature (aka the blue checkmark), which was once reserved for top celebs, influencers, and brands, but can now be on your profile for $14.99/month. We’re breaking down the enhanced features and exclusive extras that the subscription offers, and share our take on if creators should invest in it or not. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• What Meta Verified is 

• How Meta Verified changes the meaning and value of blue checkmarks 

• The backstory of how to get verified on IG 

• The benefits of Meta Verified for creators 

• Our thoughts on if TikTok and Snapchat are going to launch similar features

  
  

RESOURCES

One of the biggest pain points of the creator economy is the lack of stability and predictable income. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. 

We’re joined by James Nord, the co-founder of Fohr, a tech company at the forefront of ambassador marketing. They’ve been the go-to campaign platform for years and have a real touch point on beauty programs, most notably Sephora Squad. 

In our conversation, James explains why the team at Fohr has really dialed into the long-term ambassador marketing strategy. We talk about getting back to the roots of authenticity and what makes influencer marketing actually work. He also gives some insight into how to stand out in a crowded market and explains why it pays off to deliver bonus content. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• James’ introduction to influencer marketing in the mid-2000s

• The story behind Sephora Squad

• How to get on a brand’s radar and be considered for a campaign 

• Why Fohr doesn’t offer single-post campaigns 

• The easiest way to retain and grow your brand relationships 

  
  

RESOURCES

Marketplace e-commerce is considered the future of retail, but up until recently, it’s mainly been available to major stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian. Now, there’s a way for content creators to cash in on the trend, too.

Pontus Karlsson is the founder of Off Script, an easy solution for creators to build a curated marketplace selling products from multiple brands. We recently caught up with him to talk about how Off Script is changing the way creators approach affiliate marketing and sell natively on social channels.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• The inspiration behind Off Script

• Off Script as the middle ground between affiliate marketing and having your own product line 

• Current e-commerce trends and retail industry forecasts 

• The reality of what influencers make on LTK and Amazon Storefront 

• How creators can work with Off Script 

RESOURCES

As a creator, one of the hardest questions to get a straight answer for is: “how much should I charge?” 

That’s where Cynthia Ruff comes in. After years of wingin’ it and piecing together her personal rates, she created HashTag Pay Me, the only tool that helps creators streamline their brand outreach process. 

We chat with Cynthia on all things startup capital, building credibility as a content creator, and how HashTag Pay Me works. She breaks down how she uses her ‘fairy math’ method to rethink corporate compensation tools that create a more transparent, even playing field for creators. 

She also shares what’s next for the platform, including conversion metrics, networking features, and a digital app. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• The current startup loan landscape and the SVB of it all 

• Challenges in getting traditional investors to understand pain points in the creator economy

• Updating what it means to be ‘recession-proof’

• Why whitelisting is a double-edged sword and how to make sure you’re appropriately compensated 

• How to use HashTag Pay Me to confidently set your rate and back it up with data 

  
  

RESOURCES

Pamela Zapata, CEO and founder of Society 18, takes us behind the scenes of what it’s *really* like to be a talent manager. After working in major branding, marketing, and casting departments, Pamela noticed a pattern with BIPOC influencers: they were mostly self-representing and leaving a lot of money on the table in doing so. She shares how she turned her consulting side hustle into a seven-figure agency and gives her top advice for anyone who wants to follow a similar path.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• How Pamela draws on her professional experiences across various industries
• The steps Pamela took to leave her corporate job and go all-in on her own agency
• Tips for finding brands to pitch to for your clients
• What questions talent should ask potential managers (and vice versa)
• The insights and metrics Pamela and her team look at before signing with a creator
• The pros and cons of short-term trials
• Why is it so hard to get paid on time in this industry?!

RESOURCES

As CEO and founder of Rare Global, Ashley Villa and her team manage top influencers like Michelle Phan, Jenn Im, Chloe Morello, and Nicol Concilio.

In our conversation, we get into how Ashley transitioned from corporate attorney to talent manager and has since scaled Rare Global into the only female-owned, female-run talent management company in the digital space. She breaks down what a talent manager does, including how they facilitate collaborations with dream brands and help campaigns come to life.

Ashley is also the co-founder of Sireni Beauty and takes us behind the scenes of what it’s like to get a sustainable beauty brand off the ground (including the hefty start up costs).

