If you had told me two years ago that I would be working with brands like Bubble, Poppi, Good Molecules, Target, Clinique, Prada, and Love Shack Fancy, I would have laughed. Back then, I was just a sophomore in college who decided to post a random “day in my life” video on TikTok. Nothing fancy, nothing curated, just me.
But that one post turned into another, and then another. People started liking my content, which gave me the confidence to keep going. And now, here I am, getting paid to create content on TikTok and building real relationships with brands I once only admired from afar. This has not been an overnight success story, though. It has been a 2-year journey full of trial and error, slow growth (which is STILL growth, by the way), and a whole lot of consistency. I want to share not only my journey but also the tips that have worked for me so you can grow your account too.
My Growth Story
When I first started, I had no plan. My mind runs a million miles a minute, so “scheduling content” was a foreign idea. I just posted what felt fun: outfit checks, lifestyle clips, and little moments of my day. Slowly, my editing got better. I found an editing app that worked for me (the sounds, fonts, and clips that felt like me), and over time, my content started to flow.
The more I posted, the more people engaged. That gave me a simple formula: stay consistent and interact with others. Those two things have been the backbone of my growth.
Tips for Growing Your Account
- 1. Put Your Email in Your Bio — Brands need to know how to reach you! Do not make it hard for them! Keep it simple and professional.
- 2. Tag, Tag, Tag — Incorporate brands you love into your content and tag them. Brands notice when creators organically post about them. Some of my favorite collaborations started this way and it’s so fun when brands comment on my posts!
- 3. Community Over Competition — Support the people around you! Hype up their content, comment, engage, and share. Building community online (and offline) makes your growth way more meaningful.
- 4. Find Your Editing Flow — Editing is one of those things that feels impossible at first but gets better with time. Practice really does make perfect. Play around with styles until you find what feels natural to you.
- 5. Brand Outreach (Yes, You Can Reach Out Too!) — Sometimes brands reach out to me. Other times, I reach out to them. Do not be afraid to pitch yourself; worst-case scenario, they do not respond. Best case? You land a collab.
- 6. Forget About “Fitting into One Niche” — This is controversial, but I do not believe you have to stick to one niche. Some creators thrive that way, but me? I post what I want. If people vibe with it, amazing. If not, they can swipe. This is YOUR account. Do not box yourself in.
- 7. Create for the Consumer — At the end of the day, remember who you are posting for: your supporters. Post content you would personally want to watch. If it excites you, it will connect with someone else too. Remember this tip: post something that’s inspiring, educational, or relatable!
- 8. Use TikTok’s Creator Search Insights — This tool is GOLD. It shows you what people are searching for and helps you understand how your content can reach more eyes.
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it!”
– Estee Lauder
Final Thoughts
My journey has not been fast or “perfect.” It has been steady, sometimes slow, but always moving forward. I am proud of how far I have come, and I know there’s still so much more growth ahead.
If you are just starting, remember this: slow growth is still growth! Celebrate every milestone, every new follower, every little win. Keep posting, keep connecting, and most importantly, have fun with it. My journey has not been fast or “perfect.” It has been steady, sometimes slow, but always moving forward. I am proud of how far I have come, and I know there’s still so much more growth ahead.