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

Ep#36 I Am...Unlocking the Power of UGC for Ultimate Digital Business Success chat with Sophie

• Kristen Werner & Mia Steel • Season 1 • Episode 36

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Curious about how to leverage User-Generated Content (UGC) for building a thriving online business? Our latest episode promises to unlock the secrets behind successful digital marketing strategies and the unparalleled support found within the Hive Hub Collective. We spotlight Sophie's remarkable journey—a true testament to what dedication and community support can achieve in the content creation world. By sharing her triumphs and challenges, we aim to inspire and equip you with actionable insights to elevate your own digital ventures.

Our conversation goes beyond typical marketing talk, diving into the real-life experiences of content creators like a busy mom planning her move to France while balancing business and family life. The promise of location freedom through UGC is explored in depth, illustrating how it offers a sustainable path for those looking to escape the traditional 9-to-5 grind. Learn how strategic sharing and authentic engagement can open doors to unexpected opportunities, from brand collaborations to life-changing workshops.

We cap off the episode by discussing practical strategies for managing workloads and outsourcing tasks effectively, ensuring you can maintain a balance between your personal and professional life. Whether you're a seasoned content creator or just starting out, the importance of aligning your personal brand with your values and mission is underscored. Plus, don't miss our upcoming free bootcamp on June 17th, packed with tips to monetize your content quickly. Tune in to discover how you can seize the abundant opportunities in today's content creation landscape.

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Kirsten:

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 constantly 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.

Kirsten:

I think we got off the screen maybe. I don't know.

Sophie:

Welcome to the I.

Kirsten:

Am Dot Dot Dot podcast, the podcast for busy creators who want to consume useful shit for their life and their beers. I am joined, as always, with Mia. What up, mia? Hello, how are you going? There is something wrong with us, and I love that about us. We are so weird. We're special in so many ways. Oh, welcome team. So, mia, today we are joined by another special guest, which is so exciting. But I suppose before we should jump into that, because we are joined by an incredible special guest who is a Hive member. But before we jump into that, and speaking of the Hive membership, we dropped a bummeroonie on the members and what's that now? What do we say? Yeah, yeah, look, we're closing the doors to the membership.

Kirsten:

If you haven't heard already, Not forever, no, broking, no, the Hive Hub Collective is an online membership for content creators, digital marketers, to learn and grow in this space, and the community is fucking insane. Red hot, I'm sorry, but the other day, just on a side note, tangent spicy brain, some of the DMs we have been getting, I have been crying and I'm mad for a love story. I'm mad for anything that, like, pulls on the heartstrings. I'm out Like I'm absolutely my family know if there the heartstrings, I'm out Like I'm absolutely my family know if there's ever a speech in our family, everyone's like, kristen, do you want a box of tissues? I'm like, yes, because I love love. I love just this wholesomeness and some of the message coming through. Mate Like I. Just the community blows my mind in terms of how they lift each other up, the support in such a lonely, scary it's not even scary, it's just lonely space. This community has just been rock solid and I'm so proud and grateful for every single member. So, first of all, if you're listening, thanks, love you, love you, boo, love you, boo, and you made me cry. We're all good friends. Yeah, I love it.

Kirsten:

So we decided that we are going to go to an open and closed membership. So, as of the 27th of June 2024 will be the first time we shut the doors on the membership, because we believe that, personally, me and I want to focus on what's going on in that membership and making sure each and every member is seeing what is possible for them in this space and growing in ways that maybe they didn't think was possible prior to coming into this space. So we want to really get our focus on that and build that community. We've got other things that we want to action in this space as well, and we also want to hand over to the members to build their own communities. In terms of it is, we have an ambassador program which is 40% commission if you bring somebody else into the community.

Kirsten:

So what we have seen is the ability for their members to work on their own business and build their own business. But when we open those doors, they're able to say, hey, this is how I got here, this is what I did and this is my community, and if you want to come part of that community, amazing. And then you can earn 40% commission on anybody coming into the community. So we saw it for a win-win for everyone. So that's what we're doing inside the membership now, which is really, really exciting, and that's what's happening. So, in order to find out a little bit more about this community, we would say we have a free bootcamp 17th of June. It is going off. Mia, what's it all about? Get the butt in there. So our bootcamp we had one. When was our last one?

Mia:

February.

Kirsten:

February. Yep, it was incredible. We had so many aha moments, so many women and men, hundreds of women in there, hundreds and so many aha moments. So we really focus on your content, because without content, you got Donuts. Can't sell shit without content and you need content. And a lot of people forget that and they just dive into this world thinking they're going to make a million bucks and just post TikToks all day. So we have flipped a few things on its head and we're going to help you with the content and perhaps get paid for it pretty quickly too. So get your butt into the bootcamp and then, once the bootcamp is over, we're shutting the doors until we don't know when. And you know what was really cool with the first bootcamp in February we had a couple of the creators that were in the hive actually have success getting paid for their content like 12 to 48 hours after they finished the bootcamp and they were members prior, but they came into the free bootcamp like oh damn, hadn't thought of that. So that was a really cool outcome as well.

