Woman of Influence

Get ready for goosebumps, crazy motivation, and let’s be honest, probably some tears. This week’s show is a powerful, emotional, in-freaking-spiring episode, and one that had me nodding my head the entire time. Amber Lilyestrom is a transformative brand strategist, writer, business and life coach, mama, podcast host of The Amber Lilystrome and business owner (AmberLilyestrome.com). During our conversation, Amber and I touch on resisting change, stepping into who you really are, the power of sharing your unique stories, shame, and ultimately, tapping into things like fear and callings to lead a life that is authentic to YOU. Plus, Amber shares 3 steps to figuring out who you are AND tangible steps for getting over fear. And she also provides a free download, Turn Your Brand in to a Dream Client Magnet - My Top 5 Branding Secrets Guide. For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and then tag Amber (@amberlilystrome) and I (@julssolomon)!

This week’s episode involves a question straight from a listener: “When do you know it's the right time to hire help?” Such a good one! I actually not only dive into the question of WHEN in this show, but HOW for a couple reasons. This is such a common question and fork in the road for many influencers - yet it’s one of the most overwhelming times. I really wanted to leave listeners with all the resources surrounding when and how to hire help. First up, I lay out the secret to knowing when you need help - it’s pretty simple, but not always easy to witness yourself. Then, I share my exact process of developing a role and finding that ideal candidate. It involves a little practice that doesn’t take too much time but will make the process infinitely easier. It’s actually something you can start preparing even if you aren’t totally to the point of hiring, too. Lastly, I also reveal the exact websites and resources for hiring potential employees and the first order of business once that person is hired. Oh! And just because I love y’all so much and find this document to be super helpful, I’m including a freebie all about ‘Organizing Your Zones’ when you're ready to hire. SO you can take direct action after listening to this show! Get that by heading to...juliesolomon.net/06 It’s an episode you don’t want to miss if you can see yourself needing help in the future, or are already at that point. And maybe you’ve already hired someone but want a better process for the next round - this will help! If you want to potentially have your own question answered in a future episode of Influencer Insights, leave your question in a review on iTunes! For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@julssolomon)!

If you’ve ever thought about starting a YouTube channel, today’s episode was made for you! Erika of Beauty and the Vlog joins me for a conversation around the importance of a YouTube community (it’s the 2nd largest search engine in the world, after all!). Beauty and the Vlog is an online designation for video influencers in beauty, fashion, fitness, motherhood, DIY and lifestyle, and she specializes in training YouTubers via her YouTube bootcamp.  In today’s show, Erika shares the step-by-step process to creating your very own YouTube channel, mistakes to avoid, and the questions you must ask yourself before getting started. We also dive deep into the subject of HOW TO FIND YOUR WHY. And woah, Erika had so much valuable information to share here! For all of that, plus the one thing Erika would have done differently as an influencer, join us! For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and then tag Erika (>@beautyandthevlog) and I (@julssolomon)!  

Today’s episode of Influencer Insights marks our fifth show, and today I’m covering the pros and cons of social media platforms. After reading Bloglovin’s take on which social platforms are most relevant to influencers, I break down when you should and shouldn’t focus on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, and blogs. If you’ve been exhausting yourself trying to be everything on all platforms, stop right there and tune in. And if you’re hesitant to join anything other than Instagram, you’ll want to listen in as well! Today’s show teaches you the value of each platform, and the times when it might not be worth it based on your content and audience. I also cover what type of content performs best on each platform, the demographics, and where to place any sponsored posts you might have. So, if you're ready to streamline your social efforts and finally get to the bottom of what to use and when, listen here! For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@julssolomon)!

Get ready to learn the ins and outs of influencer product lines and exactly how you can build your brand to create your very own. In a conversation about licensing, whether your brand is truly a fit for a line, and how to create authentic brand deals no matter the product, today’s show is full of great information for influencers! Lauren Fields from Digital Brand Products is joining us, and as someone who works personally on the licensing side of things, she’s got a lot to say! Lauren (@lauren_fields and http://digitalbrandproducts.com/) works directly with influencers to establish their brands and develop the product lines of their dreams, and her industry knowledge runs deep. Plus, she’s just a down-to-earth Cali girl that I loved listening to! On top of the behind-the-scenes action with product lines, we hear Lauren’s advice on low engagement numbers - and how to reach out to brands no matter your follower count (yes, even for creating a product line!). It’s possible people - Lauren will tell you how. For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and then tag Lauren (@lauren_fields) and I (@julssolomon)!

