Aliyawanders

When I started making content for brands, I had no idea what I was doing. Seriously. I didn’t even know my niche – and, to be honest, I still don’t. Why? Because I’d get bored sticking to one type of content. I enjoy creating for me, so joy comes first. And let’s be real – I’m not about to squeeze myself into a box. My philosophy? I am the niche.

Here’s the funny thing: becoming a content creator for other brands wasn’t even the plan. My original goal was to create content about financial planning – I wanted to make it engaging enough to attract people. But let’s face it, financial planning isn’t exactly a thrilling topic for the masses. Trying to make terms like “investment portfolios” and “retirement planning” sound fun? Not easy.

After attending the Meta x guardian workshop, I still wasn’t planning to do brand collabs. But then guardian reached out to me. That little moment of recognition opened my eyes – I started seeing opportunities here. The truth? After attending the Meta x guardian workshop, only guardian noticed me. Yep, guardian might have been the only brand that realized I existed. Cue awkward laughter. But, if one brand could take notice, maybe others would too.

So, channeling my inner salesperson (well, 20 years in financial planning has got to count for something, right?), I took matters into my own hands. I slid into DMs, introduced myself at events, and pitched wherever I could. It was very much a learn-as-you-go process. I didn’t know much about the content creation world, but I was determined. Let’s face it – money makes the world go round, and if this hustle could support my family, I was all in.

Then, a friend tipped me off about KOL and content creator groups on Facebook. I joined every single one and hunted for gigs. But here’s the thing – being over 40 in this industry? Not easy. Most brands aren’t looking for creators my age, even skincare brands targeting mature skin. (Hello, why hire someone in their 20s with no wrinkles to convince me?)

Still, the opportunities trickled in, and I was grateful. I made a rule: as long as brands didn’t ask me to tweak my reviews, we were good.

But then I made a rookie mistake: I applied for way too many jobs. Thinking I’d only land a few, I ended up getting more than I could handle. September and October? Absolute burnout central. By day, I was a financial planner. By night, I was a content creator juggling recording, editing, and my teenager’s mood swings. I was exhausted.

Lesson learned. I got more selective, focusing on paid collabs and learning to say no to unpaid ones. Creating content costs time and money – gas, tolls, parking, makeup, equipment – it all adds up.

Now, unpaid collabs are strictly reserved for things I find genuinely fun or worth exploring. For me, the products brands send aren’t gifts; they’re tools for my craft. And if I’m not excited to use them, what’s the point?

I love that you enjoy my articles, photos, and videos, but let’s keep it friendly! Please don’t reproduce, copy, or share them without my written permission. If you’d like to use anything, just drop me a message first.