Kirsten:

But for today, guys, we would like to introduce you to Sophie. Now. Sophie is one of the incredible members in our Hive Hub who has been with us for the long haul, who Mia and I have kind of sat back and just watched her content explode, watched her really level up in a way that a lot of content creators come into this space and they kind of feel like they have to blast themselves all over social media and be in front of everything and Sophie's got this really beautiful, natural way of showing up online. And, mia, do you want to talk about kind of the conversation we had with Sophie and what we're going to be talking about in this little bit with her? Yeah, sophie's journey is really special, it's really inspiring and she's so genuine and transparent and authentic about everything that she does. She joined us when we first opened our bootcamp or I think maybe our second month and, like everyone, she came in a little bit unsure. She tried to sell some done-for-you products and then create her own breathwork course, but it just sort of wasn't clicking until she decided to start user-generated content. Tracy and Soph came to me and I had some notes before I even created this UGC course that we've got inside the membership at the moment and I shared that with them and they took it. They just absolutely took action, bold action, and she has just exploded in the UGC scene. She's 40 plus, she's having $10,000 months and she's got too much work that she can handle.

Kirsten:

And have a listen to this podcast because you'll you'll really understand that UGC is not just to get paid for creating content, but there's so much other beautiful, amazing things that can come from it as well, and so the chat that we're going to have with Soph right now and share with you guys, I think if you're curious or you're sitting there thinking I don't, I don't know if I can do it just go and listen to it and be inspired by Sophie. She's a beautiful soul. We are very thankful to have her in our membership and we're going to dive in right now, so enjoy everyone. So we wanted to welcome Sophie to the podcast. Sophie is an incredible member of the Hive Hub Collective and since she started in our membership, I think the coolest thing for me and I is we've watched the growth in her personal journey and her content journey just completely transform when she's decided to lean into certainly UGC and create content for brands, and it's been a really, really cool journey to watch. So welcome to the podcast, sophie, thank you thank you so much.

Sophie:

It's such a pleasure to be here with you, two gorgeous ladies.

Kirsten:

I really appreciate it, yeah so first of all, I suppose the big question is um for us, I suppose, to understand when you first decided to kind of jump in and take that journey. In those days we were the digital hive hub, but what was the first thing, I suppose, drew you to a community in this online space?

Sophie:

Yes, so I think I jumped in on like month two or something like that with you guys. But I knew as soon as I saw the Hive Hub, pop Hub, I knew I was going to join. It was just a matter of when, and basically I've been following both of your journeys on TikTok for a couple of months since I had been on TikTok and you were just like there weren't.

Sophie:

There weren't really any other Australian women like taking the lead, like you guys were, and giving so much valuable information and just being genuine educators in that space, and so I love that. I loved when I saw you come together in collaboration and then open a high club. It was like, yes, you were creating. I mean, I'm your perfect, I do.

Sophie:

Customer, I'm a mom, I'm a 40 year old and I'm trying to build an online business, online and so yeah, it was just a no-brainer for me because I wanted to get around and be around what you guys were creating and absorb all that beautiful knowledge.

Kirsten:

And what was probably like that? First, what was the drawcard, I suppose, to an online getting paid to be in the online space, opposed to a nine-to-five? Or you know a working mum's frigging what is it like two till three? Or you know the random changes that we have to have as a mum when we go back to work.

Sophie:

That maybe drew you to potentially that online space it what it is and it was because we are planning to move to france. So my partner is french and, um, we always said when my four june was four years old, when she started school we'll move to france, so that's probably going to be end of this year and so that's just took I. I was like okay.

Kirsten:

I don't want to be an.

Sophie:

English teacher and.

Sophie:

I don't want to work as a waitress and, yes, I can speak French, but my written French is not, you know, good enough to work in sort of a professional setting. So I was like, okay, I'm going to build my own online business and I went into a, published a children's book one. I sort of explored that kind of thing, and then it was through that that I discovered affiliate marketing and it was through that, in digital marketing, jumped into that little tiktok world of digital marketing where I met you guys in the online space and I guess, just yeah, so that that's actually where where it all started a desire to create an income online that gives me that location, freedom. And also it was about being able to be that present mom, showing up to my children in a more present way, in a more flexible way on my terms. But I think what we all learn as moms is it's an incredibly hard balance to you know, building your own business and then showing you know.

