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

Ep#38 I Am...Navigating the Transition from Teaching to Paid Content Creator with Hayley

• Kristen Werner & Mia Steel • Season 1 • Episode 38

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Ever wondered how a former teacher successfully transitioned into the world of digital content creation? Join us as we welcome Hayley, a shining member of the Hive Hub, who shares her remarkable journey from the classroom to TikTok stardom. Despite her solid background in business and education, Hayley faced numerous hurdles initially, but with the unwavering support of the Hive Hub community, she found her stride. Discover how she transformed her challenges into stepping stones, creating impactful content that led to her first brand deal in the User-Generated Content (UGC) space.

Community and mentorship are game-changers, especially for women in entrepreneurial ventures. Hayley opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome with the guidance of a supportive network. We explore the profound impact of learning from peers who are just a step ahead and how this relatability can be incredibly motivating. Hayley also shares the empowering mindset shift that comes with age, turning the act of asking for help into a powerful advantage rather than a sign of weakness.

The episode wraps up with Hayley's adventures on Fiverr, revealing the highs and lows of securing gigs as a UGC creator. From negotiating with a meal delivery service client to the unexpected financial perks of currency conversion, her story is a testament to patience and perseverance. Hayley emphasizes the importance of flexibility, especially for those juggling multiple commitments, and shares valuable tips on building a versatile profile. Through personal stories of growth and authenticity, Hayley illustrates how content creation is not just a career but a transformative journey enriched by the camaraderie within the Hive community.

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Kristen:

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 a lot of the same, didn't we I?

Kristen:

think so. So 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 and today I am joined by one of our hivers, hayley, who has been with us since the beginning, have you not Hayley? Yes, yes, since the beginning. So that's 12 months ago now, and so Hayley is one of our digital founders who kind of came in and really has supported us from the very beginning, which has been really exciting.

Kristen:

But the reason that we wanted to speak to Hayley is one to celebrate her success, certainly in the UGC space recently, but to also just understand where she kind of came from when she decided to join us in the Hive Hub, and also to just really look at your content, hayley, and look at the fact that when you started your content, you were really posting and you were continuously trying to grow and trying to find your groove and your space, and then, all of a sudden, when we saw you kind of go, you know what fuck it? I'm going to try this UGC thing. You really stepped into a different version of yourself when it came to creating content and it's been really, really awesome to watch and really I hope that you felt that and seen that as well, because it's been amazing to watch. But I want to introduce you to Hayley, and Hayley's going to tell us a little bit about her journey and why she started with us and where where it kind of all began for you in terms of looking at this online space yeah.

Hayley:

So I guess, um, in a former life, um, not so long ago, um, I was a teacher, um, and I I really loved my teaching job. But, long story short, I had another baby and with three kids, it was so obvious that teaching was not going to be a job that I could do or scale with the flexibilities that I needed. And then so I spend a bit of time on TikTok and you know, as you do when you're breastfeeding a little one at 2am in the morning and you're just sitting there doing twiddling your thumbs, really. But yeah, then I sort of started to come across lots of different content around the affiliate marketing space and UGC and how to start an online business. And I'm like, like you know, I actually have degrees in business and in education and like how are these people doing this? Like this is crazy. And you know, one of my teaching areas is actually business. I teach young people, young entrepreneurs, how to start their own business. And I'm like how can I not do this? I don't get it. So that's sort of where I started and I came across you, and I actually came across Mia and I'd been following along and like I can do this, I've got the skills, I've got the ability, I've actually got the knowledge to do this. But what I found really difficult was making that translate into my content and how that may look to another person. And I knew I could somehow build those relationships. But I needed some guidance to connect all those dots in an order that made sense. And that's sort of where I came across you when you started the Hive Hub, or the Digital Hive as it was, and I'm like I've got to be on that because that's just something that makes sense, that I can lean on other women to that have similar journeys, similar challenges to connect with and and work out how I can actually make this work. So that's sort of where I came from.

Hayley:

And then I was still kind of struggling to understand the difference between, like, the affiliate marketing, the digital marketing and the UGC and how they all connected together, because they do connect together but they're not the same. And I kind of went full circle. Like I was like, oh, okay, I need to create content, but what do I create content on? And then that's when I'm like, okay, I just need to give this UGC a go make, make something with that, make that make sense and if I can make that make sense. The other stuff might fall in under underneath it and that's certainly where I'm at at the minute. But the UGC part of it came almost naturally in terms of thinking about how you could create with the content, with the product sorry, what you could actually do.

