Answering your questions: how much I make, how I deal with hate, and more

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS: HOW MUCH I MAKE, HOW I DEAL WITH HATE, AND MORE

If you had the opportunity to ask an influencer with 500K+ followers any question, what would it be? Keep that question in mind- today we’re answering 21 questions from followers, covering topics like what to post when you’re starting out, how to land brand collabs, and even an influencer’s salary! Whether you’re just curious about the lifestyle or a full fledged influencer already, the info shared today will definitely be valuable.

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Are you an influencer, a content creator, or both?

The fact that they’re even considered different is interesting to me, but I would say I’m a little bit of both! The content I put out is more on the content creator side, while I show up more like an influencer.

How did you get the courage to start?

It’s always scary to start something new, but after seeing other people do it, I felt like I really needed to begin posting as well. If you’re worried about putting yourself out there, just do it (and tell all your friends so you can’t back out!)

You’ve spoken before about how you’re an introvert- do you have any tips for introverts to get over their fears?

I am SUCH an introvert- I literally put off calling the bank because I’m scared to talk to them! When I first started out, I would just pretend that I was talking to myself, but something that gives me courage when posting online now is the fact that the people who follow me are people who CHOSE to follow me, so they’re basically my virtual friends.

How do you deal with hate?

Dealing with hate is hard and it always hurts to hear people criticize us, but it does get easier to deal with over time. Whenever I get negative comments, I remember that the people leaving these comments are probably in a really bad place in their life, because if they were in a good place HOW would they have time to be leaving these comments? Mean and nasty comments are NEVER a reflection of you, but rather a reflection of the people who leave them. However, it's also important to differentiate between hate comments and constructive criticism: if someone says “your audio quality isn’t great, you might need a new mic,” that’s something that you can keep in mind to improve your content.

If you are just starting, what should you post?

Think about what type of content will provide value, and consider what you’re good at. Your goal is to be seen and start growing, so post content that is sharable (that people will want to send to each other) and content that is favored by the Instagram algorithm (currently Reels). Create content that people will care about: what about your life/knowledge would be interesting to others?

Do you have recommendations for apps for creating stories?

I mainly use Unfold and InShot! I make collages using both, and they’re both super powerful tools to have in your content creation toolbox. Instagram has a lot of useful built-in functions as well, like the ability to upload images as stickers to your stories.

How long did it take for you to get your first 100k?

I think it took about 2 years, maybe a little more. After that milestone, growth becomes a bit easier.

Is it possible to land collabs with 2000 followers?

I personally didn’t focus on collabs in the beginning, but it IS possible to monetize with less than 5K followers. If you don’t have the reach just yet, what other value can you bring to the table? Do you share valuable information? Do you have a unique perspective that is a value-add? Can you provide high quality content for the brand’s use? Focus on your strengths when pitching brands!

Do you have a budget set for travels?

I do have a budget, but I’m not spending tons of money as the majority of my travels are free due to collaborations with hotels and tourism boards. When you’re just starting out, it's a little more important to watch your spending, and set a monthly budget for yourself. I remember I used to calculate exactly how much each photo would cost me and then decide if it would be worth it!

Are any of them written off as expenses?

Yes! I believe you can create an LLC for your business and this way even if you're not initially making money (but plan to in the next 1-2 years), you’ll be able to write off your expenses. (Disclaimer: I am not a tax expert, so consult your accountant for specific details on this one!)

How long does it take to start getting brand deals?

You can start getting paid with as little as 900 followers (if you’re a micro influencer check out the Heartbeat platform!), but it really depends on your account strengths. My first paid partnership was when I was at 10 or 20K and it was $200 for a hair oil. I can’t legally disclose how much I get paid now, given that I have ongoing brand deals, but I will say I’ve made a rule with myself and my husband that I don’t lift a finger for less than 6K.

How much do you earn?

I have multiple streams of income (brand deals, affiliate income, digital product sales, etc), but from brand deals alone I make multiple six figures.

Are you the sole income earner?

At this point in my career, yes. My husband is semi-retired but invests, but that’s considered passive income.

How do you color-coordinate your feed?

I talk about this a lot in the Full-Time Influencer program, but as a general overview, it's a combination of planning your feed (use a planning app like Planoly), having a vault of images to post, and knowing about color theory (look it up, it will help you train your eyes and plan your feed!). Also consider the places you’re shooting at: do you want to blend in or stand out? Plan your outfits accordingly!

As a travel influencer, shouldn’t you create content within the budget of the people who follow you?

I actually have to respectfully say no to this one! People have different niches and brands, and while other people create budget travel content, my niche is luxury travel. It’s important to create content that sticks to your niche, as you want to be specifically known for something. My hope for my followers is that they’ll be able to save the luxury hotels that I visit for dream vacations or honeymoons, and that they’ll be able to live vicariously through my posts.

You create so much content while traveling, do you still have time to enjoy your trips?

I love creating content, so creating content IS me enjoying my trips! It does get a bit stressful sometimes, especially when planning everything, but I absolutely love being able to look back at my photos and remember everything I’ve seen and everywhere I’ve been. Our memories may fail us, but iCloud never will!

How much are dresses you rent for photo shoots?

I often collaborate with brands for gifting and lending gowns for photos, but I do buy dresses and clothing for myself as well. If you want to rent gowns, I suggest looking in your local area: there are often photographers who rent out gowns to shoot in. You can also look up clothing rental companies like Rent the Runway. I’ve also borrowed dresses from Andrea and Leo (they work with microinfluencers a lot!) and New York Dress.

What’s your worst nightmare as an influencer?

My personal worst nightmare is being cancelled. I feel like the majority of the time when someone is being cancelled, they have said or done something that was not appropriate, but I worry about being cancelled for something I didn’t even do!

What is the most difficult part of your job?

The pressure to constantly be showing up is definitely rough sometimes. As an introvert, I don’t always feel good being on camera. I also tend to stress myself out for no reason by setting semi-impossible deadlines, but that’s because I’m pretty ambitious, and there’s so much I want to do, and the deadlines help keep me on track.

Do you think it’s possible to have too small of a niche? Can you only be an influencer if you live in a big city?

I think there is such a thing as too small of a niche, and you do want to make sure you’re not boxing yourself in too narrow of a space because it will limit the type of partnerships you’re able to attract, but at the same time you want to make sure you do have a niche. Pick a few things that you want to be known for rather than trying to do it all. Remember that people who follow you for a certain area will also be interested in your travels elsewhere, and you don’t need to be traveling every other week to be a successful influencer.

I have a small account and always get DMs from brands I’ve never heard of who want to send me free items for posts, and all I have to do is pay for shipping: is this legit?

No! Never pay for shipping! Always exercise caution when you’re just starting out: not that it’s not possible to be paid with less than 1K followers, but its more likely that you would reach out to them than they would reach out to you. Consider what value you have to offer to them: why are they reaching out? Don’t forget to do your research on the brand, and remember that if they don’t address you specifically by name, it’s probably a scam!

I hope this little chat helped you get a little more insight into the life of a content creator, and if you’re still nervous about getting started, don’t be! Take this message as a sign to dive in and follow your dreams.