Sophie:

So I'm still, I mean and that's what I love about UGC somehow, I think, because it takes that pressure off social media, or for me it does anyway Like I can totally step out of my social media accounts for two weeks and I'm still able to work and I'm still getting inbounds. And there are other ways you can find work as well, like not just through social media, and because for me personally, social media is an incredible drain I'm not very good at navigating, having, I guess, a positive and constructive relationship with social media, so UGC has been amazing. I'm creating content for brands but I can totally neglect my own social media pages and it doesn't impact my work and you know I'm all about that nervous system stuff and you know like my nervous system can be more regulated because I'm not dysregulating my nervous system by being on social media all the time.

Kirsten:

Yeah, I remember watching one of your videos how you said like I just feel so drained having to show up on my socials all the time. I feel really dysregulated. And the thing with UGC is you don't have to have that following, you don't have to maintain that consistently to earn the income, which is a very big perk for UGC, especially in the beginning. And I think yourself, like all of us, when we jump into this online space, it's really hard in the beginning. It's very hard to make sales and build an audience and I guess when UGC came onto your radar, what was it that made you go? I'm going to try that.

Sophie:

It had popped in, like I'd seen it popping up. I think when you're in the digital marketing world, you see UGC popping up and it goes oh, I had no idea what it was, but it was Tracy. Like watching her journey and being like, oh, I can do that. And also I started thinking a bit more strategically, like I started thinking about how I want to feel over what I want to achieve just while I'm a mum with younger children, and so I started basing my decisions, my business decisions, around that, stepping into how I could create that life where I was feeling what I wanted to feel rather than achieving what I wanted to achieve, and so that sort of combined with watching Tracy. And then I jumped in and I was like Mia, can you give me that? Whatever you shared with Tracy, that was before. It was even a course that you had shared when you were originally a UGC creator and you had this little tiny mini course that was on what was it on?

Kirsten:

On, Notion just on all my. Notion links from yeah over the years.

Sophie:

Yeah, and so I used that and it taught me everything I needed to know. I started a TikTok account. I hadn't even created any UGC videos yet and I was also very, very strategic about that TikTok account. So I knew that the way I was going to show up, I was going to be really authentic, but I was also going to be really strategic. So I'd learned all that stuff from digital marketing, from being in the high hub. I'd collected all of that plus the UGC knowledge that I had, and that first month I showed up like it was totally strategic, and I got my first paid job within first paid job which was cool within 48 hours, without even showing any examples of UGC work.

Sophie:

That was an inbound and I think that was just like 40 year olds are in such high demand although there's a lot more of them coming in now but I'm so I am so proud of the way that I showed up in those early days and it was about I talked to you guys about this before and I know you guys are really really into this as well, and you know I've absorbed all of that sort of energy from you guys as well which is you start behaving in the way you start being and acting the person you want to be to achieve that success that you want to be, to achieve that success that you want to have before you've even achieved it, and then you work backwards. So I started behaving and being a successful UGC creator, even though I wasn't one yet, and then acting out what she would enact, and that then gave me really, really quickly what I wanted to have. So yeah, so that was cool.

Kirsten:

Yeah, such an important message too. I mean, confidence and imposter syndrome plays a big part in all this, especially for women who are, you know, over the hill a little bit and they think I can't do this, who would listen to me? This is not, you know, possible for me. But you're right, if you, if you just it's the whole's, the whole be do have, if you act like it's already happening, then you're going to attract that into your life rather than sitting there and thinking I can't do this, it's too hard, I, no one's going to listen to me. Then that sort of energy is going to come across in your content and, yeah, it's not going to be very attractive.

Sophie:

so, yeah, and it did ruffle some feathers, like I had some people in the ug space saying. So I'm kind of a bit like who are you? And like um to be acting like you're. You know you're a confident authority in this space when you've only been here a few months and so you have to wear that as well. But at the end of the day, it's not about the rest of the tiktok community or the rest of the TikTok community or the rest of the social media community. It is about you building your own business, you doing what you need to build your own business and attract the right clients to you.

Kirsten:

So, whilst that community can be so beautiful and supportive and it is so beautiful and supportive you also have to really remember not to get like the rest of what you're doing, to get drowned out by that, like ultimately treating it like a business rather than treating it as a social and I think what you did so well as well is you you created the personal brand that was reflective of you, of your actual personal brand, and didn't get sucked into being something that you're not and I think that's what you've done really well is is you stood in that authoritative space that you had created because that's the personal brand you wanted to be online, which then attracts the people that want to work with you.

Kirsten:

That then kind of builds your own background and your own kind of foundational work that will set you up wherever you potentially want to pivot or move to or change.

Kirsten:

I think that was a really nice thing to watch is kind of see you lean in and step into a personal brand that became really strong and very, very magnetic because you strategically set it up that way, and I think that in itself is incredibly smart and something that a lot of people undervalue isn't the right word but maybe they don't see that as what they're actually doing is creating that personal brand as well as building your personal brand.

