It’s time for our Influencer Spotlight Interview: a monthly series designed to provide our influencer community with valuable insider information about the industry.
This month, I chatted with my friend Mollie: a London-based fashion and lifestyle influencer. I followed her account for years before we met because I loved her beautiful photos and the cohesive content she creates. As I’ve gotten to know her more and have traveled with her, I’ve learned so much about creating quality content and learning to “roll with the punches” as life and landscapes develop. I sat down with her to gather some valuable knowledge to share that I’m confident any influencer will benefit from
WH: Let’s start at the beginning: how did your influencer journey begin?
MM: I started blogging in 2015 because I was stuck in a corporate retail job that I really hated. I was in merchandising for a large department store, and my role was entirely numbers focused and not creative at all. I’ve always been a really visual person, so not being able to tap into that strength in my day job really got to me. Eventually I realized that I needed to have some form of creative outlet so that I wouldn’t lose my mind at my job, and that’s how the blog began!
WH: Tell us about how collaborations have played a role in your business. And any favorites you’ve participated in to date?
MM: Collaborations play a huge role in any bloggers business – they’re part of what allow me to run full time! My favorite collaboration to date is one I did with Barbour back in March of this year. It was such a “pinch me” moment because Barbour is a brand that I’ve loved and worn for years, so for them to be interested in working with me was a huge honor. My images we’re even on their site, which was so exciting!
WH. Speaking of collaborations, you recently made the transition from a New York based blogger to London— tell us about that transition. Have you found it to be a challenging adjustment or have you enjoyed any new opportunities from it?
MM: I’ve found it to be both challenging and rewarding. I actually wrote an entire blog post on the topic here! The difficult part is that UK brands tend to be less willing to pay as much as American companies pay their influencers. On the flip side, a lot of UK brands have a smaller social media presence than their American counterparts. This works in my favor because a lot of amazing companies that might have never looked my way in New York are now reaching out about collaborating in London, which is really exciting.
WH. What has been the biggest shift in the influencer landscape you’ve seen during your career, and how have you adapted?
MM: I think the biggest shift would have to be the constant Instagram changes. I’ll never forget the day my feed officially switched over from chronological order to the new algorithm. It made me realize that while Instagram is an amazing tool to help promote my blog, my website is truly the only thing I own and have total control over. I’ll always put the most effort into making my blog the best it can be because Instagram could disappear tomorrow, and I think there would be a lot of influencers who would be quite stuck if that happened.
WH: What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get started monetizing their influence?
MM: My first piece of advice would be to make sure they have a blog, and not just an Instagram account. Like I mentioned in the previous question, your blog is the most important thing to focus on! They also need to make sure that they have been consistently posting quality photos and content for a few months. If you’ve been doing all of these things, then go ahead and start reaching out to brands yourself! Some of my best collaborations have been the ones I secured by pitching myself.
WH: Your photos have such an identifiable style! What advice can you share with influencers who are looking to create a more consistent aesthetic?
MM: Lightroom! You can download it in the App Store for free. Watch YouTube videos to learn how to use all the different features, and just play around in it yourself until you feel comfortable. Another great option is to purchase presets – a lot of influencers sell their own presets so you should be able to find one that suits your style. Just keep in mind that a preset doesn’t magically make every photo perfect! You’ll still want to know the basics so that you can make adjustments based on lighting, background, etc.
WH: What are some of the the most important qualities you think are required to be successful in the influencer space?
MM: It’s definitely important to not take yourself too seriously. You sometimes have to put yourself in slightly awkward situations in order to get that perfect shot (such as wearing a full on holiday party outfit at 9am in the middle of London). Who cares what other people think! Another important quality is to remain true to yourself. It can be really easy to get caught up in the comparison game, but I truly believe that as long as you stick to what you know and are passionate about, you will gain engaged and authentic followers.
WH: Any predictions about where influencer marketing is headed?
MM: I think the influencer market is only going to continue to grow and evolve! More and more influencers are being tapped for clothing collaborations, and even starting their own brands! Influencers are landing modeling campaigns and walking in runway shows. I think we’ve only just scratched the surface of the power of influencer marketing, and I can’t say for sure where it’s headed but it’s definitely going to be exciting!
WH: Any other wisdom you’ve gained that you want to share?
A: Be nice to everyone!! There is enough room for us all to exist in the influencer space 🙂
Find and Follow Mollie:
Website: Mollie Moore Blog
Instagram: @molliemoore__
Twitter: @molliemoore__
Facebook: Mollie Moore Blog
