EP 8 Creators, I have a bone to pick with the fashion industry...
If there is any industry that I steer clients away from...it's fashion! Let me break down why this is a problematic industry for influencers and how to handle these interactions in a way that is MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.
Timestamps:
[1:19] Fast fashion- the fashion industry doesn't pay creators fairly.
[3:41] Tips for if a company offers you gifted partnerships.
[6:08] If you want to be reposted, you need to be wearing a new line.
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00:00
Welcome to brand meet crater podcast a place where we pull back the curtain of what it means to be all in on social media. So get ready to kick start conversations about the social media world with a little leave nothing off the table transparency, or maybe more than just a little you girl has yet to learn the art of a filter. So talk in it's time to bring some solidarity to the influencer and brand space.
0:28
On this episode, we're talking about my least favorite industry within influencer marketing, why it's problematic and a couple of ways that you can pivot to make your partnerships more profitable. So let's dive in. Because I'm learning the podcast lingo right now. I'm learning it we're diving in. Let's get ready. Let's go. I've got something new on the table for you this month, you know about my mini courses and one on one coaching. But do you know that I also offer monthly live workshops. The thing I love most about live trainings is the community involved, meet and collaborate with like minded creators and deep dive into a personalized questions within these mini trainings, head to the show notes or the link in my bio at the Harley Jordan on Instagram to learn more and save your seat. I have a frickin bone to pick with the fashion industry. Okay, you all know that sustainability was my jam. So fast fashion, not my jam, just not my jam. And I have to say I know sustainable fashion is not accessible to everyone. So I can get behind the 30 Plus wears rule. And if you don't know what that is, basically it says that if you do not plan to wear some article of clothing that you are purchasing 30 plus times, don't buy it. If you're trying to be more eco conscious, if you plan to wear it 30 plus times, buy, buy, buy, I'm all about it. But if you're just buying that outfit for one occasion for one event, think about it. Think about it first. So here's how this relates to influencer marketing. I'll get off my sustainability, soapbox. If there is any industry that doesn't pay creators, it's fashion fath Shun. And let me tell you why that is. It's because if you turn down that gifted collaboration, where they want to give you $150 worth of clothing, they will move on to the next girl that wants free clothes, they will move on to the next girl in line, the next young girl that doesn't know better, doesn't know how to negotiate is just doing this. It's just posting, because it's a fun hobby. It's a passion. And this is still a new industry. So the amount of taking advantage here is just not okay, it pushes my buttons, because here's the thing, cost and price are two very different things. The cost to make that clothing is not what's on the price tag, the cost is so much lower. So this brand is telling you that $150 worth of product and trying to hide that up under and $50 worth of product that they're trying to be like, Oh, my goodness, you get to go on this $150 Shopping Spree here. That's not a lot of money for them. It is not a big cost. They do not pay that much to make that clothing to produce it to send it to you. All of that No way. It's a huge markup. So the key point here, anytime that you're thinking about working with a company, and they offer a gifted partnership in exchange for your work, number one, is it actually a fair exchange? If your rate is $150? And they give you $150 worth of free product? Is that fair? And two, can you leverage this to get more product if there isn't a budget to pay you for the service
4:09
that they are asking you for? Number one, let's highlight that they're paying you for a service. So there should be a budget. But let's say there's not let's say you're a small book blogger, let's say that you are still trying to position yourself in this industry as someone new if you want four cases of snacks in exchange for your time, because you would buy them anyway. By all means, take the snacks I've done this so many times when I'm told there's no budget. Does it pay my rent? No, it doesn't. But if you're really trying to sell this brand on you and a long term relationship starting with this isn't always a bad thing. Recently, I actually did a gifted campaign for a super high ticket item. It was 2000 something dollars for this item. And I kept I I actually can't believe this. I just looked up the cost of that item. Because I, I was thinking about this. I was like, Yeah, $2,000 it totally makes sense. All of the content, it was worth it. I wanted I wanted it, it was a perfect deal. I looked at the cost to make the item $300 on average to make this specific item. And if you can guess what it is DM me on Instagram. come chat about it. But guys, I know like five people that bought this item after that promotional post, that's 10k in the brand's pocket for a $300 item that I did not get paid to market, you better believe I'll be sliding into their email again, now that I already have the product at home. This partnership is solidified. They see my work they see they have seen what I can do. Now it's time to build the long term partnership and even better that I already have it. So back to fashion back to fashion. Bring it back. The other caveat being if you are trying to get into this industry, if you want to be reposted you better be wearing a new line. That brand is not going to repost you to their story to their feed if you're not wearing something that is not currently available at full price after COVID hit when picture taking was my jam picture taking was in full swing reels didn't exist yet. I literally bought so much stuff from three specific clothing brands. And I wanted to get reposted so badly so badly. I didn't sell better and I thought that a repost would be my claim to fame. I truly thought that the exposure this brand could bring these these three bigger brands would be amazing. They were related to my niche or all of my niches. I thought it would be the perfect fit. So let's lay out these results. Okay, brand one. Bachelor number one reposted me about four times to story to feed. They welcomed me to their affiliate program.
7:19
I thought this was big news. I did a whole announcement story on it. I probably have made since 2020 $50 in commission and I don't think I've noticed a single follower roll in from any repost. And this was when I wasn't growing quickly. So you see those followers you notice not a single follow $50 Since 2020 Bachelor Number Two reposted me to story. I probably gained 10 followers, I was absolutely stoked End of story. ignored all of my DMs ignore all of my emails, Bachelor number three, I made my first post. I realized then that they only posted pictures from the knee up. And this was a full body picture. So I tried again, I posted a second picture from the nisa was reposted and a carousel post, but was maybe the fifth picture. So no new followers, zero new followers. Then I was reposted again, in one of these aerosols and they tagged the wrong account. Cool, cool, cool. I matter a lot. Expose exposure is great. No exposure does not do anything. It does not bring in 10s of followers. It does not no one goes to that clothing account to find new bloggers to follow new accounts to follow. So honestly, I've got to say, this might be bad to say I steer my clients away from fashion as much as possible, just because it is so hard to get paid. So unless fashion is your literal superpower. I bet there's another thing that you do well, and here's the thing, people will always ask where your dresses from no matter if you're making fashion reels or you're talking about your favorite books. Doesn't matter if you are in frame wearing a cute dress. People will ask where that dress is from you do not need to be a fashion blogger. I'm sure there are other things on your amazing list of skills. So here we are. Here's my thoughts. Number one, say no to that free collab. You're helping change the world change the industry, you're moving mountains. And number two, take the snack collab instead. We all eat tick the snack club instead. Thank you for listening to this episode of brand new creator if you loved it, rate review, subscribe and of course share. For more on how you You can create influence and get paid. Come hang out with me on Instagram at Harley Jordan