Kirsten:

Your business brand are so incredibly correlated that we often kind of go oh, that's our business and this is me, but the two have to live together and what you've done very cleverly is align them with how you want to be and especially how you want to show up on social media. So I think you know, mia and I saw that and celebrate that certainly with you in how you were able to show up on social media in a way that served you the best way that it could, rather than leaning in and kind of getting lost in it, where that's where the imposter syndrome can really hit and that nervous system can take an absolute crushing if you're not careful. So you've done a really good way of navigating that.

Sophie:

It's been really cool to watch oh, thank you, and it's not like, like, I think that early month I was so strategic and then, you know, since then I don't think I have been showing up with so much strategy or professionalism, but it actually hasn't mattered, because my business is still strong and I guess I'm still working part-time. I'm'm still, you know, mumming pretty hard and you know, having this business and I think so. The idea now is to take UGC as a full-time gig to France, because I know and I have the confidence that I can do this full-time, and I know and I have the confidence that I can actually take it to another country as well, because I am receiving brands. You know European brands are contacting me as well as Australian brands that are, you know, european brands are contacting me as well as australian brands that are, you know, like services, like websites and apps and stuff. So I know I can create a sustainable business over there too. But I know also that when I'm doing it full time, I can, you know, start I want to.

Sophie:

You know, I want to lean into and start niching as well and start being more picking and choosing a little bit more what jobs I want to take in the niches and directions that I'm a little bit more passionate about, and I feel like when I give a little bit more care and attention to my social media presence as well and the stories and the posts that I create around that, that I will be able to do that. I have a lot of confidence in that too. So that's really cool. But also, like you know, these online businesses are not a linear kind of getting better, getting better, improving, improving, improving, yep, yep.

Kirsten:

Give it what you can when you can, but um, yeah, and that's the beauty about ugc it kind of gives you not only are you building amazing skills that are transferable across most online businesses because you need content, but you can kind of mould it around your life. You know, get more UGC jobs when you have more time or scale it back a bit when you want to take a bit of time off. And you know, like you've done now, you've set yourself up, you've set your foundations up, where now you've got brands approaching you and you can go. You know what I don't really resonate with that product, I'm going to say no to that job. Or, you know, you're not in this desperate fight for content jobs all the time.

Kirsten:

And, like me, I was the same. I sort of did it really strategically in the beginning and then now I don't have to really chase work. It comes to me and I get to pick and choose and do it when it suits me. And I think when people are beginning in this space, they think, oh, I'm just going to jump online and I'm just going to sell an ebook and I'm going to be rich and it's going to be great. But soon they realize that it's actually a bit harder. You have to, you know, know, content creation, creation spend a lot of time and, like you said, it's not just linear, it's up and down and you've got to figure everything out as you go. But UGC just gives you that bit of income to give you that time and space to breathe and learn and grow and put your brain first, instead of just burying yourself in trying to create desperate content online three times a day, seven days a week, sort of thing.

Sophie:

And it's so empowering because you go from this struggle like struggling to create your own products or to sell done for your products or a mix of the two, like what I was doing and then all of a sudden you start creating content for brands and it's so empowering because it's so much easier to make money that way at the beginning, because it's all based around creating like a formula with how you create these videos and you learn all that in the hive.

Sophie:

And once you've got that system and once you've got that formula to create the videos with that formula, you just be as authentic as you can in your videos, like that's it, that's all you need and you will make money. And it's empowering because then it's on your terms and then you'd learn that great content which is what you're all teaching, which is so cool learning to create that amazing content and then taking those skills, if you want to, and then to building your own digital products into it or going in a different direction, or building your business alongside and with where you, like you said, you're not desperately trying to sell your own product from desperation, because you've got this income that's coming in. That's supporting you.

Kirsten:

That's supporting. I think it's. You know it's even building the confidence and and you absolutely nailed it and articulated it perfectly there is is when it comes to creating your own content and just showing up every day and building for to sell a digital product or building for, but just creating a bigger social media presence to bring your audience towards you. The fear and imposter syndrome and what goes around in your head and my content's not good enough. Is this going to work? This isn't working.

Kirsten:

Maybe it's not good enough where, if a brand is paying you because you've done a good job of content, there's a confidence boost in there that, like you say, is empowering because it makes you understand that what you've created is worthwhile, like it's.

Kirsten:

It's good content because a brand is willing to pay you, so it's like that's of. You know the reason why we want to flip this thing upside down and get certainly women of our age paid to show them that what is possible in this space, and by starting with something like content creation, starting with working with brands to understand their marketing, their branding, their audience, their pain points and things like that, what that's ultimately doing is paying you to then get all that information for your own business and create from there. So it's such a it. It took us a while to kind of figure out oh, hang on a minute, like that's basically me as story in a nutshell, and then we've now transferred that, transform that to our community and then we're like oh, all these success stories, because they all started there, of course. Like it's just, it's been really cool to actually watch make sense that's it.

