The I Am [Dot. Dot. Dot.] Podcast

Ep#26 I Am...Navigating Content Creation for someone over 40 & winning with Tracy Minnoch-Nuku

• Kristen Werner & Mia Steel • Season 1 • Episode 26

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Prepare to be swept away by the magnetic Tracy Minnoch-Nuku, as she takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of cultivating a brand from the ground up. Tracy Minnoch is the Founder and CEO of Sexy Ageing - digital resources that support women through menopause.

Our conversation peels back the layers on what it really means to transform from a traditional fitness club founder to a digital marketing powerhouse. Tracy's story isn't just motivational; it's packed with tangible tactics for anyone eager to leave their mark in the digital world. Whether you're a mom juggling the demands of entrepreneurship or a content creator looking for your niche, this episode is your playbook for success against all odds.

This episode doesn't shy away from the tough questions: How do you maintain your authenticity in the ever-changing world of user-generated content (UGC)? With Tracy's expertise, we explore the landscape where seasoned creators over 40 are reshaping brand partnerships with their unique perspectives.

We unpack the strategies for engaging with brands, negotiating your worth, and turning your creative spark into a sustainable income. If you've ever considered stepping off the traditional career path or amplifying your digital footprint, Tracy's insights are a gold mine for navigating your way to UGC triumph.

As we round out our discussion, the future of retail and content creation comes into sharp focus. Tracy walks us through the evolution of brick-and-mortar experiences and the crucial role of storytelling in today's marketing. Creators, take note—this is where you learn to balance product promotion with personal credibility. We also shine a light on Tracy's own ascent from financial insecurity to a beacon of UGC success.

Her journey is a testament to the power of community, manifesting your goals, and the strength found in support networks. Tune in for an episode that not only motivates but provides a vivid blueprint for anyone ready to chase their passion in the digital age.

Find out more about Tracy Here: @midlifeugc or @sexyaging

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Speaker 2:

Welcome to the I am dot dot dot podcast, the podcast for busy mums who want to consume useful shit for their biz and their life. Here we tackle the things we know are holding mums and women back in their business. We're not afraid to tackle the big shit, the bullshit and the good shit. We go from mum guilt to confidently learning how to kick ass in this digital space. We will discuss the world of digital marketing and share life's tips and tricks for getting it done. As six-figure business owners with over 10 years of digital marketing and brand experience, and mums to young kids, we get it, we share it and we own it. So buckle up and let's go. Let's go. I think we did it. Is that a first grade movie? I don't know. That was a good one. There you go.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the I Am dot dot dot podcast, the podcast for busy creators who want to consume useful shit for their biz and their life. I'm Kristen Werner, I'm joined by Mia Steele and today we have the sneaky special guest. It's sneaky, then. Anyone about Friday? Yes, we have Tracyacey on the podcast today, and I was meant to say before we even hit record Tracey, how do I pronounce your last name? I should have done this before. I'm not. That's how professional we are. How do we?

Speaker 1:

write. Well, most people say Minoc and yeah, it's Scottish. So if you're going, to say it like a Scotsman. It's Minoc. I'm not going to do that with half cold today. I'm not going to give you guys that today and I do have a hyphenated name, but that's a whole other backstory. Let's not go there.

Speaker 2:

Let's not go there. But what we will do is I'll quickly introduce Tracy to you all. So today, Tracy is actually a member of our incredible community in the Hive Hub Collective. No-transcript, full force and love and brunt and honesty, and we love that. She's got a, an app. That is what's the name of the app.

Speaker 1:

Everything comes under the brand Sexy Aging. So it's a fitness app fitness and wellness for women and menopause?

Speaker 2:

Yes, and it was. I was having a look and I've been listening to your podcast as well, because I don't know if I'm in the perimenopause, but I just want to know about it because I'm so curious at what is going to come flying my way in years to come, and so we've absolutely loved listening to it as well and hearing from you. And then what we want to discuss today with you is many things about that, but also then coming into this content creation venture and starting a UGC for over 40s and having success in that space and the story that you've shared on your TikTok before that we absolutely love around. You know when you started with $2 in the bank account and where you are now. So we have heaps of questions and we want to just welcome you to the podcast and say thank you for being part of the Hive and welcome here with us today.

Speaker 1:

Oh, thank you, ladies. It's actually a real honor because I feel like I've been following you across all the different platforms. You know TikTok now Instagram and your podcast, which there's not one episode I haven't listened to. I actually feel like I already know you and you know, obviously, from the Hype Hub, the collective as well, all the lives that you offer. I try to get on as many as I can and I just feel like that's such an incredible space when you are in the digital world and you are working alone a lot, and it's just so nice to come online and see all the other faces and you're like, hey, I've seen them on TikTok and you feel like you know these people. I have made friends. I've made friends from this collective. It's like it's insane what a world we live in.

Speaker 2:

I know, and it's a really quite a cool world, isn't it that? Like the fact that Mia and I have actually never met but we've started a business and we seem to get along so well and it's working so well, like even that I'm like what, what is this world? But I love it. Love it, yeah, and we feel like we know you as well, like you've been with the Hive Hub since the very beginning. You're one of our founding members and we've just really we get such a frigging high when we watch our members grow alongside with us and you've gone through leaps and bounds since you've been with us and we'll talk about all that today. We're going to start off with how did you get into this whole digital space in the first place? Like, what prompted you and what were you doing before you got into this?