Hayley:

And I initially started I did a little bit of a portfolio using, you know, you did the course in the Hive Hub and went through that and started doing some product videos and things like that, and I'm like I've actually always done this. Yeah, actually always done UGC. And anyone that has an Instagram or a TikTok account or a Facebook account, you have always done UGC. You just don't know you're doing it. Yeah, because you have always done UGC, you just don't know you're doing it.

Hayley:

Yeah, because you're always recommending something to a friend, to a colleague, to a mate, sharing events, all of those sorts of things. You're recommending them, but now you're just actually doing that in a more clear and concise way, I guess. So I was really fortunate that once I stuck my portfolio up and started doing that type of content, within about four days I got a brand deal and so that was really cool and I'm like okay, so I went with that and you know it took a couple of months to sort of put together back and forth with the brand and I think I've done about six or seven now with different brands and only one of them has been me pitching to them, that's awesome so all of them have come from inbounds or different platforms.

Hayley:

So that's been, it's just been crazy, and probably the craziest thing is when you actually and it happened again today. It's really cool, good.

Kristen:

We'll capture it right now.

Hayley:

Like you get those little down in the dumps moments and then up pops on your feed, your UGC creation. You're like, oh, I actually did that. So it's like oh, that's me.

Kristen:

I think even that happens sometimes, when you're doing the raw footage and you kind of film it and then you're kind of watching it back you're like, yeah, it's okay, and then all of a sudden you do the text and then you do the tweaking and then you add the sound, and then all of a sudden you watch it back you're like, oh, look at me, go, yeah, it's like, oh, that's oh all right.

Hayley:

so, yeah, you don't feel so. Um, and so when you get those moments of feedback, um, whether it be that you can see your UGC ad is performing because, uh, you know you can see it on TikTok as well, but most of mine have actually been on Facebook, because that's probably where the market actually is for the products that I promote, so you can see the views and the stats going up and that's really cool to actually capture. So you know you've done a good job, even though that direct feedback might not have come. Yeah, and what's?

Kristen:

really interesting. And what I liked hearing your story too because I think it's true for so many people is you know, we all have a lot of education, we all have a background, and sometimes we look at this space and go but why can't I figure it out? And it's so normal. And even you know myself, I've been in brand and marketing. That's my career. And when I came into the digital space, I've been learning and I've invested in coaches and mentorships and programs, because even myself I was like, okay, I've got every tool I need, but why isn't it just clicking?

Kristen:

And then all of a sudden, you invest in something and somebody says something in a different way that you might've heard a hundred times and like that's it, I've got it. Or it's the community and I think you know that's what's nice to hear is because your background is that and you're you are a teacher and so you understand so much of what is already kind of being taught and educated. But you just sometimes need a community or somebody else or a structure that makes you go oh, okay, that's fine. Like there's too much information when you have to find it yourself and then when it's in front of you and presented, it's much easier to walk through and learn. So I think that's key. For anybody that's listening, that's like but I kind of feel the same, or I should know how to do this, or why can't I understand it? Like I'm stupid or I'm dumb or I just don't get it.

Hayley:

Sometimes you just need somebody else to lay it and absolutely and that's where the imposter syndrome comes in that I should know how to do this and you? The reality is that you actually do. You might just need a broader vision, someone else to explain it in a different way. Um, and we are so like, as women, we are so, so hard on ourselves and you know I'll say this to you and to whoever's listening you're so hard on yourself, but then you know that, in reality, that I'm just going to turn around and say, oh, that was terrible, and like cut yourself back again. And that's where the hive is.

Hayley:

You know, everyone's shouting everyone else's successes and, um, cheering each other on and, you know, keep going and doing this, whereas often, especially on the internet, if you're trying to make a goal of this, you actually need a group or a coach or something that can cheer you on and keep you going. Otherwise you will drop off. That's the reality and I see that all the time in the work that I'm doing now is that if you don't have someone to mentor, to promote your successes, to support, you, you'll just drop out and that's it.

Kristen:

And I think you know, in this entrepreneurial space as well, and especially being women, most of us are mothers or and mothers of young kids or mothers of older kids that are leaving the nest. And so we've got this beautiful community where, you know, sometimes you feel like you can't say, like if you're in a workplace, sometimes you feel stupid, saying like, oh, I don't know where to find that file or I don't know how to do this, and you kind of see none of that yourself, which is very normal. But what's been really nice to watch in the community, and certainly when people have tried their hand at UGC, is the amount of people are like, have put in a comment inside the Facebook group, like, okay, guys, silly question, but I don't know how to do x, y, and everyone's like, ah, it's okay, no, this is how I did it. You should try this, let me see, let me look at your portfolio. So it's, it's just so nice to see that and I think I don't.