Sophie:

You've created a new formula, you've broken a new like and you've uncovered a new formula of how to create success in this space. And because that's often what's lacking, isn't it? It's like business model. Online business model is based on the content you're creating on your socials with your personal brand to attract your customer to you, and that's where we all struggle a lot. So we're learning that formula, we're being paid to practise and learn that formula on other brands and then, if we want to, we can then convert it into our own businesses.

Kirsten:

Yeah, and not only that, too. I found that UGC just opens up doors and opportunities that you never expected when I came into this space. You know working with brands that you've always loved, or you know coming on podcasts, or I'd love to hear your story about that company that flew you to Melbourne and you know just these little things that pop up that just go wow, I've put myself out there and this is just happening. It's just coming towards me now.

Sophie:

Yeah, that was cool and that was when I was in my very early days in UGC, where Silver Fox, who are a modelling agency for older women 30 plus, I think it is approached me and said we want to build a UGC stream of our modelling agency, giving our models other opportunities to make money through UGC. Said we want to build a UGC stream of our modeling agency, giving our models other opportunities to make money through UGC. We want to train them up. Um, we love your content. We love that you share tips and tricks about UGC.

Sophie:

Will you come down to Melbourne to be part of a team of three other creators teaching these women how to create UGC? So that was so cool because I was like sure, I used to live in Melbourne. I have so many friends there. It was just before my birthday and I was like I'll just tie that in with a, you know, birthday with my mates. Anyway, they're also lovely to connect with other UGC creators and all the silver models. Oh my God, they were just so gorgeous from the inside to out.

Sophie:

I had so many beautiful chats with these ladies and, yeah, anyway, so that is an amazing opportunity and that was like that came from when I was showing up a lot more strategically on my page in those early days where I was sharing a lot of tips and tricks. So, basically, you know, this is something that you guys teach as well is that share what you're actually learning. Share what you're learning with your audience. So, everything I was learning in the Digital Hive Hub, through that little course that you created, I was, you know, also sharing on my socials about what I was learning. And I haven't been doing that at the moment because, like I said, I'm not being strategic at all with my socials, because I don't need to and it's probably bad because it's probably bad practice, because I'm just getting really lazy with my content, because I'm still getting more work coming in than I can actually handle, and also maybe it's a sort of self-sabotage thing, like.

Sophie:

I'm like, please don't give me any work, I'm going to just put some shit content back in, but it still keeps coming in. I don't know. I mean, you know, it's not that shit, it's a good problem to have. It's not thought out, it's not strategic. It's just like an idea of what I'll put it out there, which is sort of the older way that I was doing it with digital marketing.

Sophie:

But, yeah, so I actually also did my first month of UGC I think it was in November and then I just was like I'm not 100% sure if this is for me and so I didn't, I didn't post and I stopped doing it in December and January, which was really nice because I just had, you know, christmas time and everything, but I just kept getting. I just kept getting brands contacting me and so at the end of Feb.

Sophie:

I was like, well, maybe this is a sign, and so I jumped back into it and that's where it really snowballed and just came. Yeah, came in really, but yeah, so that was a wonderful opportunity that came from it. Talking on Tracy's podcast was another wonderful opportunity and also, obviously, being an ambassador for the Hive Hub is an amazing opportunity that's come out of this, and you know now talking on the podcast and I know so if you're very humble and very beautiful, but I do want to share with everybody, if you can talk us through the message I think you sent us.

Kirsten:

There was an email, there was definitely on some socials about your amazing month in April, I believe that you had with your UGC business and what that looked like for you and kind of how that felt from where you've come from to having that moment of standing back and being like, wow, this is happening and this is working for me yes, so in the month of may just gone, so by the second of may, I had ten thousand dollars.

Sophie:

A big part of that came from a six thousand dollar map like reviewing 20 mattresses which is a big deal logistics in the garage like god, and I can't believe you get to keep all those mattresses too.

Kirsten:

I thought that would take them back keep them.

Sophie:

There's four or five from from like from four different companies, incredible. So, yeah, so, and then I do yes and like um, what do you call them? Reviewing, like all the different mattresses together as well. But I wasn't actually able to get all those jobs done, so that's why I'm feeling a touch overwhelmed at the moment, because I'm still a bit behind on my work and I've still got a lot of mattress reviews that I still have to do, plus all the other UGC client stuff and I keep saying, okay, I'm not going to take any more work unless they're paying me really really, really well.

Sophie:

But then I just can't say no. Like there's this brand who said oh, we need someone to do these Reebok shoes.