Speaker 1:

digital space. Yeah, thanks for that, asking that. I think about that and try to bring it down to little, bite-sized pieces, because there's a lot to it and I feel like for a lot of us that fall into the digital space, there's usually a really big backstory. So I'll try to keep it as short as possible. So my husband and I were fitness founders in Asia and we were up there for 20 years. We worked with some of the biggest brands to start up fitness clubs in Asia Les Mills and Fitness First and then we went off and did our own thing, so we created a brand. So that was probably, when I think about it, my first understanding of what brand creation really was. If you want to stand out from a strong competitor, like, how are you going to stand out? So I learned a lot of things there. I also learned how to do a bit of Instagram, because when you're a startup, you don't have a big marketing budget. But Instagram was growing and that was really cool. To create our own. They didn't have reels then, so it was just stories and posts and I learned a lot about marketing.

Speaker 1:

And then, seven years in, and we're also in COVID, we sold our company before COVID and moved back to New Zealand right in the middle of COVID and I decided I didn't want to go back into the fitness industry and I was kind of like, well, what the fuck am I going to do? And I was smack up and menopause, but I didn't know what it was. So it was freaking messy. Know, leave the country that you've lived in for 20 years, move back to a country you were born in but don't really understand it anymore. Have no friends. Uh, up in perimenopause, who's gonna help me? Where am I gonna live? Are my kids gonna be okay? And just, it was messy.

Speaker 1:

Um, so I just started reaching out to sort of other people that might know something about menopause, because I think I needed to put my health first and I learned a lot and I thought, well, I'm learning this, what about everyone else? So I just started a podcast. So the podcast was the very first kind of digital product that I created and I did it as a hobbyist, like let me record all these conversations and maybe someone will find it interesting. You know, um, and I was really lucky. I was at that point where, um, if you're going to start a podcast, it was kind of about that time and I was able to tap into lots of really amazing guests like world-class in the topic of menopause. Um, nobody said no, like I just dm them in the instagram and they were like, yeah, awesome, because with podcasting, when you're a startup, you're not going to be paying anyone, you're just like come on my podcast because for them it's obviously great marketing.

Speaker 1:

So I really the podcast went off really well, and then I'm like, okay, what happens next? Had my first winter in New Zealand, hadn't had winter in 20 years and so I kind of hibernated and started writing about my experience with menopause, like what was happening, what all the symptoms were, and I tapped into some really good resources so I could give some great advice back to my doctors. And so I put out a book called my Menopause Memoir. And then I was like, okay, now I've got all this content. But all this stuff I'm talking to you about now I didn't know that that's what it was.

Speaker 1:

I didn't know it was content. I didn't know a podcast, conversation or a book would now bring the foundation to a potential business. But it did just kind of fly from there. And then I thought, well, who do I truly stand for? Fitness was my jam. I was still loving fitness and I thought, okay, next up I'm going to do an app and that would be easy for me. So I subscribed to a third party app which hosts all my content, which is where it sits now. Subscribed to a third-party app which hosts all my content, which is where it sits now. And I've literally just had a conversation to talk to an app developer this morning to take everything to the next level.

Speaker 1:

I know I'm like, oh, my heart rate starts racing when I think about that um. But yeah, that's basically a subscription-based model, so that was awesome, that's going really well. I have some of my very first um ladies that started with me. They're still there. So, you know, one year in is awesome, um. And then, um, I had to think my husband said, okay, so you've been playing around for a couple of years now, like, are you going to get a job? And I was like, oh, you know, it's a bit more expensive in New Zealand than Asia. I should probably contribute, um. And I was like no, I don't really want to. So what are my options? And I felt like I'd learned quite a lot of things. You know, I'd learned how to set up a website, how to build content in an app, wrote a book, how to get it out there, market, all the things. And I was doing heaps on Instagram at the time and I thought, well, let me check out TikTok. So I was right before Christmas.

Speaker 1:

The dark side Mia, you were one of the very first people that I started watching. That was not dancing, that was not really kind of random Like. You were just this woman that just spoke from the heart. You were genuine. You're going hey, I'm going out in my caravan and I'm going to make some money and I'm and I'm like I was this person, but I just I actually started following you from video one, so I'm one of your OGs, yeah and.

Speaker 1:

I just kept coming back because I'm like, okay, what's happening in Mia's life today? And then I started finding other people similar and, of course, people are talking about affiliate marketing at the time. So I'm like, yeah, I'm going to try this, I can do this, and I don't really care what other people think of me, so I'm going to give it a shot. And that was also the time that I had two dollars in my bank account waiting to get paid from this consulting gig that I'd done and I put out that video, like I can't believe that the life I've had has brought me to this bottom point, like how did I get here? It was a real eye-opening moment and I felt like I'm going to make that video. I don't know if I'll post it, but I'll do it for me. And I did it for me because I knew that if you talk about rock bottom, the only way is up. You got to remember what the bottom looks like. So if you're in hell, you can see heaven. Right, it's like that. So I that's kind of why I did the video, to remind myself that I'm never going to go back there again. And that started the road forward into affiliate marketing.