Listen in to hear more of Ashley’s expertise on working with the next generation of talent and creating brands with lasting power.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Rapid Fire: Legal Edition
• How brand campaigns have evolved since the start of influencer marketing
• Common mistakes Ashley sees inexperienced managers make
• What it looks like to help a client with a rebrand
• How creators typically get paid for capsule collections
• Ashley’s thoughts on the battle between TikTok, Reels, and Youtube Shorts
• Advice for people who want to break into the influencer management industry

RESOURCES

Manifestation Coach and LA-based influencer, Candice Nikeia, joins us on this episode to break down the basics of affirmations and manifestation. She shares actionable steps for transforming your mindset and becoming an energetic match for your personal and professional goals. Candice also gets real about the disparities for BIPOC content creators and what tools she uses to work through those deep-rooted challenges.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Why it’s key to say your affirmations out loud
• Tangible examples of the power of visualization and affirmations
• Candice’s inspired morning routine
• What self-concept is and how you can use it to discover more opportunities
• How to organically incorporate brand deals into your content
• Building a community around your brand

RESOURCES

Torrie subs in for Jess because she is at NYFW (fancy!!) to chit chat about the Superbowl. We aren't talking sports though... we are unpacking our favorite ads and the ROI behind running an ad of that magnitude. I mean, we obviously have to talk about the Jennifer Coolidge and E.L.F. ad, am I right?! It's a quickie... so we hope you enjoy! 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Football (LOL)...jk we don't
• Superbowl advertising and the ROI
• Jennifer Coolidge and the infamous E.L.F. ad
• Rihanna's performance

RESOURCES

She is back! A lot has happened since Becca Tilley was last on the podcast, so as a long-time client of Be Social, we thought it was a good time to see how Becca has evolved as an influencer over the last few years, how she creates content in a fast-changing social media landscape and what she has planned for the near future.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Becca’s influencer tips & theory about Instagram Stories
• How Becca is tackling her content creation in a new wave of social media
• How she determines what she does and does not document for social media
• Becca’s plans for her podcast, Scrubbing In
• How she approaches brand deals
• A quick game of This or That: Alix Earle edition

RESOURCES

One of our favorite influencer trends are BRAND TRIPS! These are a hot topic right now––primarily because of the extravagant Tarte Cosmetics trip to Dubai. So today, Jess and I are breaking down our take on brand trips and why they are such an effective marketing strategy. We also cover the best ways to approach creating a brand experience if you’re a smaller brand and feel intimidated by these large, luxury experiences. This is a fun one––we hope you love it!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Our take on how Tarte Cosmetics pulled off their extravagant Dubai trip
• Why experiences give brands more bang for their buck
• How this model has been around for decades
• How to approach creating an experience for influencers (as a smaller brand)

RESOURCES

Thu Do is a corporate cutie turned full-time freelancer and influencer, so truly, she is living the best of both worlds. Previously employed at notable brands like Benefit and Summer Fridays, Thu now owns her own brand consulting business, That’s Over Budget, in addition to creating content full-time on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. In our conversation, Thu gives us tips for how to take the leap from corporate to freelance, how to best set expectations with your peers and superiors in a corporate environment, which platform brings in the most money for her and so much more!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Why she felt the pull to leave her corporate career
• How she took the leap and got started as a freelancer and influencer
• How she grew to over 20k followers in 2 months on TikTok
• Hot or Not: Social Media Platform Edition

RESOURCES

Welcome to our new segment, Trend Report! As you know, the digital and social media landscapes are changing constantly. It’s hard to keep up, but that’s why we’ve created this segment. As professionals who live and breathe social media, it’s our job to keep you up to date. So today, we’re talking about the exciting launch of the YouTube Shorts Creators Fund for 2023 and how you can get a piece of that $100 million pie.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• The purpose of the Creator Fund
• How Jess got inside info to stand out on YouTube Shorts
• The best app to remove watermarks on short form videos
• Ali’s funny (but actually sad) story about TikTok & Be Social Group

RESOURCES

The Queen of Confidence, Serena F*cking Kerrigan, joins us today to hone in on how she navigates rejection and finds confidence online. Serena has always known that she is a creator, so she got her start creating content for Refinery29 and ultimately, left the job just before the pandemic to––in her own words––”start her empire”. She is the ultimate hype girl and this episode is the confidence boost you need that will remind you it’s not cringey to put yourself out there.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• How to get past feeling embarrassed on social media
• Her best & worst brand partnerships
• Her tips for creating reels and TikToks
• The importance off platform as a creator & building a brand

RESOURCES