Posted in Life Over 50

HOW I BECAME AN INFLUENCER

How I Became An Influencer
ONE OF MY FIRST POSTS – TAKEN IN OAKLY UTAH

I’ve been blogging and influencing now for a little over seven years. People ask me often HOW I BECAME AN INFLUENCER. It’s quite a story. If someone had told me seven plus years ago that I would be heavy in to social media influencing at 62, I wouldn’t have believed them! My intention wasn’t ever to turn it in to a business, and honestly I had no idea you could actually make a living being a Blogger!

IT BEGAN WITH PICTURES OF MY FEET

My very first Instagram post was on October 20, 2015. Earlier that year, my cousin had an instagram account that was successful for her. One day she said to me, “You should start a blog that’s fashion tips for women at midlife.” There was no way I wanted to do that. First I didn’t think there would be enough interested women. I didn’t know what it would look like, but after several months thinking about it, it started to appeal to me.

My initial idea was to put OTHER WOMEN on MY INSTAGRAM and talk about why I love their style and what THEY love about style. But that didn’t go very far, as I learned that most women didn’t want their picture on my instagram for all to see. So….. how could I do this WITHOUT using myself for my posts?

HOW I BECAME AN INFLUENCER
MY FIRST FULL BODY PICTURE POSTED ON INSTAGRAM
THIS IS HOW I GOT AROUND POSTING PICTURES OF MYSELF

Obviously I had to shift gears, and as a photographer too (I had a tiny little business called SHAUNA RAE ART), I knew how to take a good picture. My very first pictures on my feed were of my feet, flat-lays, part of my face, other women, and the top of my hat. I was so nervous about posting myself on EVERY SINGLE POST. I thought it would look indulgent and that was the last thing I wanted. I’m not that comfortable being up in front of people, even virtually. Now of course, as a full-time influencer, it’s my job and that’s how I look at it. As soon as I put a full picture of myself on my feed, my engagement and numbers more than doubled. It took me twelve posts to discover this. My first post was on October 20, 2015, and the full body picture (above in green plaid shirt) was on November 5, 2015.

TAKING PICTURES OF MYSELF – CLICKER IN HAND
ANOTHER PHOTO TAKEN BY MYSELF WITH A TRIPOD
USING PROPS TO SHOW HOW I LIVED AS A MIDLIFE WOMAN

NOT ONLY WAS I HESITANT, BUT SO WAS MY MAMA

I remember a few weeks after I started my journey with CHIC OVER 50, I was at my mama’s house and I told her I had started a blog and was going to become a social media influencer. She was a bit confused and said, “Why, and what is that?” She didn’t understand really my motivation behind it. At that point, I knew it was going someplace and was just hoping to reach 1000 followers. I thought that would be amazing and well worth the time I spent. It took her awhile to see the success and opportunities it was giving me, but I think she was always a tiny bit hesitant up until she passed.

OPPORTUNITIES AND COLLABORATIONS

Becoming an Influencer brought many opportunities. My first one happened in December, just short a couple of months after I started. I was in Chicago at Anthropologie, and one of their manager’s saw me and was talking to me about what I did. She invited me back to Chicago to be a part of one of their fashion shows. This was so cool to me because that was my favorite place to shop. Needless to say it was AMAZING!!

My first collaboration came several months after I started. I remember thinking to myself, “WOW a free shirt!” I didn’t ask for any compensation because I didn’t know you could ask for that! I was educated several months later by another blogger, and that’s really when I started making a living. Now at 165k+ followers, I get paid quite well from brands that I advertise for. I’ve learned everything on my own. I had one friend SheShe, who had reached out to me early on, and helped me through several things relating to blogging and influencing. She still to this day is one of my very BEST FRIENDS!

HOW I BECAME AN INFLUENCER
MY VERY FIRST COLLABORATION – COVERED PERFECTLY

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BLOGGING

This is what I would tell anyone who wanted to become an Influencer and Blogger:

  1. IT TAKES CONSISTENT WORK
  2. BLOGGING IS VERY INTENSE
  3. YOU WILL NEVER BE CAUGHT UP
  4. THIS WORK IS NOT PART-TIME
  5. CREATING GOOD CONTENT WILL BRING SUCCESS
  6. IF YOU DON’T KNOW PHOTOGRAPHY – HIRE ONE
  7. YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO KEEP LEARNING
  8. WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO – HIRE IT OUT
  9. YOU SHOULD HAVE A BLOG TO GO ALONG WITH ANY SOCIAL ACCOUNTS
  10. IF YOU’RE NOT PASSIONATE ABOUT IT – IT WILL SHOW

Being an Influencer and Blogger looks very glamorous on the outside. But absolutely it is SO MUCH WORK! I do everything myself, including my photography and videos. I did have an assistant for a couple of years, but since last year I’m a one-man show. On most days I spend at least 8 hours a day and sometimes much more. In addition, I never really put it away. There are always emails to answer, and quite honestly when I let those get behind it is completely STRESSFUL!

