Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Margaret Boudreaux.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve had my Instagram account @marymargaretboud since 2016 but didn’t start taking it seriously until a year ago in March 2021. I started by posting more consistently, interacting with similar accounts, and cross-platform promoting my content.
After a few months of posting with clothes I already had in my closet and tagging those brands for exposure, I finally felt comfortable reaching out to brands to collab. I started off by reaching out to small businesses and small boutiques because they were often more open to working with micro-influencers.
It was a win-win because I was receiving free clothes and had content to share on my page, but was also promoting the brand to my audience so they were reaching new potential customers. I worked on gifted terms for about 4-5 months and then decided to start charging for my work.
I did a mix of both gifted and paid work and the budget was typically on the smaller end and was based on the content deliverables and the number of followers I had, as well as how big the brand was. Fast forward 5 months and a continuation of my work, this is now my full-time job and I’ve had the opportunity to work with Nike, Neutrogena, Amazon, Pandora Jewelry, Steve Madden, Billabong, and many more!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growth is never going to be a straight line, so there have definitely been slow patches and times of doubt.
Growth on social media can be a bumpy path and it has taken a lot of trial and error to get where I am today. There will always be people who unfollow your accounts and I’ve learned not to take things personally. I would rather have 20 supportive, loyal followers who truly love my content instead of 100,000 followers who don’t care about what I’m posting or engage with my content.
It’s also been a journey learning how to navigate rates, negotiate with brands, and deal with companies who don’t have a budget for influencer marketing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My niche on Instagram revolves around fashion, lifestyle, and a little bit of travel. When I tried to share fashion content on Tiktok, it never really went anywhere. At the end of 2021, I shared a Tiktok video exposing how much I made in 2021 as a content creator and that sparked the attention of 2M Tiktok users and converted over 20,000 new Tiktok followers on my page.
This spark of curiosity gave my page a new purpose, which is to shed light on a topic that isn’t talked about very much. In any industry, pay is kept very hush-hush. Influencing is still a newer form of marketing and so there’s not a lot of information on the internet when it comes to what influencers should be charging brands or what white-listing is, or usage rights and exclusivity, which are all add ons when it comes to charging brands for your time and work.
I never had anyone to give me advice on these things and had to figure it all out on my own. The purpose of me sharing insight on what I’ve made or what I charge for certain deliverables isn’t to brag but to provide insight and hopefully help out other creators and show what’s possible. I think what sets me apart of being so open and willing to help out other aspiring influencers. I try to respond to as many questions as I can that I get in my comments or DMs.
I also started offering 1:1 30 minute coaching calls for aspiring content creators to ask more specific questions regarding rates, content advice, hashtag strategies, tips for growth, etc. Something I’m proud of would be getting featured in two Business Insider articles.
What are your plans for the future?
Immediate future plans are to move to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
My boyfriend recently got a full-time job in the area which requires us to make the move there. I’m excited for the start of a new chapter and to see what this year will bring. I love networking and meeting new creators so that’s definitely something I’m prioritizing this year.
After graduating from SCAD in the Spring of 2022, I plan to continue content creation/influencing as my full-time job and will have more time to put into this business. I hope to attend NYFW this Fall to meet more content creators and grow relationships with brands.
Pricing:
- $50 via Venmo or PayPal for 30min zoom 1:1 coaching sessions.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymargaretboud/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo30jh2WJVlcYL_P0cfF4ew
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@marymargaretboud?lang=en https://www.pinterest.com/marymargaretboud/_created/ https://www.amazon.com/shop/marymargaretboud?&linkCode=sl2&tag=marymargare0f-20&linkId=4f5405d404249624d263e74c11447314&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Image Credits
Noah Custer