Kirsten:

And I'm like, yes, no, I think a lot of creators forget that you're also building relationships with brands. So, even though you can't take on too much work, now you've got them. You're like I'll contact you in a month when things have died down. I'm really busy. I'd like to, you know, maintain this relationship. Or you go and work with brands that you've worked with in the past. Say, do you? You need any more content? Let's you know. You don't have to be chasing work all the time. You can maintain those relationships and build a little portfolio of brands that you like working with too.

Sophie:

Yes, absolutely, and I love that. Actually, that's a great response. I don't have the capacity, but I will contact you when I do.

Kirsten:

I didn't even think about saying that will contact you when I do Like I didn't even think about saying that Just as a question too, because I think one thing that Mia and I are very strong on is none of this is a quick fix, money-making. Wake up tomorrow. It's the easiest, quickest thing you'll ever do. So if anyone's listening thinking, oh my God, I'm going to do as you say so I can make 10 grand a month.

Kirsten:

Sophie works bloody hard, everybody does the hard work, but it is rewarding when you do that hard work and when you work with these brands and then when you can build a relationship with them.

Kirsten:

So I suppose so what's something that, looking at how you work, what's a way that, what's kind of maybe the most stressful thing or time consuming thing, that maybe is there opportunities for you to look to outsource something in this process or a streamlined way that you've either learnt now due to getting more work, or you're interested in adding into your business so that you can take on more jobs potentially, just so that people can get a real idea that we're not saying this is a quick fix, but we are saying this is a huge opportunity if you're willing to embrace it and what it's going to do for you as a personal brand and in your business is very rewarding and very educational in terms of what you learn through yourself and also through content and working with brands. So we just want to make that clear, but also ask you what are the things that would make it easier for you, or the things that maybe you didn't think were there and then you've now solved that problem to make it better for you, maybe.

Kirsten:

Yeah Well also I wasn't actually able to achieve.

Sophie:

I had $10,000 worth of work lined up, but I didn't get it all done. So I'm still working on it, because I do have a part-time job, because I need that for my sanity, to get out of the house and just to be around real people, not virtual people.

Sophie:

Yeah, really being really organised and going back, prioritising your tasks, all that sort of stuff, setting your day out very strategically about what you're going to do and actually sticking to that because, like I think, a lot of women coming into this space, they are juggling it with part-time work, with family life and in these little moments that they have off, I think as well like, luckily at the moment, my social media I don't need to pay that much attention to my social media accounts because it's still working for me for inbounds anyway. But I think I've thought about this a lot. I would create a content strategy and a content like a monthly content plan and I would start scheduling my content because I know that a big time consumer and also distraction just procrastinated distraction is that content creation and ending up on social media. But I know that admin becomes quite a lot too, all that back and forth thing with brands.

Sophie:

Some brands it's super quick and just you know, yep, yep, yep, send the product done, whilst other brands there's a lot of back and forth thing and that there's a lot of back and forthing and that takes up a lot of time. And so potentially, like I don't know if this is actually possible, but if you create, if you could like, on your stand store, for example, like you you sell your packages and your bundles and brands just jump in and purchase that way I don't know if that would work or not but then also on platforms, like I know that you guys are working to create platforms and things like that, which I think would be really helpful. And then you've also said editing, hiring someone else out to do editing, even sometimes the script writing, like there's some as well where you know if you could get a really good script writer who you really resonated with.

Sophie:

Sometimes the brands create scripts for you and it's good to tweak them to make them more personal and so that they resonate with you. Sometimes script writing just flows and you know exactly what you're going to. You know so easy. And sometimes it's really really, really hard and you can spend an hour or two trying to write a script and you end up with something where you're like, oh, just then. But then yeah, and then the editing side of things as well. So I guess it's like figuring out which are the parts that you enjoy the most and then which you'll enjoy the least, and then yeah. But I think my problem is building those relationships and finding someone that you trust. Or I guess as well, you have to work that into your prices. Like, if you're paying someone $100 to write a script for you or $50, I don't know $50 or $100 to edit for you, and then how does that then?

Sophie:

I mean a big part of UGC for me is I'm putting my face to that brand that you know, I charge for that. You know what I mean. It's not just, it's not just the content, the time and the energy that it takes and the creativity that goes into it. It's that my face is there and my opinion is there, and you know, you know that's what I feel like. Actually, ugc is undercharged is incredibly for because that is so, so valuable.

Kirsten:

Yeah, absolutely. And you know there's some brands that you know want your kids in there or your partner. It's like, how do I charge for that? And as you get better and better and more experienced, you know you increase your rates and you start to really think about that sort of stuff and I sort of wished, when I was having huge months, when I was doing it full time, that I should have just hired a VA or an editor and just kind of worked that into my prices, because I would have been able to take on more work and just be the creative, just do the fun part and then just hand off the emails and the contracts and the editing to a VA. So there are things that you can think about to sort of scale your business and make it more of a brain-first business instead of being tied down with all the admin and the editing as well. Yeah, yeah, good thoughts.