Kristen:

If it's, you might be able to answer this and feel the same, but I don't know if it's, because, like you get to this. I mean, I'll be 40 in a month or so. But you get to this age bracket where you just go fuck it. I don't know how to do it. Can you help me?

Hayley:

Like I think that's what's really nice about this whole UGC space 40 plus is we're like look, we've something, a crack, and I think that's what's really been cool to watch in this whole journey, and I think that's absolutely true in the fact that you get to that point where you go. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm stupid, I'm just going to ask this question because I'm stupid. Not to ask this question because if I get the answer, I'm going to be sailing away happily and you don't know what you don't know, and there's always someone that's going to answer that.

Kristen:

And so, I suppose, a couple of questions. First one you kind of answered it, but let's clarify it. What kind of was the biggest tweak of interest when we started kind of maybe sharing me as UGC story? And then you know, there was the likes of Tracy and Sophie and a few other people that dipped their toe in quite early, and then we did the boot camp in February. What was that thing that you were like just tweaked you enough to go now, fuck it, I'm gonna try.

Hayley:

Um so Tracy and Sophie are probably the ones that I've been watching very, very closely, um, and they're probably the ones that first inspired me to go and do it, because one of the things about and this is why the Higher Pub Collective is so useful is that Mia's story was inspirational. However, she was too far on her journey to connect with that idea Great teachings, but too far ahead of me. I needed someone that was that next step up. So just ahead of me. Okay, well, they can do it. What is it that they're doing? Not how can I copy them, but what is it that they're doing that I can emulate in some, some way, and obviously we're very, very different people, so it was just connecting with that. Those people that, oh, actually, yeah, rightio, you're doing that.

Kristen:

I can see that how that's working and I can see the structure in your content and I can create that with my particular life and and what I do and I think you know you've absolutely nailed it there in terms of and it's something that we say all the time inside the hive, it's something that me and I say to each other, it's something that we say when we look at other creators is it's when you find something that shows you what's possible like you know, in terms of Mia's story being that further ahead to where you were you kind of look at that. You know, in terms of Mia's story being that further ahead to where you were, you kind of look at that and you know I've got a coach, james Wedmore, and I look at his story and go, jesus Christ, like that's incredible. But I'm like is that really possible for me? And then he starts sharing his testimonials and stories and of people that now I can go. Actually, that's exactly what we've achieved this year. Oh my God, that is possible.

Kristen:

And so I think you know that was such an important thing to say, because when you go with a coach or you join up to a mentorship or a program, that mentor is meant to be those steps ahead just to be able to guide you. But then what's really cool is, like you say, in the membership, then people start applying it and you get to go. This is possible. Oh, I can actually see that, like they were at my level and now they've taken three steps and they're there.

Kristen:

Okay, if I take two steps, you know, and I think you know that's such a brilliant thing to kind of shine a light on, because we don't talk about it enough in terms of you know, the amount of social media you see, where you see coaches, you know dropping income claims left, right and center, and you're like that just doesn't feel achievable, where, when you can actually see it, and you're surrounded by a community of people where you go, oh, that's possible, that's cool, yeah, and so I really love that, because I think you know, and and what's good about that is is you'll be the person that somebody else in the hive is going to look up to or is going to hear this podcast, and go, okay, hayley, sorry, okay, this could be possible for me, and I think that's just such a really cool evolution when it comes to being in a community where people really do give a shit about each other yes, that's right.

Kristen:

Yeah, and sorry yeah, I was gonna say because I was just gonna lean into um. Then when we were talking in our spotlight session recently and you know we were just talking about how we're all going and Hayley just like casually drops this whole like oh yeah, so like my latest job is like a four thousand dollar job and she keeps talking about I'm sorry, if you could just back up the truck and tell us that properly.

Kristen:

So do you want to share how that happened, what you did and what that was all about, because I think that was just for you? I also want to congratulate you in taking that leap of applying for that and then getting it and like what an incredible story. So can you share with everyone that job?

Hayley:

yeah. So I am on an app or a platform called Fiverr, which you may or may not have heard of, and generally that I see a lot more of the US counterparts getting work from this platform. But anyway, this person reached out and I had never I'd done one job on Fiverr before, and so I was, you know, always a little bit wary of the legitimacy of the people that would reach out. But this person reached out from Fiverr and said do you want to do a UGC video? We do meal delivery service and you know what would be your package. And so I, you know, put together a package and they said, oh, okay, yep, we'll get back to you. And so, like, two weeks passed. I'm like, oh, okay, whatever. And then they reached out again and they said, oh, we actually want three videos. What would? Would you bundle up a price? I'm like, oh, okay, whatever, um. So I bundled up this price and I put this amount in and I'm like, oh, they're never gonna take that, like that's nuts, yeah. And I'm like then they're like, yep, okay, well, here's your code and do this and do that. I'm like, what like? And because it's always in US dollars on Fiverr, it's really um deceiving on how much it is. And so then, when I put that into the um, the AUD converter, I'm like, holy moly, how did that happen? Let's go with this. So, yeah, that was, that was pretty insane. Um, and that's what I find with the UGC is it can and for anyone else that it's you know, really starting and and not getting those instant results is that it actually takes time. Um, and just don't be too discouraged if you're not getting results straight away.