HOW I BECAME AN INFLUENCER
CREATING CONTENT IS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING AN INFLUENCER

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I have much more to talk about that will be PART II to this post. Becoming an Influencer has definitely been a gift from God. It literally saved my life. I will talk more personal about all of this, in the next weeks. Above all, I’m grateful to ALL OF YOU who follow along and have supported me. Without a doubt, I NEVER take any of you for granted. Finally my goal will always be to inspire and help women become THEIR BEST SELVES!

Shauna XO

37 thoughts on “HOW I BECAME AN INFLUENCER”

  1. Shauna, I loved reading this!! In fact, I remember when I got *my* first collaboration with Covered Perfectly, and I remembered seeing your post and feeling so blessed that they asked me too!!! 😉 Can’t wait to read the rest, my friend!!! Love ya!

    1. Hi Cammi! God has been so good, because this was not part of my plan. I’ve had the greatest pleasure of meeting people like you who inspire me as much as I do them! Hope to see you soon! And hope all is well on the home-front! LOVE YOU back girl! XO

      1. I love your site! You’re amazing and enjoy your post so much . I would love to do this but I’m afraid.

        1. Cynthia I can remember when I first started, and it WAS scary. But if you are passionate about something AND WILLING TO WORK HARD, you’ll be successful! Best wishes!! XO

          1. I loved reading your post and honesty. You’re such a lovely vibrant and energetic person. I do admire you for that. Also i know its no sissy job and if I understand well, it does pay off. Now im not stating you dont but with so many followers, wouldn’t it be a greater gift to our world using your gift and power, and that of other influencers too, to make followers more aware of honest produced brands? Reading about the tragedies in dhaka at the moment for clothing we wear its so unfair. You must agree that After all, everyone’s deserves a fair living and wages. Lets start change something in 2023 💚🍀

      1. Girl….. do you know how impressed I was that you came to meet me??? You were DARLING then and you’re even MORE DARLING NOW. Can’t wait to meet up with you again….. either there or here! XOXO

  2. Hi Shauna! I’ve been following you for most of your 7 plus years as an influencer! I love reading your posts on Instagram and seeing all your beautiful fashions! It’s very inspiring! Speaking of fashions, I absolutely LOVE the red winter jacket you’re wearing in one of your first posts! It’s the first thing that caught my attention and I’ve been a fan ever since! Where is that jacket from?

    1. Hi Maureen…. THANK YOU very much! I really REALLY APPRECIATE your support! It’s been such a fun ride and I look forward to more and more! Is the red coat the one in my post today? If so, it’s from ANTHROPOLOGIE. Take care and come back again soon! XOXO

    2. I started following you because of what else…. your hair-lol! It gave me the confidence to rock the same style and have been for a few years now into my early 60’s!

      1. Hi Dawn…. THAT IS AWESOME! Seriously this is why I do what I do! So happy to know you LOVE your pixie. I’m sure you are ROCKIN it well! Thanks for stopping by and come back again soon! XO

  3. Shauna! So happy to have found you- looking forward to 2023 with you. Congratulations on your success and wishing you even more!

    1. Maryann THANK YOU! You are so sweet to stop by and I APPRECIATE that more than ever! Come back again soon, and YES TO GOOD THINGS IN 2023!!!!! Xoxoxo

    1. Jodie is this you….. @jtouchofstyle ?? Thank you so much! Your comment means so much to me! BEST TO YOU!!! XOXO

  5. Thank you Shauna for creating this post! It came at the perfect time. I started blogging last year but then stopped. I just thought I wasn’t good enough. But now I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to it. Your words are the inspiration I needed!💕

    1. Diane SO HAPPY to hear! If there was anyone who doubted themselves….. IT WAS ME! It’s scary putting yourself out there! But I believe that if you truly are PASSIONATE about something, there will always be a way for you to make it work for you! BEST OF LUCK and thank you for your comment! XO

  6. So happy for all that you’ve accomplished. Influencer is a title that suits you well, in many forms. To me, you are one of the hardest working people in social media, and it shows. Wishing you many more glorious years and inspiring projects to light up your life & ours ❤️

    1. HI CHERYL!!!! Thank you! What an awesome compliment! Both of my parents instilled in me HARD WORK. I have always benefitted from that mindset and am so grateful. I APPRECIATE ALWAYS hearing from you Cheryl! BEST TO YOU in the new year! XO

  7. Hi Shauna, I absolutely love your posts, actually you were my main influence in helping me to decide to cut off my hair. I’m back to growing it out. lol. I’ve been following you since 2017 and am always inspired by your posts and fashion. Keep doing what you’re doing.

