Authenticity And Sustainability As An Influencer With Kaya Marriott

In our latest episode, the Kaya Marriott podcast episode on JKL where we dive deep into the world of content creation. Kaya is an influencer, blogger at Comfy Girl Curls and filmmaker who passionately creates content that resonates with her audience.

In today's episode, we explore the realities of the creator economy, the importance of authenticity, and practical tips for sustainable social media engagement. Kaya's journey from a small influencer to a full-time content creator is packed with valuable insights and lessons for anyone looking to thrive in this space.

The Creator Economy is a Long-Term Path

Kaya emphasizes that the creator economy is not a get-rich-quick scheme but a viable long-term career path. She shares her experience of transitioning from a hobbyist blogger to a professional content creator by adopting a business mindset. This shift involved creating income and expense spreadsheets, identifying multiple revenue streams, and showing up intentionally online. The takeaway is clear: treat content creation as a business, and it will start to yield business-like results.

The Power of Authenticity

Authenticity is a recurring theme in Kaya's success. She highlights the importance of showing up authentically, whether in her Instagram stories or blog posts. This genuine approach not only strengthens the connection with her audience but also attracts brands that align with her values. Kaya's advice is to share personal stories, be vulnerable, and let your true self shine through your content.

Leveraging Multiple Platforms

Kaya's multi-platform strategy is another key aspect of her success. While Instagram remains her primary platform, she also leverages YouTube, Pinterest, and her blog to reach different segments of her audience. Each platform serves a unique purpose: Instagram for community building, YouTube for long-form content, Pinterest for driving traffic, and her blog for in-depth articles. This diversified approach not only broadens her reach but also mitigates the risks associated with platform-specific changes.

Sustainable Social Media Practices

Sustainability in content creation is crucial to avoid burnout. Kaya shares her approach to maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life. This includes taking breaks, outsourcing certain tasks, and leaning on her community for support. She also underscores the importance of listening to your audience and adapting your content strategy based on their feedback.

Things To Think About As A New Content Creator

• Treat Content Creation as a Business: Adopt a professional mindset, create a strategic plan, and execute it with intention.
• Be Authentic: Share your personal stories, be vulnerable, and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
• Diversify Your Platforms: Leverage multiple platforms to reach different audience segments and reduce dependency on any single platform.
• Practice Sustainability: Avoid burnout by taking breaks, outsourcing tasks, and listening to your audience.
• Understand SEO Basics: Learn and implement basic SEO techniques to make your content discoverable and drive traffic.
• Focus on Community Building: Engage with your audience, respond to comments, and create a sense of community around your content.
• Leverage Hashtags: Use hashtags strategically to get on brands' radars and expand your reach.
• Balance Personal and Professional Life: Ensure you maintain a healthy work-life balance to sustain your creativity and productivity.
• Stay Flexible and Adaptable: Be open to changes and willing to adapt your strategy based on feedback and evolving trends.
• Invest in Quality: Ensure your content is high quality, both in terms of production and the value it provides to your audience.
• Be Patient and Persistent: Building a successful content creation career takes time and consistent effort.
• Set Clear Goals: Define what success looks like for you and set measurable goals to track your progress.
• Monetize Smartly: Explore various income streams like brand deals, affiliate marketing, and digital products.
• Network with Other Creators: Collaborate with others in your niche to grow your audience and learn from each other.
• Keep Learning: Stay updated with the latest trends and continuously seek to improve your skills and knowledge.

Memorable Quotes

“It did feel kind of surreal that I was leaving a really stable life. But the panic sort of hit me on the other side once I actually quit and I had all of this free time, I had to work fully on my own schedule and manage my own time. That was all very new for me and was very difficult. I started to think,  ‘what if everything was a fluke and I made a mistake?’ Um, but that turned out to just be the adjustment period.”

“For blogging and SEO you don't need to go incredibly deep with search. All you have to understand is that in order for a search engine to serve your content to the people looking for it, you need to have the words that the people might be typing into Google or Youtube figured out.”

“People stay stuck in the research phase and they're consuming all the podcasts, watching all the YouTube videos, but never feel ready. If that's you, just go start because you're only going to learn from your mistakes. And you have to start making those mistakes as soon as possible.”

Guest Bio

Kaya Marriott is a Canadian content creator who began her journey as a Natural Hair Blogger in 2016 with the launch of comfygirlwithcurls.com.

She loves blogging and content creation because it allows her to be helpful. Which says a lot about her character.

Over time, her brand has grown to include beauty and lifestyle content, which she shares across multiple platforms. As her community sought content creation advice, Kaya started providing tips and resources to help others navigate the process.

Despite being considered a "nanoinfluencer," Kaya's journey has seen her partner with global brands, speak with Google at Vidcon Abu Dhabi, and become a founding member of Pinterest Canada’s 2021 Creator Class. She aims to show others that you don’t need a massive following to make a career out of content creation.

Follow Kaya

Website - CreatingWithKaya
Instagram - @creatingwithkaya
YouTube - @CreatingwithKaya

I'm so happy you found this podcast. I am here to serve you, the creative solopreneur & aspiring content creator to get clarity on how to create content, teaching, build a business and design the life of your dreams without burning out in the online learning, creator economy.

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