Hayley:

Um, and I'm in a little bit of a lull at the moment, I must admit, in terms of I haven't got the next one lined up.

Hayley:

So I've sort of been in these lulls and sweeps, but when I least expect it, something comes through and I'm like, oh cool. So, yeah, I got one this morning to say, hey, you know, would you be interested? So we're now in that back and forth routine again. So for me it's been really, really valuable as a choice option and I would love to build it more and more so I can, you know, hopefully at the end of this year, have a choice of whether I drop down hours again at work or, you know, whether I can just say no, I'm going to go into this full time, but we'll see where that leads us. And you know, I do love my job and it's great to have, but the flexibility is so much more important at the moment, especially with, you know, young children. Yeah, yeah. So that job was really really good and yeah, I haven't seen that one one arrived yet, but hopefully I'll see myself on the screen one day.

Kristen:

And so with something like that, did you um, put yourself on Fiverr as a creator and set yourself up a profile, just for anybody?

Hayley:

wondering yeah, so I was already on Fiverr because I had set up a few um small gigs which I never really got anything out of around social media management. Um, because that's where I thought I was going to go. I was going to go and I was going to be a social media manager and just post for people and that was it, and I never really got anything out of that. But I've got a couple of little clients on the side, but then I thought, well, I'll put a UGC profile up, it won't hurt. And yeah, I've had two gigs out of that particular platform in the last six months and that's awesome.

Kristen:

You know we've spoken before on the podcast as well around the fact that it's something that when you start creating, you don't have to create a sole account that's purely focused on UGC. You can set up however you want and some people have done that and some people have just added UGC to their profile and other people just, with small accounts, just create and then contact brands and work from there, or brands then start to see the work that's happening on their profile and contact that particular creator. So there's so many different ways you can do it without being, I mean, a slave to social media. In terms of having to post all the time is one of the big things. That has been a benefit we've heard from a lot of the community around. You don't have to have that.

Kristen:

You know that drive to post every day and be constantly on there. You can kind of ebb and flow with it, which is really good. So I suppose, in terms of looking back kind of 12 months ago, before you joined the Hive, and to where you are today, what would you say has been the biggest change in yourself and maybe your content or confidence around content or mindset? Is there something that you'd say? You feel a change and that you feel like you're in a different space now yeah.

Hayley:

So the biggest change would probably be I.

Hayley:

I started a specific UGC account because I thought that's what you had to do, um, and in hindsight I probably wouldn't have done that, but it's also opened up a different opportunity as well.

Hayley:

So there's there's pros and cons to both ways of. I think what my turning point in my content has been has just been opening up and being personable, which showing me in not the necessarily messiness of life, but just, you know, this is how it is and you know I've got a medically complex child and I've got a child on the spectrum, and you know things have been challenging, and that's the content that has not only drawn in followers in that account but has also allowed me to connect with the different brands. That actually helped me in my life to be able to create more content. So if you look inwards of what your life is actually like, your content just comes easy and you start thinking, oh well, I use X, y, z and that's why I use it, and someone else is going to relate to that. It also encourages engagement, so you can get more bang for your buck on your content, I guess, and you get an understanding of what your audience is actually wanting, and what they relate to and what they don't relate to.

Kristen:

Yeah, and I think that's the key is what we've seen the most in most of the members that have taken on this UGC challenge, whether they've taken it on and been really successful, whether they've just taken it on because they're curious and had a job here or there or done. The course is, like anything see into a kind of an actual outcome is that the more content you create, the better your muscle gets at creating that content, the more confidence you gain. And when you create content and somebody pays you for content, the confidence level goes again because you're like well, this is okay, this is now something that I'm doing, and so you know what's been really nice to see is that that is how it's unfolded for so many people is, all of a sudden you're building that muscle because somebody is prepared to pay you money, so you have to create the damn video, or you don't get paid and you let someone down. So then there becomes like this responsibility on you and your reputation that all of a sudden it becomes you're creating more content and then you want to get more jobs, so you create more content and that just keeps building.

