Is it possible to work full-time and grow a successful brand on the side? Absolutely. 

Will it be easy? Absolutely not. 

But that doesn't mean that it is impossible. Take a look at Callie and Leo of The LA Couple. They've grown their following of over 50,000 people while both working 40 hours a week. 

So how do you do it? Callie and Leo share their best tips and lessons they've learned in the past two years.

Plan Ahead

Here's the big secret: Callie and Leo have the same amount of hours as everyone else. They get the content because their brand is important to them and they make time. 

"It's very difficult. We're not gonna lie and sit here and be like 'it's so easy and we sleep a lot!' The fact is, we are up on Saturday mornings after working Monday through Friday every single day, and getting those sunrise shots and planning ahead. That's kind of the key. When you do have a full-time job and that's priority because that's what's paying your bills at the moment,...

Is creating content a HUGE pain point for you? Creating the content for all your platforms, posting consistently, and keeping the quality up - who has the time?

We've all been there. The content overwhelm is a very real problem. Content creation is supposed to be FUN, right? Getting inspired, working with graphics, honing our photo skills - it feels AWESOME to create! So why is it that planning out a social media schedule feels like a huge chore?

Don't worry - there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Here are strategies to get out of the slump and back into the content creation groove: 

Why Content Creation is Important

There are lots of schools of thought on content creation. Do you need to post daily? Are weekly scheduled blog posts important for growth? What does the ever-elusive Instagram algorithm want with us? 

In our experience, a consistent posting schedule is the way to go.

So why do we hear that we have to be posting daily content and have a consistent...

Jacquelyn Umof is a former LA Laker Girl turned yogi - Action Jacquelyn is one of the biggest yoga influencers online. Known for her stunning poses, positive messaging and beautiful photography, Jacquelyn engages her fans through her "Get Stretchy" program. Jacquelyn's vision is the heal the world through daily rituals of movement and positive mindset that take 15 minutes or less.

Jacquelyn reaches millions through her huge instagram audience, her subscribers on YouTube and on her wildly popular interactive blog. Her fans love her 1-week challenges, daily motivations and infinite tools for mental and physical strength, growth, and improvement. Jacquelyn is a classically trained ballerina from a very young age, and has danced professionally for LINES Ballet, and went on to be USC Song Girl, Clipper Girl, then Laker Girl. She is currently certified in Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Breathing, Reformer Pilates, Barre, Personal Training, and...

When it comes to being an influencer, it is so important to provide VALUE to your audience. This is what brands will want to see and will have your followers stick around for.

So what exactly is value? Ask yourself: what kind of content will serve your audience?

If you don't know your audience, then this will be really difficult, right?

Some common ways to provide value to your audience through content is to post tips, how-tos, tutorials, and guides. 

Another way to share content with value is through your personal core values. In my membership program #Sponsored, I teach my students exactly how to get clear on their core values. Once you zero in on these values and know why you do what you do, value in your posts will follow.

What is value NOT?

But providing value does not necessarily mean constant teaching.  Does the content mean something to you? Adding context to the content and why it's important to you is key in adding value.

Consistently providing value is about...

How do you introduce yourself? Do you say that you're a social media influencer? It turns out, if you're doing this you may actually be cutting yourself off at the knees. Here are a few reasons why calling yourself a social media influencer can limit your growth:

You don't own your channel

What do you think of when someone says "social media"?

Probably Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest...basically channels you can have a presence on.

Here's the thing - you don't OWN those channels. There are a lot of things that can happen to your profiles when you use social media platforms:

1. They can change terms and conditions

2. They can close your account whenever they please

3. They can show your content to whomever they want

If you own a domain name and have your own website, you own your platform. In media, they call this O&O - owned and operated. Your content belongs to you - no platform can decide to delete all of your hard work. This is a great way to ensure the longevity of...

There’s a lot of information out there. You can pretty much find anything out on Google, YouTube, reddit, and other sites. The thing is, when you watch a video or read a blog post that’s it - it’s just information. Most people can process a lot of information but what happens afterward? If you do nothing with what you learn, that’s exactly what’s going to happen - NOTHING.

Implementation is key

So why do people buy premium online courses and programs when they can just spend time watching YouTube videos and Google-ing everything? It’s because usually these programs come with a system to apply and implement that information. It comes with videos, trainings, and tutorials (which is like the book/manual), coaching calls, a group for support and accountability (which is like the classes and workshops you attend). And when you buy a program, it comes with a promise.

Let’s talk about a promise that a brand makes when they’re selling their...

If you're serious about your business, you can make serious money as an influencer. You've created beautiful content, your influencer is portfolio is ready to go - but how do you know how much money to charge? 

What are brands actually paying for?

Brands are paying for advertising. As influencers, we are advertisers. Brands are paying to get their product in front of our audience, just as they would if they paid a TV station to run a commercial. As an influencer, your audience is your product. This is why it's SO important to be crystal clear on your audience. 

The difference here is that influencers already have a connection with their audience - they already know, like and trust the influencer. This is why influencers can charge a premium - it's an endorsement to a higher-quality audience.

Standard benchmark rates for posts

The standard benchmark is around $100 per 10,000 followers on Instagram. This means that if you get a brand sponsorship, you can expect to...

I hear this all the time.

“I don’t have enough time.”

And the thing is, we know there is a set number of hours in a day.  We already put aside the time for our priorities, like work, family, eating, etc.

And that’s the key word right there - “priorities.” We make time for what’s important to us.

So if you’re starting and growing a business (in this case, your influencer platforms) is that important to you right now? Because if it isn’t, you’re always going to find that you don’t have the time for it. Not now, not ever - until you make it a priority.

You hear stories all the time about entrepreneurs who work before work, after work, on the weekends, when their kids are asleep. When everyone is out having fun they’re working on their business. They've made it a priority.

If being healthy is important to you, then you’ll make time to make healthy meals and exercise. If learning a new skill is...

The term "aesthetic" seems to be everywhere these days. 

Simply put, an aesthetic is the look and feel of your content. Do you post rainbow colors? Neutral tones only? This is your aesthetic.

What are brands looking for?

So what are brands looking for when searching for influencers to work with? Typically, they look for the three As of Alignment:

Audience

Is your audience aligned with the brand? If your audience is similar to the one your brand wants to reach, you're looking good. This is typically one of the FIRST things brands look for in an influencer.

Authenticity

Are YOU as a person aligned with the brand's core values? It's always a great thing when your personality is intertwined with your audience for a unique and authentic spin. It also sets you apart from influencers who promote product solely for the sake of sponsorships - it's not authentic.

Aesthetic

 Does your look and feel align with the brand's? Think of how your aesthetic comes across to your audience and...

Is your mindset holding you back?

Until you take 100% responsibility for your success, you will never achieve it. What are you doing to build your brand and to grow your following? What steps are you taking? Posting is not enough, it’s never been enough. So if you’re waiting for things to happen, chances are they’re not.

There are three HUGE MISTAKES that influencers make that hold them back from reaching their full potential: 

#1 Believing you need TONS of followers in order to work with brands.

There are students in my courses with under 10k who have booked PAID sponsorships with brands More likely, you need to gain clarity on your brand. 

#2 Facing the Fear of Not Being Good Enough

Have you ever thought:

"Who am I to do this?" 

"Why is my story worth telling"

If you're letting fear block you - it will always be a "no". What have you got to lose?

#3 Treating Your Brand as a Hobby and Not A Business

This is why it’s important to practice...