Speaker 1:

Now I learned heaps and I believe that on some level I was already doing it. I just didn't really understand the back end of it, very much like the collecting emails and creating a free lead magnet. So I learned all of that from you guys. Um, yeah, and then you mentioned the word UGC and I'm like what the heck is that? And you, um, you had your, I think, a basic course, and I'm not sure how many people. No, there was no course. And you and I started a conversation, mia, about UGC, and so you popped it in, like as you always do, girls, you're just like, oh, someone needs this. Let's, let's put them something else.

Speaker 1:

I'm like how is that possible that you can create a platform and just keep giving and giving and giving, and so you pop in your UGC course, which is pretty basic, right? I don't need fancy, I just need tell me what to do, tell me how to do it, and that's it. Um, so I watched the course. I think I went through all the parts. It wasn't a video by then, it was just notes oh, that was the note.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, from my UGC day it was great.

Speaker 1:

It was like your own personal notes wrote down a few things, put out a bit of a timeline. Husband saying by august you need to have a job. And I'm like no it's the worst feeling, I'm going to, I'm going to make money with ugc, and he's like, oh, here we go again. What else?

Speaker 2:

are you doing what next?

Speaker 1:

right, yeah, what next? Oh he's like.

Speaker 2:

Don't we all know that feeling oh?

Speaker 1:

yeah, and you're just kicking and screaming too. I don't want to go and do a nine to five, plus we've got a young son. I can't. I mean, who's gonna hire me to work just till 2 30? You know there was all of this stuff and just that my heart was just it felt broken that I would have to go and get like a normal job. I just like I was having visceral.

Speaker 2:

It's kind of like this sick feeling that you're like I know I can make it work, so like don't be telling me I can't, because I know I can. You've just got to give me this much more. But it feels like you're always saying that, but you also know that this stuff takes time. But once that, like me, and I always say, once that boulders like we're just pushing, we're just pushing up that hill and it's about to roll over, but you still like you're just getting getting getting there.

Speaker 2:

So like it hurts when someone's like yeah, but here's a time frame you're like it doesn't work, like that, it just doesn't. It doesn't. Let me just give me one more. Give me this much more. Let me do another video, let me do another UGC, like and I think that's what's been so powerful watching you grow, yeah, you find ways to get you across the line yeah, when I think when, yeah, when you're given the deadline and you do not want to do it, you will do whatever it takes.

Speaker 1:

So you know, like I studied the UGC, started reaching out to brands. I feel like when I started it was still kind of newish, especially for 40 plus, because I didn't get any pushback from any brands when I said I am 53, um, these are the things that I want to talk about. I see a resonance with your brand. Let's make some UGC. And when they just started saying yes, yes, I'm like, oh, this is really happening and especially probably in New Zealand too.

Speaker 2:

Like I mean, I I've been doing uc for two years and it felt like it was just coming in two years ago. But I mean there's lots of countries around the world where it's sort of even isn't really a thing yet. I've had people come to me from you know europe and all that over there like, oh, I don't think it's really taken off here just yet. I'm like, well, this is the perfect time to start learning and getting into it, because content is it's just everything these days and the big part of it is as well as like brands don't actually coming from the branding chair, they don't understand the power of social media just yet. Like, they're still in, like they're in infant phase.

Speaker 2:

Some of the brands not all of them, but some of them are still in that infant phase of like, oh no, but I've got to really pay high top dollars for this and I've got to do marketing, I've got to do ads and I've got to do this. Where they haven't, they're just now kind of. So the more a UGC creator can have the conversation with brands to say, hey, look, this is what I could do for you, this is what it's going to cost, like. That's a very different conversation, where brands are still in that, oh, but I just need to post constantly, I just need to pay for Facebook ads or I just need to, instead of really thinking differently and having a UGC content creator, actually help them understand the power of what they can do for a brand. So I think that's part of it as well, which is is also coming to light now, which is really exciting, which is what you know.

Speaker 2:

We want to help you guys, as content creators, actually do, is understand where you sit in this whole scheme of things as well. Yeah, and I really liked that post you did the other day, tracy, about you know, in 10 years' time, brick-and-mortar stores are going to probably be a thing of the past. I mean, there'll still be a few around, but everything is coming online and all these brands are going to need content creators because, I mean, it's a lot to do all that and they're busy running the shop, so they're going to need content creators to create all this.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that stores will change and I think you see big brands like Nike and Adidas and they create these experiential stores where you go in and you try on things but you actually can't buy it there. So you, they have these consoles these are in some of them in the US, I've seen them and then they have these consoles where you try on the thing that you want. Then you pop in in the console your size and what you want, and then within 24 hours you've got it. So I think that is an indication of where things are heading. So there'll be experiential stores that that do not have any stock, so they're saving a ton of money on real estate, but they're spending money on content creators, and that got me thinking this morning actually about the level of content that you have to create.

