Kirbie Johnson joins us on her first official day as a freelancer after leaving her job at POPSUGAR after seven years. This beauty guru and host breaks down her decision to transition from a corporate setting to freelance, and shares her journey as a host, producer, and reporter. 

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Kirbie Johnson, POPSUGAR: Corporate to Freelancer

Demystifying influence in the digital space. Follow Me is for the corporate cuties, the fierce freelancers and anyone else trying to figure out their career off and online. Join hosts, Ali Grant and Jess Yoo–powerhouses from The Digital Dept.–each week to hear conversations with industry experts, creators turned entrepreneurs, and brand executives who are demystifying the business side of the influencer space. Ali and Jess also share their own relatable, real life experiences working with brands and creators, as well as discuss what’s new and happening across the industry.

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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
- Learn more about Be Social Group


CONNECT WITH REESA 
Follow Reesa on Instagram: @reesalake


CONNECT WITH ALI
Follow me on Instagram: @aligrant
Follow me on TikTok: @aligrnt 


CONNECT WITH JESS
Follow me on Instagram: @jessyoowould
Follow me on TikTok: @jessyoowould


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Reesa Lake, Head Of Creator Agency & Partnerships At LTK: The Power of Relationships In The Creator Economy & Best Practices For LTK

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
- Learn more about Be Social Group


CONNECT WITH APRIL 
Follow April on Instagram: @aprillockhart
Follow April on TikTok: @april_lockhart
Subscribe to April on Youtube: @april_lockhart


CONNECT WITH ALI
Follow me on Instagram: @aligrant
Follow me on TikTok: @aligrnt 


CONNECT WITH JESS
Follow me on Instagram: @jessyoowould
Follow me on TikTok: @jessyoowould


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April Lockhart, Clean Beauty Expert, Inclusive Marketer & Lifestyle Creator: Transitioning From Corporate Girlie To Freelance Influencer

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
- Learn more about Be Social Group


CONNECT WITH CALLEN 
Follow Callen on Instagram: @callenboyer
Follow Sway Social on Instagram: @theswaysocial
Learn more about Sway Social: theswaysocial.com


CONNECT WITH ALI
Follow me on Instagram: @aligrant
Follow me on TikTok: @aligrnt 


CONNECT WITH JESS
Follow me on Instagram: @jessyoowould
Follow me on TikTok: @jessyoowould


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Callen Hamilton, Founder Of Sway Social: Mastering Affiliate Marketing & Building A Collaborative Team

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
- Learn more about Be Social Group


CONNECT WITH JENNY
Follow Jenny on Tiktok: @mohaewithjennypark
Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn 


CONNECT WITH ALI
Follow me on Instagram: @aligrant
Follow me on TikTok: @aligrnt 


CONNECT WITH JESS
Follow me on Instagram: @jessyoowould
Follow me on TikTok: @jessyoowould


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Jenny Park, Leader Of Brand Partnerships At LinkedIn: How To Craft Your Brand Niche & Make Six Figures As A Micro-Creator

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
- Learn more about Be Social Group


CONNECT WITH CHELSEA
Follow Chelsea on Instagram: @chelseambecker
Follow Becker Editorial on Instagram: @beckereditorial
Work with Becker Editorial: becker-editorial.com


CONNECT WITH ALI
Follow me on Instagram: @aligrant
Follow me on TikTok: @aligrnt 


CONNECT WITH JESS
Follow me on Instagram: @jessyoowould
Follow me on TikTok: @jessyoowould


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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/followme/message

Kirbie Johnson, POPSUGAR: Corporate to Freelancer

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