Kristen:

And it's that confidence muscle that it's really hard to train that muscle when you just keep creating content after content after content and it's not really hitting it, it's not really working. And I think that's where you know that confidence to open up and share that story also comes from, because you just, each time you do it, you just let a little bit more out and you grow that little bit more confident and you become that authority in that space. So I think that in itself is certainly what we've seen with you and your content, and the change in the way that you show up and you share has been absolutely incredible to watch and really, really exciting to see where it's going to go from here. So we can't wait to see where the journey goes.

Hayley:

Yeah, I can't wait see where the journey goes. Yeah, I can't wait. There's you know, there's a couple of different works in the pipelines too, so I'm hoping that something more comes of it. But yeah, it's, it's certainly um, it's been good and it's been. It's fun.

Hayley:

It puts the fun back into the content whereas I think that's where I was also struggling is that, oh, this became such a drag, but now content is fun. And yeah, just being away on the long weekend and you know you have your phone out and you're like, oh, this would make a good piece of content later on. And the horrible situation that my phone is just like too full.

Kristen:

Yes, and I'm like, oh, what can I delete? And then I had an awkward situation the other day where a couple of girlfriends, we were on a little um group chat and they're all sending photos of their children each other and that's kind of how we share instead of sharing on social media. It's like great. So I went on mine. I was like scroll, scroll. I was like, oh shit, there's like no photos of my fucking kids in here. It's just like me content screenshots, like all, like all this stuff. I was like, wow, okay, I really am a born content creator.

Hayley:

You're like oh, there's a photo of me, lovely, panning at the beach, but nothing of what the kids were doing on the beach that day.

Kristen:

No, no, and that's where I think you step up to that next level. Like nope, I'm an entrepreneur and a content creator and this is what I do now. So I think we're all feeling that pain of not enough storage in the phone, which is hilarious like oh how do I get rid of this, but anyway, that's okay. Well, hayley, thank you so much for your time.

Hayley:

It's been a real pleasure to speak to me speak to me, speak to us.

Kristen:

It's been a real pleasure to speak to you. It's been a real pleasure to speak to me, as usual, jesus.

Hayley:

I always love my chats in the hive because I get all inspired or teary or whatever.

Kristen:

There's lots of tears, there's lots of celebrations, there's lots of hormonal things. It's just a place to kind of come and be like you know what. Let's just hang out and sometimes we just talk shit. But it's just really nice to be surrounded by other women that get it and want something else for themselves, and that doesn't necessarily have to be a full-time UGC career, it can be. I just want an extra bit of money that means we can go on holidays next month or that means that I pay the shopping bills and my partner's wage pays the rest, or whatever that is.

Kristen:

Who cares?

Hayley:

It's your story, but we want to create that space where you can actually see what's possible, and I go back to what you said before, like it's just all about seeing what's possible and that's what's so exciting in this space, and you know, normal, normal people and that's something that I found hard with some of the US creators is finding the relatability of that, whereas, being Australian based and obviously New Zealand, and I know we've got Canadians and lots of people in the hive but it's just the relatability and the naturalness and that is coming out of that. You know, and people messaging on TikTok, like there's quite a few South Australians in the group, like, oh, where are you from? Like, yeah, I'm coming up your way. Should we meet for a coffee? And that's so nice. Yeah, something probably I've always refrained from. But yeah, it goes back to the well, why not Like? Why not give it a go? What? And that's the oh, fuck it. Like I'm just gonna have a crack because if I don't, I'll never know what's possible.

Kristen:

Yeah, and that's it. That's one of those things you think you know, like we all go to work and we find work, best friends, and you know you live a life there. But when you don't do that and certainly when you're a mom and a stay-at-home mom and you know or you're looking for something different, it's so goddamn lonely that when you can find a community where it literally feels like we're now workmates and you know you can call on each other and you kind of feel like you know each other's story, and I think I think it's this weird thing when it comes to online, where you kind of feel like like, oh, we're not really friends, we're not really colleagues, but then all of a sudden you're like Jesus Christ, if we got in a room tomorrow, we'd all be like oh my.

Kristen:

God, it's been so long since I seen you. I'm scared for anybody who's hosting in that room, Like whoever. Whenever we do a live and we all get together, I feel so sorry for the people that are like trying to service food or drinks or anything like that.

Hayley:

And it's just going to be this explosion of noise and color and excitement.

Kristen:

Well, until that day, we will wait. It will come, don't you worry, it will come. But for now, we are going to be launching into our boot camp next week and we've loved hearing your story. Thank you so much for taking time and sharing it with everybody, and we will see you, if not in the boot camp, we'll see you all next week. We'll see you in the podcast. There's so many good ones too.