Speaker 1:

If you are thinking I am literally selling this product for this brand so this person really goes and buys it, you know, like, what way do we need to video? What are the type of things we need to say? I mean, yeah, do I make it like really realistic to the audience that's out there, like I'm telling true stories when I'm using a brand? So it just, it just I feel like I'm learning so much about this space, the creator economy, and I just feel a little bit at times overwhelmed that I'm in it and I'm also helping my younger daughter, right, so she is up and coming.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, she's funding her university studies.

Speaker 1:

Now all her she flats with five girls and they've all come on the phone to me and said can you teach us? Yes, amazing, yeah, that's awesome, they did get sent some um, what is it?

Speaker 1:

the low alcohol, you know, the party drinks and stuff to make a UGC? I think carefully about that one. Pretty. I mean it's amazing to be in this space when it's up and coming, um. And I mean, I lived in Malaysia and I saw on LinkedIn today a guy that I used to know who has a talent management company and he wrote a post today about the direction of UGC and the creator economy and he's trying to educate brands in Malaysia because they are very influencer driven, like you've got to have millions of followers and then, like most of those influencers, they're promoting Clarence one week and then Christian Dior the next, and and that quite constant. That's what we've been exposed to and I'm used to seeing. But now I think back and I go. I don't remember seeing anyone doing UGC when I lived there. You know, like real stuff, normies. Normally I would never have been approached to do influencer marketing because you know I don't look like them have a million followers and now you go.

Speaker 2:

Well, I'm probably making way more money than you now and I think that's that whole influencer marketing thing is on a trend down because people are getting savvy. They understand these influencers are getting paid shit loads of money to promote this product.

Speaker 2:

That they don't even really like or use themselves. Yeah, so, and people are getting really savvy and they just want to hear from people like me and you, who are everyday people, who are giving genuine reviews on products that we use and love, and it's just more authentic. It builds that trust with the brands, too, and it's cheaper.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I mean I will say that I do have a shitload of skincare right now.

Speaker 2:

So I gotta say you know, I love all of it, but like.

Speaker 1:

I've got to think of the different things that I love about it, because I just don't want to be that person that's like oh, this week I'm using this and next week I'm using that. And I mean, obviously the cool thing if people aren't aware that you see videos, then generally not on your own social feeds. And it is kind of good if you're getting different countries and stuff because you know that you're not going to be seen like I'm not going to be seen in New Zealand, so much if I'm doing um brand partnerships that are not based in New Zealand.

Speaker 1:

So I'm a bit cautious about that, because I have seen my face pop up a few times yes, yes, I was getting screenshots from friends saying is that you popping up on my feed, like?

Speaker 2:

but you know what they're asking.

Speaker 1:

They're saying um, so do you rate this? Do you think it's really good?

Speaker 2:

I'm like um, actually the other one I'm using is that I have an affiliate link with that's the thing, like, I guess, ugc creators too, I mean, when you get to the point where you're getting lots of jobs and stuff, you can start to be picky and sort of you know, if you don't align with the product or it's not something that you would use and you're not willing to put your face behind that and say, I love this so much, you're not going to do that job, whereas I feel like the influencers get so swayed with, like big cash injections that they would just do a video on anything, because the paychecks, you know, healthy um with UGC creators, you know it's the pay is good, not as good, but it's just a more genuine way to do it. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I mean, admittedly I do have some influencer friends and it is a career for them and they do have families. So I understand, like I don't have that judgment about them so much, because that is what they do and there's an expiry date to that anyway, especially with overexposure or just moving out of the, the demographic that they usually represent. So you know, I don't know what happens to them when they move out of the demographic, but they are actually making good money for their families. So I totally get it. But I just think there's more sustainability with UGC. As we change, there are other people changing with us. You know the demographic well. In my demographic it's huge. So that's where the sweet spot is and I, you know, have obviously and on TikTok, encouraged so many other women come on, give it a go, there's enough for everyone yeah, brands that need you know, that are made for over 40s or a particular demographic, and not many creators are over 40.

Speaker 2:

So you know you fall into this big sea of brands needing this content and they don't just need one video and then it's all done. They need content, all the time, constantly. They need to refresh their ads, you know, every few months, like it's just going to be a never-ending thing for them. And if you can set up a retainer deal or, you know, build relationships with these brands, you can set up a really nice income. That's consistent and reliable.

Speaker 1:

It has been good. I have a couple of retainers, um, so that's. That's really cool. I think one of the challenges you probably find this too is when you are working with one brand consistently is coming up with new content for them all the time. Yeah, yeah, I mean the good brands. They'll have that strategic meeting every month and then we just, you know, talk about different ways that we want to showcase their product and talk about the better features and new things coming out.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, but I guess you're thinking about your own products as well, because you know you've got your sexy aging stuff. You're learning all this stuff about content creation, how to create videos that convert, how to, you know, come up with these new ideas with your products. That stays the same as well, so they're really great.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I actually did make a UGC video for my fitness app and I've shared it with a couple of people that I want to get investment from right. So and they're like, whoa, this is awesome, how did you? Which video company did you use? I'm like no, no, I made it. They're like no way that's awesome and I've just um. Also, I've hired someone to make a a UGC for me for the fitness app.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so it's just kind of that pay-it-forward stuff where you go.

