In our very last episode of Season 5, we sit down with Lindsay Alesso to discuss the intricacies and tactics of affiliate marketing. Lindsay is a Senior Client Development Manager at CJ Affiliate who has worked with global brands in the travel, retail, fashion, and sportswear space on their marketing objectives to create and execute short and long-term affiliate strategies. She’s been a panelist for many affiliate events that are focused on the value of content, and has received recognition and accolades for her own work in content strategy.Some Takeaways from our time together: Platforms change and that changes the way creators interact with their followers (which is important for the brand to know)To understand how strong your commission structure is, ask content creators!Before starting any campaign, before deciding any platforms you want to activate on, Define your goals and what your KPIs are for your efforts. For more on Lindsay:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayalesso/ For more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Influencer Business: A podcast by Trove

Lindsay Alesso, a Senior Client Development Manager at CJ Affiliate, on how to approach the intricacies of affiliate marketing with clarity

Amy Romfo (of @thecoastal oak) is a DIY blogger and content creator based in Charleston, SC. She talks candidly about pursuing content creation full-time with three young kiddos underfoot, flipping furniture, and pursuing home construction projects, all while taking her audience along for the ride (including the flops!). In this episode, Amy and I talk through: The makeup of a compelling reelHer reel that went viralThe downsides of viral contentThe value of being able to reach your audience outside of social and direct them to a platform that you ownWhy you have to be prepared to change your content strategy And moreFor more on Amy:@thecoastaloakthecoastaloak.com.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Amy Romfo (@thecoastaloak) on going viral with reels, increasing her email list by 10x, and why it’s important to be nimble as a content creator

Molly Fienning is the co-founder and CEO of Red Clay, a fast-growing, Southern food business, crafting delicious hot sauces, hot honeys and specialty salts. And when I say fast-growing, they have grown 3-4X year over year in gross revenue these past three years and have rolled Red Clay out to The Fresh Market, Whole Foods Market, Publix, Food 52 and more. Incredibly impressive! Prior to Red Clay, Molly was Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Babiators, one of Forbes&apos; 100 Most Promising Companies and the leading sunglasses brand for babies & kids (with 4+ million pairs sold). In this episode, Molly shares her experience and advice for the marathon that is starting and successfully growing a product-based business. We cover: The different avenues for starting a business and the one thing they all have in commonWhy the “Irrational Offer” worksRaising capital and the different ways to view itWays Red Clay pivoted quickly to reach their revenue goals during the pandemic and how they ended up surpassing themHer most valuable advice to early stage entrepreneurs...And so much more (as always)!For more about Molly:@mollyfienning @redclayhotsauce redclayhotsauce.com @babiators  babiators.com For more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Austin (Host) and Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.com

Molly Fienning, Co-Founder + Co-CEO of Babiators and Co-Founder + CEO of Red Clay on entrepreneurship and growing Red Clay 3-4X year over year

Equilibria is the premium CBD brand that you’ve likely seen scrolling through your Instagram. While still a young company (not even 3 y/o yet!), they have seen incredible growth during their lifespan, in large part due to their partnerships with content creators. Bonnie Knobloch, the Head of Business Development at Equilibria, joins us for a transparent conversation about their highly relational approach to influencer marketing. We talk about: Their generous commission structureWhy she would rather invest in influencer marketing than Facebook ads  Their recent advisory board and how they lean on influencers to help with efforts from product development to marketing Why content creator account size isn’t everythingAdvice for brands who are just beginning to work with content creators...and so much more (as always)!Before joining Equilibria as one of their first employees, Bonnie was the Senior Director at Beauty Counter. She has 15 years in the beauty industry and is passionate about mission driven brands and products that create a cleaner, safer, and healthier society.For more about Bonnie:@bonnieknoblochFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Bonnie Knobloch, Head of Business Development, on Equilibria’s (@equilibriawomen) highly relational influencer marketing strategy

We continue our streak of a dynamite Season 5 guest line-up with Emily Chan, Director of Affiliate Marketing at Our Place (@ourplace), a kitchenware and cookware brand that believes in connections made across the kitchen table. She has played a key role in developing the affiliate program from the ground up, partnering with a large network of influencers and top tier publishers aiming to drive impactful revenue for the brand. Prior to joining Our Place, Emily was leading affiliate at DTC clothing brand, Everlane for several years.In this episode, we discuss how Our Place approaches influencer marketing and what content creators can do to create a successful brand pitch. Emily shares: What she looks for in a content creator The common mistake influencers make when pitching to work with Our PlaceWhy Our Place employs a multi-month campaign approachAdvice for brands who are just beginning to work with content creatorsKPIs for a successful influencer partnership...and so much more!For more on Emily:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilydchan/For more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Trove Partner Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Emily Chan, Director of Affiliate Marketing, on how Our Place (@ourplace) approaches partnering with content creators