Kirsten:

I think it's something that when we start in this online space and a lot of us are kind of maybe starting off and and the thought of hiring a va or something like that can feel quite daunting and overwhelming. But I know for me and I in the process that we're going through, when we've done that and we've outsourced things, this huge amount of relief flows over us. You know, now our podcasts get edited by an incredible VA who then it's just. It's just on Buzzsprout on Monday morning at 5am. I'm like I mean, we listen to it, we check it off and make sure but I'm not now spending the hours and Mia isn't spending the hours doing this and that we're now able to walk away and go and put our time and energy to the stuff that makes us money. That you know. So there is a point in your business when you look at that and go, okay, time for money means if I can get and outsource some video editing, find someone on Fiverr or someone like that that I can work with. That does great work. If I can outsource that, I could make three more UGC videos. Hang on a minute.

Kirsten:

Then it starts to weigh up Anybody certainly in this space that's having that way up between investing in somebody to help them build their business. It's a real time for money. What's that going to give me? Is it going to give me that stress release? Is it going to give me more time to create more? Is it going to give me more time with my family? It might cost something and putting that into your prices, so it's. It's something to consider as you grow this business for anyone, for yourself, soph, and anybody else listening that it's not it. Somebody else can do it for you. Like, at the end of the day, somebody else can do it for you. It's just finding that right person and then having that that right time to hit go so that you can take some of that stress away and hopefully get some extra jobs, but know that, oh, it's okay, it's going to. The video editing is going to be done or the emails are going to be done or whatever that looks like for you. So I think that's part of of as we grow in.

Kirsten:

Business is daunting, but starting to be very necessary. Yeah, also about letting go and there's so many other opportunities. You know you might start UGC, but find out that, man, I really enjoy the editing part. I love this part, and then you know you approach brands. Do you need a video editor? Here's my services. I know how to you know edit UGC videos and then you know that's what you do. So there's just so many possibilities online and I think on this whole TikTok kind of world, people and I think on this whole TikTok kind of world people are very laser focused on just digital marketing or just affiliate marketing. But if you sort of look outside the box and improve your skills in lots of different areas, they intertwine and before you know it, you've got this fantastic skill set that you can take whichever which way.

Sophie:

Yeah absolutely, and I know that in an ideal world I would want to build my own digital products, but my big problem is I'm just too multi-passionate and I just could never just pick with one thing like. I could never pick like oh, I want to teach UGC creators how to edit videos like, because they'll be like.

Sophie:

Oh, I want to teach people how to create their own skincare and next day I'll be like, oh, I want to teach people how to create their own skincare. And the next day I'll be like, oh, I want to teach people how to write a children's book.

Kirsten:

Oh, and then the next day.

Sophie:

We know that feeling. I think that that's paralyzed me because I'm so scared. Well, because I did, I created a mini breathwork for entrepreneurs.

Kirsten:

course, the thing is, I think that's what's holding, that's a major factor in what's holding me back committing to something and selling my own products and my own digital products because I fear my own changing interests and I think you know what's the key, though, and something to kind of highlight for everyone, but also you, sophie is no matter what from me and I, looking at your story and looking at you now, your personal brand hasn't changed in terms of you could create anything under that banner that you want, and people wouldn't be like, oh, that's a bit left field, isn't it Like, unless you decided to go work in a heavy metal band. Then we'd be like that's that's. That's a different move.

Kirsten:

But, everything in your personal brand with your UGC, with the course that you did create and the course that you've got with Breathwork, and even the way that you show up on camera. It's a very clear personal brand. So that's the power of what you've been doing in this process through UGC is actually building that so that you can pivot at any point and it's not going to throw this massive wave of people are going to be like did not see that coming. So I think that's you know. Please remember that in your journey that that's always there for you and anybody else building their personal brand. That's the power of a personal brand. And now you have the skills of UGC to be able to sell whatever it is you end up doing down the track. If you create a skincare brand, you're like, well, I can do my own UGC.

Sophie:

I was curious about that. I don't know if either of you have seen this, where people manage to have like. So I know Tracy, for example. She gets a lot of her UGC work through her sexy aging accounts as well, and so but I was curious if you could blend them a little bit more, so like if my UGC account could be both. I'm a UGC creator and I teach you.

Sophie:

I mean obviously, if you're a UGC creator and you have digital products, teaching someone else how to get UGC, that's like obvious. But if you're a UGC creator and and you also teach people how to create their own skincare, for example, like, can you bring those two accounts together, or would you?