Speaker 1:

I understand the power of these videos, so I'm just going to instead of spending it on Google Ads, I'm going to spend it on someone making a video for me and then, yeah, that's awesome yeah. It's just how you have that mindset shift around, how you can get things done. I think the funny thing is and you're probably you would have sorry, you would have come up against this, Mia, as a UGC creator is when people ask you what you do yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it can be a bit awkward, like, oh, I'm not an influencer, but brands just pay me to create videos and they're like what? Yeah, like when they go.

Speaker 1:

Oh, you know, what do you do? Well, literally, if I think about all the things, it's content creator. That's what I do.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and they're like get out of here Like. Youtube. You get paid to do.

Speaker 1:

YouTube videos. I'm like yep pretty much, and so trace I want to ask you for anybody that's listening, that's going.

Speaker 2:

this sounds great, but where do I start? Do I contact them? Were you nervous? How do you then have these strategic meetings, like kind of talk somebody through maybe the just starting phase, to where you are now and what that kind of looks like in terms of the confidence you've gained, to now maybe approach brands that you want to work with, as opposed to just taking maybe freebies or taking less than you think you're worth? If you can talk people through that, that would be really good, I think.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So there's a couple of parts to that. The first part is the beginning. How do you get started? Yeah, I mean, there are so many courses and stuff. You know you can see there's some really good UGC creators and they have their lead magnets, which is not going to really teach you anything, or they offer these courses and and it's just you go in again and it's just a few pages. You're going to have to figure it out, but obviously in the Hive Hub Collective we've got a UGC course.

Speaker 1:

So I mean, if you're going to start anything, you start with that, and I know that anyone that does that course is going to come out all swinging right. They're going to be like I know exactly what I need to do, because there's nothing left on the table. All the cards are there and you've just got to take one step and then the next step, and then the next step, and then for the cost of the course, it's literally your first video that you get paid for. So that's how I think of it. Like you invest in the course, you make one video, they pay you more than that actually, and then you're like home, home and hose. So that's step one. You must do a really, really good course from a person that has had success and that understands how to teach, because those are other parts, which is how do you teach someone to do UGC and how do you communicate the steps in a really simple way Don't overwhelm people.

Speaker 1:

And then the next step is there are lots of different ways that you can reach out to brands. I feel like I was in a time and it was only eight months ago that when I was DMing and Instagram that that worked for me, but I have tried it again recently just to see and it's not as responsive as it was back then. So I feel like that brands that you would normally sort of reach out to are probably getting inundated by UGC creators now and probably waiting until someone gets a bit more creative with how they reach out, which is obviously a really good email with a good um pitch subject heading line and do do the research. So if you're going to partner with brands, you need to understand their pain points, um.

Speaker 1:

So one of the ways that I do it is I go to the website and I look at the testimonials of what do people actually say about this brand and what problems have they solved, and I just write down a few key points, put that in a pitch email and I just kind of also draft my vision of UGC for them. I share a few samples. I just connect it through links. I have my Instagram page which has all my UGC samples on it. Hey, and, by the way, my Instagram has like a hundred followers, so you know anyone who thinks that they need like a thousand it's a great point and what about?

Speaker 2:

your TikTok as well. Like you, don't need thousands to do this every now and again.

Speaker 1:

Like once every two weeks, my ego comes up and says why don't I have a thousand followers by now? And then I remind myself don't worry about it, you're working girl our ego.

Speaker 2:

Our ego does the same thing daily like damn, what is going on here? Hang on a minute, we're still going.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, people are still buying, still paying you, still sending messages. Can you work with us? So, yeah, it's all good right. Yeah and just, I think there's a part where you have to really own who you are and understand your audience and who you are as a brand, because probably the greatest success that I've had after sending emails or DMs is when I speak about their avatar or their client, like I am that person and I often say I am your client. A lot of my sort of pitch emails will say I'm your client, I have this problem. I'm 40 plus. I know all these women that would be desperate for this problem to be solved. So I really speak on that emotive level.

Speaker 1:

And then the next key thing thing I think if you're confident um speaking, you know, in a call, I think that's a really good thing to do. Like offer a catch-up call to speak about your ideas. Like dangle the carrot, like I have three to five different ideas I'd love to talk to you about um, and that usually works like 100% of the time, um, yeah, yeah. And then you're, and then by that stage you're negotiating fees and I think you need to understand what your worth is and how much work you're going to be putting in If you can upsell as good as well. You know most, most brands, I think, the smaller brands, they just want the one video to get going. But you know you just start saying you can do A and B testing. So let's do some different hooks and then different call to action. I've got so many ideas for this brand. So are you sure you don't want to see three videos? I'm a bit of a sales person, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So just for the, just for those that are listening, I know it's all in the course, which is the best part, so that is the number one thing. It's me has done a tremendous job of creating that course inside the Hive Hub Collective or you can buy it on its own. But just for those listening now, just like the idea of you know when I think what happens in content creation land as we start saying things like A, B testing and we start saying like we'll just send you this hook and this hook and and you know that might overwhelm someone listening now but I can't do that. I've never even created a TikTok. So, just like, if we break it down, even simply cause you've done this, you've had huge success. We watched it, we love it, everyone that's been through the course has had success.