This week is a goodie, as we’re talking about influencers who have essentially taken their passion (and I’m talking about a real, soul-deep passion, not the word in its fluffy sense) and created influence from that. The Cut recently published this article and I love the angle the story dives into. It highlights fashion blogger OGs like Bryan Boy, Aimee Song and Bag Snob and tells the story about how they went from fashion fan girls and boys to sitting front row at major shows. They started out as kids with hearts on fire for fashion, worked their butts off, and are now leading the influence in their field. It’s pretty cool, right? It’s also such a special reminder that we all need to be aligning our passions with our influence to truly succeed in a saturated market. In this episode, I give away my biggest takeaway and propose a handful of questions that I want you to ask yourself today and once a month in the future. Warning, things may get a little uncomfortable in the sense that you might become aware that you aren’t truly living from your soul when it comes to your influence. But I promise it’s a very powerful and healthy practice! A great episode if you’re curious about how these influencers have stood the test of time and the practice I suggest doing if you’re totally lost on what your passion is! For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@julssolomon)!

In today’s show, it’s just me behind the mic!  And I’m diving deep and going intimate on my experience with affiliate links - and the unhealthy, obsessed hamster wheel I found myself on while relying on these programs as a main source of income. I talk about how I got out of that rat race - and how a rebrand and triple the engagement came from it. I share exactly how I got to the place I am now - pitching my own deals and being in charge of my income directly - and how I stopped spending 60+ hours a week staring at Instagram, shopping, returning...and comparing myself to others. If you’re struggling with the affiliate rat race yourself, or are contemplating a rebrand to your truest self, I can’t wait for you to hear this show! And if you find yourself resonating with the content of this show but saying “OK but now what Jules?” Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Starting on April 2nd, I’m hosting a FREE 7-day email challenge called ‘The Uplevel Your Pitch Challenge.’ This challenge will teach you 5 simple strategies that I’ve used to book brand collabs, negotiate deals, & monetize platforms, all which has led to a 6-figure business. And you guessed it, without relying solely on affiliate sales! This challenge was created by me, for you, as a way to show you that there are more ways to run a successful business with a successful income, and it all starts with the education behind pitching. I love sharing what I’ve learned, and this is a way for me to share some secrets of the trade - because I genuinely care about your success! Sign up for the challenge at uplevelyourpitchchallenge.com and I’ll see you there! For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and then tag me (@julssolomon)! For more on this topic, visit this blog post.  

Today’s Influencer Insights focuses on the power that is Chriselle Lim (@chrisellelim) and is based on this article from Women’s Wear Daily. As one of the most successful bloggers in the game, Chriselle has always created content in her own unique way - in a style that sets trends among the industry…and I’m not just talking about Gucci loafers, you guys. Chriselle is cutting edge in that she truly listens to her audience, works off what she does well, and finds what the market is lacking - and then builds from there. Her content is her magic, and she found a way to create that as her product. Which we can all learn from today! This quick episode is great if you’re seeking inspiration or are interested in how influencers find long-term success! Plus, find out something you can start doing TODAY to be more successful. For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@julssolomon)!

If you’ve ever found yourself stressed out or in the dark about running your own business - or have been putting financial tasks off - today’s show is exactly the kick in the butt you need! Learn how to legitimize your business (finally!), legal measures to protect your brand, the recipe for a business plan, and turn your online dreams into a business reality - all by listening to today’s amazing show with Laurel Mintz.   Plus, Laurel is a marketing genius with tactical advice on using a multi-channel strategy to take your business to the next level! Laurel (@laurelmintz www.elevateyourbrand.com) not only founded her very own creative marketing company, Elevate My Brand, but also has her own column called ‘On Brand’ in Inc. Magazine and a law degree where she’s worked closely with intellectual property and corporate transactions. Laurel has truly seen marketing and business from all angles. For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and then tag Laurel (@laurelmintz) and I (@julssolomon)!

Welcome to Episode 2 of Influencer Insights! A brand new short-form podcast (think 10 minutes or less) that I’ll be hosting every Monday - giving tactical information to apply to your life and business right away. For our second installment of Influencer Insights, we tackled an epidemic in influencer land...FAKE FOLLOWERS. Yep! A topic I’ve been itching to discuss with y’all for some time. Though it’s one of the major frustrations of being an influencer at the moment, it’s also our reality - so we’ve gotta face it and learn how to work around the epidemic. In this episode, I give my straight-forward tips on how to handle fake followers and a peek into what brands are doing to deal with them - and how they feel about sheer follower counts on Instagram. If you're stressed about low numbers, have bought fake followers yourself (or thought about it), or want to know how to compete with accounts full of large (real and fake) numbers, you’ll love this show! For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at www.theinfluencerpodcast.com. And don’t forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me (@julssolomon)!