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When I was younger, I took interest in theatre and dancing. Although I tried to pursue a career in it, I couldn't handle the harsh rejection within the acting industry. So, in 2012, I decided to attend college and study journalism in London. Although I liked journalism, it wasn't something that I wanted to pursue as a full-time career. I thought I could figure out my next steps while studying.
Whilst I was at college, an up-and-coming social media influencer was gaining a lot of attention on YouTube and making a living from posting videos about her life. But I was 21 years old and wanted to have fun with my friends, so I wasn't thinking about building a social media career.
After graduating from college, I quickly went into marketing and advertising, working with lifestyle and beauty brands. I typically didn't stay in a job longer than a year as I felt that I wasn't taken seriously. I also often felt that I was underpaid and left work not feeling satisfied with what I was doing. Looking back, I can see that I always had a problem with authority, which could be related to my ADHD; I was diagnosed in 2022.
Just a few years after graduating, I had worked at five different companies. I always felt like I was meant to do something different with my career and life, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint what that was. That was until I was fired from my last job, at the age of 26.
I was working as a talent manager in fashion photography from 2014 to 2016 and had to answer to the talent director. My role also involved looking after hair makeup artists for fashion shoots and campaigns. I felt that it was a ruthless industry to be in, and that the expectations were almost unbearable. But I did learn transferable skills such as the ability to negotiate, which I later learned would be vital in becoming a successful influencer. In that role, I was also growing my YouTube channel and blog. I was revisiting the idea my mom had proposed to me all of those years ago.
Then, I lost my job. I was told this was due to a conflict of interest between my personal career and the role but it came as a shock, and I was extremely upset. I lived in London and I had rent to pay, with only 30 days of salary to live on.
I thought to myself: "What was I going to do?" I then vowed to myself that I would begin making money by becoming a social media influencer, regardless of the odds. At the time, I had less than 10,000 followers on Instagram and I wasn't well known, but I knew at that point that I had no other option but to make it work.
I could not fathom working a corporate job again. So, the morning after I was fired, I sat at my desk at home and began emailing every brand that I knew. I tailored a pitch then edited individual templates I had created so they were tailored to the brands I was pitching to. I told these brands why I believed that they should hire me, and how I will boost their product.
Thanks to my experience in working with clients in the fashion and creative industry, I knew that I had to approach all of these brands with confidence. I was up every morning pitching to brands, sending out my media kit, and telling them why I believed that they should work with me. From my experience with working in the corporate world, I also knew that I had to be polite, professional and adhere to timelines to make sure that the client is looked after.
A few weeks following that, in 2016, I was on a family holiday in Cuba. It was then that I got my first email from a major brand, New Look, who was launching a beauty line and asked me to be the face for £5,000 ($5,600). At that moment, I knew that I was going to be okay and that my hard work would pay off. During that year, I made £45,000 ($50,000). That following year, I made £100,000 ($112,000) helping brands advertise their products on social media whilst growing my own fanbase.
Towards the beginning of 2022, I decided to package my industry experience and pass it on to others. I began this by doing market research as I wanted to know who my customers were. But that later expanded as people were interested in knowing how to become successful social media influencers. I began charging £300 ($338) for hour-long sessions on my expertise on the subject.
Following that, I slowly began to piece together a digital course that includes modules and tips on how to become a successful influencer and negotiate with brands. The course is due to go live in 2023, but I am looking to produce a lower ticket offer which includes the course, and a higher ticket offer, which includes weekly sessions with me and hands-on coaching.
Over the years, my followers have helped me tremendously. I share my life with them, and I tell my stories to them. Conversations with my followers is what prompted me to get tested and receive a diagnosis of ADHD in 2022.
I think that the success of being an influencer involves positively influencing, and helping people. I could easily try on outfits for a living, but it's the deep, meaningful connection with my followers that I have always sought. I feel like I am their best friend and their big sister. Working for myself for the past seven years has taught me to not be afraid to share my inner thoughts and my experiences as a young woman online. That's really precious.
Emily Valentine is a social media influencer. She works with global brands and creates campaigns. She also offers private training sessions to up-and-coming social media influencers and is in the process of creating a digital course. You can find her on Instagram here.
All views expressed in this article are the author's own.
As told to Newsweek associate editor, Carine Harb.