Speaker 2:

So, let's just take it one step back again to cause. You know I'm the queen of simplifying things. So if you've called a brand and you like an A-B test, what does that look like for you, for example? What would you give a brand if you said I want to A-B test this for you, for example?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so if you're ever watching on Instagram or Facebook which you probably are every time you're watching TV, when the ads on TV come on, you don't watch those. You go straight back to your phone, right, and you'll notice as you're scrolling that there will be an ad that comes up and there'll be something that the person does that captures your eyes or captures your attention. It might be a question that they ask. It might be showing the product instantly and it's something that makes you stop and watch the video. Now, as a content creator, we want to give the brand options to see which of the videos is going to make the audience stop and watch for as long as possible, to the point where they even go. I need that. So when we talk about a and b testing, we're going. We're giving them options. Um, using different ways to capture the audience's attention.

Speaker 2:

Yeah and they can use those two options in two different ad sets to see which one performs better, and then you get a winning ad. You can get okay, that really worked well let's do more effects.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, go with that, yeah more, more money behind that one, yeah, and then I for udc creator, that just looks like chopping out the first little bit of the video and doing a different one. So maybe two, two separate hooks at the start and you know that might take you know, 30 seconds for us but we can charge just for the hook. Well, the hook's only three seconds but, figuring it out, and you can charge, you know, an extra. You know $50, $100 per hook, yeah, and the body of the main story.

Speaker 1:

I call it the script, or the main story would stay pretty much the same, and then you could have a different call to action as well at the end, which is the way that you encourage people to. You know, grab the product. My one that I'll never use is run, don't walk. I'll never use that. Have you seen that one? Run don't walk.

Speaker 2:

But I think the beauty with UGC is like it's very beginner friendly and you know a lot of beginners obviously get jobs and your content just gets better and better and better. But you know the thing with UGC, it almost needs to feel a little bit underpolished and a little bit, you know, authentic. So you don't have to be this fantastic editor and this actor and put on a show and do all this stuff, because that's like user-generated content works, because it's just a bit rough around the edges. Yeah, it's real.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, there are brands out there that do want that real aesthetic, chopped up vibe, and that is not the 40 plus. So that's just our market, my market, our market can see right through it. They really want the person to be as genuine as possible and some of the feedback that I've had from the brands is please don't make each frame less than two seconds because for our viewer they can't deal with it. The changes are too quick. It's it's actually for them it's really annoying. So that was kind of good feedback that I got and I thought great, because those one second chops are really a lot of work. You know you've got to get the perfect part of it. But, um, yeah, so things that I'm learning about the different demographics and obviously keeping it as genuine as possible. Sometimes I see my own videos and I'm learning about the different demographics and obviously keeping it as genuine as possible. Sometimes I see my own videos and I'm like that's not that great. Like I say, it's not that great, but the client is like I freaking love it.

Speaker 1:

You've just nailed it. You've nailed the brief. And sometimes they send a brief and I know it's bad, it's like you want me to say it. Yeah, exactly, it's so salesy that they don't know right, and so you just say yeah.

Speaker 2:

And that's why the brands need content creators, because we're in the thick of it, we know what works, we're posting on TikTok all the time. We understand this sort of side. So if you can have the confidence to say to a brand look, this sounds a little bit uh, pushy salesy. How about we do this instead? And then that shows initiative and the brand's like oh wow, she really knows what she's talking about here.

Speaker 1:

yeah, another way that I've done it is. I've done both. Um, it takes a little bit more work, but I feel like I want to over deliver under promise. So you know, because that's where the best relationships are built is, when you just give them a little bit extra. So I do that quite often. If it's a brand I really like I might do an unboxing and I don't have to do that. Unboxing is when you know you film yourself taking out all the products and showing how pretty they are. But oftentimes, when they've given you the real salesy pitch and you do and you film that one, I'll do another one on the side where I really talk about what I really think and nine out of ten times they come back and go.

Speaker 2:

Actually, we like the other one, the one where you're being natural, I'm like, because that's what people actually want and I think what's really important and you said it a while ago and we've said it before is bringing brands ideas, because at the end of the day like as a brand in a corporate suit or a solopreneur or a small business you are so consumed with your product to the point where you can't actually see the other side of it. You can't see how it helps people, what it really does for people. You just know I need to sell X amount of products because I've done this. I need to do. You know you've got that real business brain on and, as a content creator, when you can come to the table and be like cool, I will do exactly what you've asked. But do you know what? I'm just going to show you this, because this is the real shit, this is the stuff I mean. This is the stuff that I would call my best friend and be like dude. Y'all got to get on this. It's insane.