We’re already nearly halfway through Season 5! Up until now, we’ve talked with content creators, product-based businesses, a social media strategy expert, and a director of influencer and brand partnerships at a major affiliate company. All amazing guests! And we’re continuing that trend with today’s guest. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Jackie Thomson, a partner at Leapfrog PR to talk about what, exactly, a PR agency can do for brands and the value they bring to that partnership. We talk about:•  The multi-faceted, personalized PR approach Leapfrog implements•  The simple but very important questions to ask brands at the beginning of a partnership•  How long it takes to see the success of working with a PR firm and what that investment looks like•  How brands know they’re ready to hire a PR firm like Leapfrog•  ..And so much more!Jackie has extensive experience and wide-ranging interest in fashion and lifestyle brands that drives Leapfrog’s expertise in the fields of fashion, interiors, retail and wellness. She promotes both established brands and new talent, and through her wide network, adeptly organizes events that connect entrepreneurs, influencers and designers around the US. Beyond traditional PR, Jackie enjoys honing brand strategy, creating content for owned media and directing market positioning with long-term clients. For more on Jackie:@jtthomsonwww.leapfrogpr.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork)! CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Jackie Thomson (@jtthomson) on when to partner with a PR firm and the value they provide for your brand

Corinne Travis, the Director of Influencer & Brand Partnerships at CJ Affiliate joins us on the podcast to dive into affiliate marketing...its value, what it looks like at CJ, and how to approach it successfully (as an influencer and brand). We talk about what brands look for in sponsored influencer campaigns, the power of using data to pitch to brands, and so much more!As the Director of Influencer & Brand Partnerships at CJ Affiliate, Corinne helps influencers maximize monetization through affiliate and demystifies influencer marketing for top tier brands. She created, and now leads, the successful VIP Campaign solution at CJ after noticing brands and influencers were consistently looking for ways to create meaningful long-term partnerships. Corinne brings incredible experience and valuable insight into the content creation and affiliate landscape.For more on Corinne:@corinne.travishttps://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-travis-57197b3/For more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Corinne Travis on monetization, the power of data, and influencer campaign management

Long-time content creator Ashley Brooke (of Ashley Brooke Designs) talks candidly about her path to reinvention and what it means to run a small business as a content creator. For anyone curious about what it looks like to treat a blog as a business and what it means to be a good influencer partner for brands, this is for you! AshleyBrooke.com is a creative brand and lifestyle blog dedicated to celebrating life’s big moments and every day adventures. For more than 10 years, Ashley has worked to create a space on the internet that provides a breath of fresh air, beauty, and inspiration with content that is equal parts aspirational and accessible. For more on Ashley:@ashleybrookeashleybrookedesigns.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Ashley Brooke on running a small business as a content creator

Sisters Neely and Chloe Burch of the accessories line Neely and Chloe join us to talk about the early days of building a product-based business, their very successful first ever special collaboration launch with a well-known influencer, and how they’ve found success in partnering with influencers to bring their brand to life in a different and unique way. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Neely and Chloe designs are understated and timeless, meant to be worn season after season. The silhouettes and craftsmanship of their pieces are simply stunning and everything is created with the consumer in mind. For more on Neely and Chloe:@neelyandchloeneelyandchloe.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Neely and Chloe Burch (of @neelyandchloe) on partnering with influencers to bring the brand to life in a unique way

Kelly Stumpe of The Car Mom (@the_car_mom) talks about all the things in this episode!...Her vision and mission for The Car Mom, her accidental influencer status, and her explosive growth. She grew from zero to 140k+ on Instagram in just one year and over 1M YouTube views in less than 6 months! Through honest car tours from a mom’s perspective and car-related content, Kelly empowers people to make more informed car purchasing decisions. Kelly is sharp, authentic, hilarious, and totally relatable. She’s also part of Gush & Grow’s talent roster. But becoming The Car Mom hasn’t come without challenges. Kelly talks openly about the wins and surprises that have come with having influence. For more on Kelly:@the_car_momthecarmomofficial.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Kelly Stumpe (@the_car_mom) on becoming an “accidental influencer"