    1. Lorna THANK YOU for stopping by! I think you should go back to your PIXIE! Just kidding, whatever you feel best in is how you should have it! But seriously, THANK YOU for your kind words and support! XOXO

    1. Chanda THANK YOU! I appreciate your support very much! BEST TO YOU TOO girlfriend! Come back again soon! XO

  9. I was so hoping that you would one day write about how you became an influencer Shauna. Loved reading your blog (I love your blog in general) I have been following you from my personal IG for about 4 years and when I started my LivingFully IG page you were one of the first people I followed. I was so excited when you followed me back 🙂

    You are such an inspiration to me and I feel so inspired by your story. When I started my IG my hope was to inspire positivity and connect with women who had a positive outlook on aging. I had no expectations that my IG would grow at the rate it did. I am very grateful but I am still trying to navigate what my next steps should be and at times feel a little lost. You give me hope and I so appreciate you. Looking forward to Part 2 and learning more about you.

    1. Hi Annie…. I’m always thinking that EVERYONE already knows my story. Happy that you liked it! Best wishes to you too Annie. I honestly believe that if you’re willing to work hard at something and you have the passion behind it, more than likely it will be a success! XO

  10. Thank you. I thought it was easy for influencers to step in front of the camera. I struggle with the idea and it’s why I haven’t moved forward. I’m a great writer, but always worry about putting my face out there.

    1. Angie it’s for sure scary. It took me awhile to get used to it. It’s never what it looks like from the outside! BEST OF LUCK to you in your endeavors! Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by! XO

  11. Shauna,
    I started following you due to your hairstyle & your fashion sense. I love hearing about how you got started. You are darling & should never feel unsure about putting your face out there. You are inspiring in every way. Love hearing about your Faith especially! Thank you for all your hard work. Much appreciated.

    1. Holly how sweet of you! Thank you for stopping by and for following along! It’s women like you that make my job so rewarding!!! Come back again soon! XO

  12. I needed to read this today! Thank you! Not that I have any thought of becoming an influencer, but I am at a bit of a crossroads in my life. Change is a REALLY BIG deal in your 50’s (as I’m finding out). Thank you for always being an inspiration Shauna.

    1. Jennifer I think midlife does bring with it, this sense of belonging in a way. CHANGE is frightening for sure. But as I said, if you are passionate about something and are willing to work at it, IT WILL BE A SUCCESS, no question! Best wishes to you as you figure out your path at midlife! I’m always here for you, so don’t hesitate to ever reach out! Thank you Jennifer! XO

  13. Shauna,
    You were the first person I every followed on Instagram. I was never into social media, but I saw your blog and loved your hair and style and the fact that you were my age and I loved your style and how it somewhat resembled mine. I used to from time to time worry that I had to fit into an age mold for clothing style and I never really did. You made that okay for me! After following you and meeting you and knowing your story, I can say you are such a terrific person and moreso in person. This was your calling for sure! I watched how hard you worked in Vegas with our little group, making it fun but you were always working – a true passion! Thanks for all you do for women of the world and making them feel better and sharing your style!!! Have a terrific 2023!

    1. Cindy you are THE SWEETEST! Thank you for all your kind words! I do LOVE LOVE what I do and LOVE to be able to inspire and lift other women. We ALL do this in our own way to each other. I LOVED meeting you in Vegas and will always cherish those memories! Take care girl…… and keep being your SASSY SELF! Love you!! XO

  14. Love this Shauna! When I put my very 1st post up, you were one of the first people to comment. I was beyond thrilled! Thank you for encouraging me from day 1!

    1. Hi Michelle, thank you for stopping by! I remember in the beginning responding to other IG posts and never hearing back from them. It felt so selfish in a way to me. So I’m glad you’ve felt my support for you too! Best wishes Michelle! Happy New Year! XO

  15. Congratulations on your success! I recently discovered your Insta so its nice to have a blog site to visit too. I started blogging back before the other forms of social media appeared (Insta, Twitter, TikTok etc..), so I still love a good blog and am very aware of the effort one needs to put into it if you want to make it successful. Keep up the amazing work!

    1. Hello Alison… THANKS VERY MUCH for your kind words! It does take so much work, doesn’t it? But it’s all worth it when you can meet wonderful women like you! Thanks for your comment and come back again soon! XO

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