Speaker 2:

And a brand will then have that moment of like thank you, like bringing something to the table is going to make a brand's job easier. They're going to want to align with you more, they're going to want to invest in you further, and I think that's really smart, and it's smart even in terms of being creative with a sales pitch and doing your work to understand that brand, understand their pain points, understand their ideal customer and bringing that to the table Because a brand and a small business there's no time to think that. So, as a content creator, the more that you do UGC content creation, the more that you do this, the better you get at it and it just up-levels you to be able to pitch to bigger brands to be able to say this is my worth because this is what I do and I do it bloody well. So I think that's, if nothing else, a huge takeaway in this space that the reason that Mia and I, I suppose, are leaning so hard into sharing the UGC stuff is that understanding of both what Mia's been able to achieve with UGC and my background in brand and marketing campaigns and kind of going, if we bring these two things together and we help brands understand the power of content creation and then help content creators understand what brands really need, what a beautiful culmination of things that we can do.

Speaker 2:

So I love what you've said in those just little bits that I hope if you're listening you're taking note that it's not just about just creating a video and sending it off and be like give me my 400 bucks, it's okay. Let's just get into the minds what's. And this is where the whole your ideal customer and your audience come into play. With your own businesses, you're learning and understanding the pain points and what solutions you can bring to the table. So, yeah, I really love what you've said and I hope people have kind of taken note on that as like that little added extra of like, oh, okay, I might, I might think about that when I'm wanting to talk to a brand or I'm wanting to feel even this, that that worth and that value of what I'm worth. It just helps when you go no, but I've got those skills because I can see deeper, I can go deeper, I understand your brand and this is what I'm worth.

Speaker 2:

I think that's important in this space to realise your worth as well. So thank you for sharing that. Yeah, and what I think is really exciting too is now you've learnt all of these amazing skills and you can bring that into sexy ageing and you know the money that comes with UGC gives you time to breathe, you've got a bit of space, you don't have to go back to a 95, and you've got more time to focus on your baby, which is sexy, aging, and it all just complements each other so much and that's why we love UGC and that's why we teach it in the Hive as well. And you know, it's almost like a quicker way to make money without having to grow a huge audience first and gain that know, like and trust, because that takes time and I don't think people realize how long that actually takes to build that with your audience. So UGC is just this thing that you can do on the side that it's a no brainer really, and it's super fun.

Speaker 1:

I feel like if you've got a little bit of a background in musical theater or you've ever spent any time in that area, you could completely pick this up. It would be so easy, um, because I mean when you get started it feels like a little bit of acting and then over time I don't know it just feels more natural, like yeah, yeah, it's good fun, for sure and so trace.

Speaker 2:

As we kind of sorry, as we kind of like get to the end of this, I want to make sure that we finish that original story of the two2 in the bank, the TikTok you made.

Speaker 2:

Can you go back to that, tracey, and then come back to where you are now, what you've learned and how you're kind of, what your vision is for you now, knowing and being through that lowest moment and where you're looking now Because I just love, I love that story lowest moment and where you're looking now Because I just love, I love that story and I love when, as a content creator and a human being, we go. This was pretty bottom for me but you know, I did the hard work, I'm determined and I was. There's no plan B like let's just go what's possible for me. So I'd love to kind of complete that story so that everyone who might be sitting in that fear of don't want to go back to work, you know, want to retire early, want to travel Australia, I just how am I going to make this work? I'd love to kind of round it out and hear that story.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so that year was a massive year of growth, learning all the different things that you can do in the content creation space, and then, of course, landing on UGC. And, yeah, I just feel like I planted a lot of seeds last year and everything's popping up at the same time. Now I have to kind of pick and choose where I'm going to spend my time. What I'm going to be working on and you've mentioned it like this gives me the freedom. It has given me the freedom now to focus on sexy aging, which is my core business. Yeah, so I just spent a couple of days doing UGC, uh, and I'm making two to three times the amount I was making if I was doing the odd consulting gig. So you know, and and also there's a really big part. I just want to say and I've mentioned this a few times before that massive growth period was also when I became a member of the Hive Hub Collective and we had Tori Packer, the guest manifestation coach.

Speaker 1:

That was life-changing stuff for me. I've spoken about it to you girls, but I want to hear, you know, I want to share it with anybody to know that. You know, I was kind of desperately reaching for all the different straws and trying to make something work. And it was that session, that time, with her doing manifestation and actually understanding how it really works and applying it to my life. And since then everything has taken off, like not just one or two things, like absolutely everything. I apply her skills that she's taught us. I apply every morning. Um, I, I'm a visual learner as well, so I have all the pictures of all the things that I want to happen that just plays like a little screen show on my phone every morning. And I got that skill from her and, yeah, it just feels like everything's changing and now I have to kind of pick and choose where I'm going to spend the time for the best value. The connections have been incredible. It just felt like my husband is blown away by the way he's like you did it.

Speaker 2:

You did it. You know I'm like I'm not there yet.

Speaker 1:

I've still got the Oscar moment it's coming up in about seven years.

Speaker 2:

Seven years it's coming, we'll be there. Yeah, thank you.

Speaker 1:

I hope that you're there and you know like I'll always, always, praise the support and the learning that I've had through the Hype Hub Collective. And yeah, I mean I'm not on the podcast to talk about that. But I mean I'm not on the podcast to talk about that, but I mean how could I not?

