So you want to work with brands, but it’s hard to know exactly how to reach out. Who do you contact in the first place? What should you include in that first email? Is there something you can do to stand out from the crowd? If only we could ask someone who’s worked with influencers at a PR agency exactly what they’re looking for…

Well you’re in luck, because today’s guest understands both the beauty community and PR. Amy Chang is the founder and editor of BOND EN AVANT, a luxury beauty and lifestyle blog founded in 2016. Her brand seeks to provide thoughtful reviews and inspiring stories, while showcasing brands that uplift women.

At 19, Amy took a year off from college and worked as a makeup artist for Shiseido. When she returned to school in New York, Amy knew she wanted to pursue her passion for beauty, and studying PR allowed her to do internships with Loreal and few hospitality firms. After graduation, Amy worked in the consumer products division of an agency where she was responsible for dealing with the bloggers! But after a move to LA, she made the decision to become a content creator herself, tapping into her creativity to establish a blog where she has the freedom to write about products she believes in. Listen in as she explains the best way to introduce yourself to PR reps for brands and how to establish enduring relationships with those reps. She also shares great tips on branding, developing your site, and harnessing SEO to grow your audience.

Episode Sponsor:

Make sure you check out our current podcast sponsor, GloProfessional. To be added to their PR list, make sure that you fill out the blogger interest form  or to take advantage of the 15% discount (use code Erika15) check out my favorite products HERE. 

What do you represent? One of the most difficult aspects of establishing yourself as an influencer is finding that thing that makes you unique and leveraging your ‘superpower’ to stand out in a crowded field of YouTubers. The platform has evolved into a lucrative business, and that means your channel is its own brand. And when your personality matches up with a beauty brand, collaborations follow. Today’s guest is a YouTube veteran with a unique brand identity who is ready to share how her individuality as an influencer has led to some awesome opportunities.

Stephanie Ledda is a 26-year-old New York native with a passion for beauty and a unique eye for fashion. Her channel, SMLx0, has over 900,000 subscribers who look to Stephanie for inspiring hair, makeup and styling tutorials. She was a college student when she started her channel in 2009. A business management and marketing major, Stephanie enjoyed watching YouTube videos and decided to try it out herself. Using the webcam on her MacBook to make videos in her dorm room, she created celebrity-inspired looks and gained a modest following.

Stephanie considered YouTube a fun hobby, but she didn’t realize its potential to become a career until StyleHaul and the YouTube Partner Program reached out to her in 2011. After graduating from college, she tried to balance a traditional job in marketing at a bridal boutique with her channel, but quickly recognized that she couldn’t do both – and she really missed YouTube! Certain she could support herself through the channel, Stephanie quit her marketing job to pursue YouTube full-time. She definitely made the right decision, considering that she’s partnered with major brands like Schwarzkopf, Maybelline, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Tarte. Today she chats about sharing your personal life with your followers, the value of a degree, and how she chooses brands for sponsored videos.

“How many fishtail braids can someone do before their eyes bleed?”

Chatting with today’s guest on Beauty and the Vlog is a master class in sharing your authentic voice. Prepare to laugh and learn from a lifestyle and food influencer who has been on YouTube since 2008, amassing 150,000 followers and 18.5M video views.

Theodore Leaf began his career – and his YouTube channel – as a stylist at Chris McMillan Salon in Los Angeles. Hoping to expand his client base, Theodore uploaded a demo video on YouTube, but had no intention of posting consistently to cultivate a following until he met and became friends with Michelle Phan.

Watching Michelle work and teaming up with her on projects for the For All Women Network (FAWN), Theodore got inspired to grow his own channel. He was able to capitalize on that social media presence to land network and cable gigs including Fashion Star and Secret Guide to Fabulous. But after a move to New York and a little soul searching, Theodore made the decision to shift the focus of his channel to lifestyle and cooking. He incorporated a vlog while attending culinary school, and thus began his quest to become the next Martha Stewart! Listen as Theodore shares the importance of being yourself, diversifying your online presence and capitalizing on the freedom provided by the YouTube framework.

In this episode of Beauty and the Vlog, I had the pleasure of getting to know one of our podcast sponsors a little better and also picking up some awesome tips related to skincare and makeup! I was able to chat with GloProfessional brand representatives, Anna De la Cruz, Director of Brand Development and Janeena Billera Senior Makeup Artist Educator. They shared SO many amazing skincare and makeup tips along with insight into their careers and how they landed their positions with GloProfessional.