Kirsten:

have to have them. It would really depend on on what that looks like in terms of like, depending on the brand. Like if the skincare brand, for example if we go down that path is a really organic over 40s natural. You know all the things that you potentially stand for when you choose the products that you work with. So I mean there would be a conflict of interest potentially if you were then working with skincare brands. You wouldn't want to be creating your own. However, if you created your own skincare brand and you thought, okay, well, I'm just going to focus UGC on other areas of you know, maybe it's more yoga, breath work, working with products you know, like outfit brands. What am I trying to say? Like what's your activewear brands or something that reflect that same kind of vision and purpose and they have the same type of mission as your business.

Sophie:

It wouldn't be unusual to have them together, but it would really depend on the product that you're potentially going to create, because your own product would, yeah, and it would work product would, yeah, and it would work, yeah, and probably work a little bit more, if your digital products were around how to photograph and how to film skincare products, or do you know what I mean?

Kirsten:

like if you kind of niche that way a little bit more and you're still the content creator kind of because the brands that you would want to work with would align with you anyway and align with your purpose and your mission. So it would make sense where, if they didn't align and it didn't feel right to you, you probably wouldn't work with them anyway because you wouldn't be able to kind of sell that product because it wouldn't align with you personally anyway. So it just depends on the product that you're going to create and you have to be careful with mixed or contradictory messaging.

Kirsten:

Also keeping in mind that you don't really have to even talk about UGC on socials to do UGC. You can do it all behind closed doors and pitch directly to brands and have it nothing separate to what you're doing as your personal brand. But yeah, if you start to build that personal brand I am Sophie, this is what I do, these are my interests naturally you'll get brands in that niche come to you and say would you like to do a post or can we work together? And you can still work with other brands, you know behind the scenes too.

Sophie:

Yeah, which is also what's been happening with you on your other account, isn't it?

Kirsten:

Mare yeah, my other ADHD account. I've got brands coming to me there wanting to work there and I haven't said anything about UGC. So it naturally happens over time when you start to build an audience. So, as we wind up, because we've taken a lot of your time, we thank you very much for that. I suppose the question I would leave you with, and to let everybody know, if somebody's listening to this right now and they're like um 45, I don't think I'm good enough. I, maybe, I, maybe I should try it, maybe I shouldn't. I don't know. If they're in that kind of unsure, what would you say to them right now? If they're on the fence but they don't think they could do this?

Sophie:

I'll just try, just give it a go. There's nothing to lose. So if you're in the hive hub, you've got access to mia's course that she created. Just watch it, create your own little hugc video, have fun with it and um. And then if you're like, yeah, I actually like this and I enjoy this, then put it out into the world and just yeah, just try. There's no harm in trying, giving it a go and yeah, but give it.

Sophie:

Yeah, I guess, going back to that, like, give it a little bit of a thought about how you are going to approach this and if you do really really want to do it, do do it strategically, because that just helped me so much to sort of catapult me into really, really quickly being able to get brand deals. And not, I don't actually pitch. I've pitched once to a brand who said, you know, I never heard back from. All the rest is, it just comes because I have chosen to be strategic about how I show up on my social media accounts and that's where I get all my brand collaborations from, even when I'm not posting on my social media accounts. So just yeah, just definitely. Brands are all they're screaming out for 45 plus, like I'm 40, but I haven't I've just haven't tied my hair.

Kirsten:

UGC changed my hair.

Sophie:

It's your dad. We know that it's his dad's fault, but yeah, and the brands are screening for 45-plus creators who can create good UGC, who can edit well, who know the formula. And what's so beautiful, I've found, is that often those older creators they are more authentic and they're bringing more of their personality into it, and I really really like that. It's a little bit less staged, sometimes like just a sort of a general rule, but yeah, brands are screaming out for you. So if you choose to take the advice that's in Mia's course and follow that script and create some UGC, you will blow up like, seriously, there's so many brands that are just.

Kirsten:

You know, there's lots of 20 something year old UGC creators and they've got the whole market with the audis and all that sort of stuff. But there are so many brands just target audience. 140 pluses too, now. Yeah, and the thing is too like brands need content all the time, like they have to update their creatives, their ads constantly, so it's not just a one and done so, yeah, there's so much work out there.

Sophie:

And there's room for everyone, and I love that, like all my TikTok friends as well. I see their examples popping up, and they're all working for the same people.

Kirsten:

Well, thank you so much for your time, soph, and it's been a pleasure watching you grow in this space, and we look forward to seeing the next part of your adventure and where you take all of this incredible stuff that you are doing right now after france yeah, probably in six months.

Sophie:

So, yeah, I'll have to document that journey. But thank you, beautiful ladies, thanks for your inspiration and your support and everything you do for us, because the high hub is really a little sanctuary for us, absolutely, thank you very much.

Kirsten:

So many good ones too.