Speaker 2:

because it was game-changing for me, yeah, and that's really lovely. Thank you, that's and that, that session with Tori. I think it kind of broke all of us in the ways that we needed to.

Speaker 1:

I think we all just walked away and we're like oh, holy shit, I think we all took a week off TikTok like it felt, like I couldn't go, I felt there was a lot that changed, which made us like oh, I might even go back and watch it.

Speaker 2:

I feel like it's time to watch it again.

Speaker 2:

I feel like I need like another reinvigoration of like, because it was just what was, and what was really nice about it is it was just in such a safe space that people could let all the walls down and she could just speak her truth and we all took it where we needed to take it and there was no judgment, there was no nothing. And I think you know those moments happen when you allow yourself to feel safe in an environment that is there to lift you up and show you what's possible and raise your vibrations and all those things that we all need in this space, because it's fucking hard, yeah, and I think you know that was a really special moment. So you know, thank you for bringing that to light again. And you know we love the community so much and just see women like yourselves just having a go at things that maybe they never thought was possible, or maybe they thought this is my last chance and I'm going to try it, and you go, holy shit, you did it Like. That, to us, is just insane.

Speaker 1:

It's amazing, I feel like when my husband acknowledged it and he does nearly every week say wow, look what you did, or wow, you did it, you know, like he actually acknowledges it and I remember thinking you were that doubting Thomas.

Speaker 2:

I think they all are. Maybe that pressure was what got you over the line like shit, I've got a timeline.

Speaker 1:

Can I just say just one more thing here, which relates to making UGC work and earning money online. So my husband and I made a deal. Because he is working outside the home and he brings in the majority of the income, we agreed that when I overtake him, he takes on more of the household stuff, and because he's quite open-minded to that sort of thing, he's like bring it, bring it, bitch.

Speaker 2:

He wins and we all win you know.

Speaker 1:

But I mean, he's an awesome dad. He actually does help around the house and stuff. He's not lazy. But you know, I do take on a lot of the stuff because I work from home. But it's just come down to the point yeah, when I take over his income from my online business, shit's gonna change, yeah, and it'll happen, it'll happen, and we're on that journey too.

Speaker 2:

Just reminded him.

Speaker 2:

There was that time that yeah, and I think it's something that you know. We're all in this kind of boat together where we're all trying to make it work. And you know from what we've learned, certainly in the Hive, and that is that there is really no plan B in terms of none of us really want to go back to work. We all want to make this work and so collectively we're like okay, how can we raise each other up, how can we make this work, how can we find a different way? And you know, even having um bell in the pod in the um collective the other week talking about va and things like that like let's show different ways we can make this work for each other and what is possible, and I think that's cool to then. And then, when our partners actually go oh, I see what you did there, you right? See, you just need to give me that little bit more and I'm getting there.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I feel sorry for the husbands. Actually, we should just put them all together and let us all go together and put them all together and let them sit back and go. They are scary, those girls. They're scary. They make shit happen, and I think that's what's really cool is the whole make shit happen.

Speaker 2:

That I just love is like when you kind of go okay, it's not working, it's not working, okay, we'll do this, okay, that's worked, but let's go this way, and I think that's what I love about.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's in your blood, like there's no. You just know it's going to work. You just might need to tweak it a bit, or you might need to do some UGC, or you might need to pivot this way and then this way and at the end of the day, it's all supporting a dream and a vision that you've got for yourself and nine times out of 10, your family and what you want for how your family lives. And that's. Everybody is different. What they want out of their vision and dreams and I think that's that's what's really cool is when you can be part of that process, but do it from a passion of something you love to support your family in a way that allows you to still be you and and be a happy, a happy version of you, rather than someone that's just going to work to pay the bills, to pay the child care, to come home, to just not be happy about it.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, that was like a very, very like, oh yeah and that's what we love about the hive like we're just showing women and encouraging women and supporting women to let them know that anything's possible. Anything is possible and you don't have to stay stuck. So that's why we love the hive and we love everyone in there and we have a good time doing all this sort of stuff and every time we one of our members has a win or has a aha moment or you know moves forward, we just celebrate it so hard. We love it. Yeah, it is so fun.

Speaker 2:

So, tracy, we want to thank you so much for spending time with us today and sharing your story, and we know this is not the last time. We're either going to be on here or we're going to see you absolutely sore. Would you like to just remind everybody where they can find you, what you're all about, so that they can hit a follow? We'll put everything in the show notes as well, so you can go and follow Tracy and go and listen to the sexy aging if you are the heading into the 40s, which I am. So I am listening, going, oh shit. But also, thanks, I've got someone like Tracy that's pathing the way for me.

Speaker 1:

yeah, hey, thank you for having me. Um, I think, when it comes to UGC, I have a TikTok and an Instagram called you, me and UGC, um, so you can find me there. Help me get, get to 1,000 followers. No, don't, I'm all good, don't worry about it. And, of course, sexyaging is sexyagingcom and the aging has an E, so it's sort of the American version.

Speaker 2:

Well, thank you so much, and we shall see you very soon in the hive, but we'll be following along and can't wait to see what you do next. Thank you, thanks, tracy podcast. So many good ones too.