Kar Brulhart (kb_brandmarketing) helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs grow on Instagram. In this episode, she shares how she grew on Instagram by 15k followers in just 31 days—all organically. Kar has years of experience working at innovative startups and has created marketing campaigns for well established brands like Michael Kors, Google, and the UN. She left corporate life at the beginning of the pandemic when she was 9 months pregnant to pursue her dream of supporting small business owners. She is well-researched and her strategies are informed by Instagram’s ever-evolving features and content prioritization fluctuations. Kar has won many international awards for her work, and she joins this episode to share how small business owners can grow strategically on Instagram. This episode is for you if you want to learn how to create content that engages your ideal audience! For more on Kar:@kb_brandmarketingkbbrandmarketing.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Kar Brulhart (kb_brandmarketing) on growing by 15k in 31 days on Instagram and how you can too

Food blogger and third-time author Jessica Merchant of @howsweeteats joins this episode to talk about how she’s nailed her voice and shares unpopular opinions on what it takes to get better at writing. Jessica openly talks about her weaknesses, her favorite parts of the job (and least favorites!), and how staying true to her brand has helped her make better decisions.She’s as relatable as she is fun and we were so thrilled to have her join us for a very lively conversation.For more on Jessica:@howsweeteatswww.howsweeteats.comFor more about Trove: @trovebusiness www.trovebusiness.comFor more about Gush & Grow:@gushandgrowwww.gushandgrow.comA big thank you to our season&apos;s sponsor, CJ Affiliate (@cjnetwork). CJ is the affiliate network of choice for influencers and content creators. Through CJ you can get direct access to over 4,000 top brands, with the support, tools, and data to make your dream partnerships a reality. Learn more at cj.com/trove.

Jessica Merchant (@howsweeteats) on Nailing Your Voice and the Importance of Being True to Your Brand

Austin Munhofen is the founder of Gush and Grow, a talent management and brand education company, Trove partner, *and* the new host of the Influencer Business podcast! She shares her non-linear path to influencer management and her take on the most exciting industry developments that are still to come. We cover a lot in this episode, including when you might be ready for talent management, her number one advice to content creators, and, finally, we introduce her as the new host of the podcast! As someone who sits at the nexus of brands and influencers and works with both of them on a day-to-day basis, Austin will take the podcast to new heights and we’re excited you’re here for it!For more on Austin:Website: gushandgrow.comInstagram: @gushandgrow

New Host! Austin Munhofen on talent management, working with brands, and the future of the Trove podcast

Daniel LaBelle started using TikTok to help his photography business, but 12 months later he has morphed into a full-time content creator thanks to his nearly 15 million fans. His comedic takes on everyday life have catapulted him into a new career and he shares what that ride has been like. The highs, the lows and nearly wanting to quit. Daniel shares how he has maintained perspective on the crazy ride and how he is thinking about the future. In addition, he dispenses some invaluable advice to other creators on how they should approach social media and creating content. For more on Daniel Labelle:TikTokInstagram

Daniel LaBelle (@daniellabelle1) on going from 0 to 15M in twelve months and how to handle new challenges

Kathleen Barnes (@kathleen_barnes) joins this episode of Influencer Business to talk about how to handle the holidays (and avoid burnout), building her business while moving all over the country and dealing with tough times while you have a public profile. Kathleen doesn&apos;t pull any punches and is very transparent about what really goes on behind the scenes of an influencer business.Kathleen started her blog after her dreams of being a journalist were put into question by a difficult economic point in history. Even as she moved around the country she continued to grow her audience and build her business. Her content and style evolved, but she has always made sure that her connection to her followers remained her primary focus.For more on Kathleen:@Kathleen_Barnes (IG)CarrieBradshawLied.com (Web)For more about Trove:@trovebusinesswww.trovebusiness.com

Kathleen Barnes (@kathleen_barnes) on managing your holiday schedule and building a following while moving

Influencer Business helps influencers with the hard stuff. Think of Trove as your influencer business bible—a resource to help you build, run, and grow a thriving business. Each week, our podcast, hosted by Trove CEO Rich Scudellari, will welcome expert guests across all areas of business management. We’ll discuss each topic as it relates uniquely to influencers running their businesses, and building their brands. Influencers have completely changed the way brands communicate with their consumers, and you deserve resources and infrastructure built specifically to help you succeed—start here.

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Influencer Business: A podcast by Trove

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