In this episode of All About Your Brand, Carmen Renee, a full-time influencer, shares her journey and insights into the world of influencing. She emphasizes the importance of aligning with brands that resonate with your values and being selective with brand partnerships. Carmen also discusses the challenges of being an influencer, including the misconception that it's an easy and glamorous lifestyle. She provides tips for being consistent in content creation, such as batching content and finding a realistic schedule. Carmen also shares her favorite tools and apps for editing content and highlights the costs associated with being an influencer, including subscription fees for editing apps and platforms for deep linking and link management. In this conversation, Carmen shares her experience and insights as an influencer. She discusses the challenges of managing contracts and opportunities as a solo influencer and the importance of finding the right management agency. Carmen also provides advice for aspiring influencers, emphasizing the need for consistency, niche selection, and vulnerability. She highlights the importance of claiming social media handles and establishing what you want to talk about. Carmen also discusses the definition of success as an influencer and the importance of staying true to your personal beliefs when working with brands. Lastly, she emphasizes the value of incorporating feedback and engagement from your audience into your content creation process.

Takeaways

• Align with brands that align with your values and resonate with your audience.
• Being an influencer is not as easy as it may seem, and there are many behind-the-scenes tasks and responsibilities.
• Consistency in content creation is important, but find a schedule that works for you and give yourself grace.
• Use tools and apps like CapCut and Lightroom for editing content.
• Consider the costs associated with being an influencer, such as subscription fees for editing apps and platforms for deep linking and link management.
• When building a team, be selective and find individuals who can assist with specific tasks and responsibilities. Managing contracts and opportunities as a solo influencer can be overwhelming, and it may be beneficial to work with a management agency.
• Consistency, niche selection, and vulnerability are key factors in building a successful personal brand as an influencer.
• Claiming social media handles and establishing what you want to talk about are important steps when starting out as an influencer.
• Success as an influencer can be defined by achieving financial stability, being able to take care of your family, and doing what you love.
• Incorporating feedback and engagement from your audience through polls, quizzes, and check-ins can help guide your content creation process and business decisions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
00:28 Carmen's Journey to Becoming a Full-Time Influencer
03:48 Having a Coach or Mentor in the Influencer Space
05:22 Misconceptions About Being an Influencer
07:33 Carmen's Work Week and Routine
11:44 Pros and Cons of Direct Brand Deals
19:24 Determining Whether a Brand Partnership is Worth Taking
22:09 Handling Negotiations for Brand Partnerships
25:01 Tips for Consistency in Content Creation
28:00 Tools and Tips for Creating and Editing Content
30:54 Costs Associated with Being an Influencer
33:40 Building a Team of Assistants and Managers
35:00 Overwhelm and Seeking Help
36:38 Starting as an Influencer with a Small Following
37:24 Defining Success as an Influence
48:23 Top Three Things for Influencer Success
50:07 Organic Partnerships vs. Reaching Out to Brands
51:37 Featuring Different Brands to Attract Partnerships
53:50 Maintaining Boundaries for Privacy and Self-Preservation
54:55 Incorporating Feedback and Engagement from the Audience
01:03:45 Building a Wine Business