JaLisa Vaughn Jefferson, an Instagram Influencer, has earned over $700,000. She also worked with more than 100 companies this year.
jalisaevaughn.com
However, her success did not come overnight.
Vaughn-Jefferson charged only $50 for her first brand post, which she published in 2016. She had approximately 50,000 Instagram followers at the time.
Vaughn-Jefferson said that people will almost faint at the mention of it in an interview with BLACK EXTERPRISE. Nobody was willing to discuss or share their charges back then. We were all just making up stories.
She says, "It wasn't until maybe a decade ago that people were open about saying that if we were all going make it in the industry, especially black women were going to need to help one another because we have to be able say no." We are aware that you pay your white counterparts this. We won't be skipped on the other side. Many of us are afraid to charge more than we think we are worth. Sometimes we don't know.
Vaughn-Jefferson didn't realize her potential for success until she hired a team. Vaughn-Jefferson hired a video editor with the hidden talents Vaughn needed.
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They were editing a Vlog and heard me saying in the background that I didn't know how to charge this brand. Could you please help me?
She was also a skilled influencer marketer. She was able help Vaughn Jefferson determine the right price for posts and how to measure engagement. Vaughn-Jefferson was impressed by her skills and hired her to be an influencer marketing manager.
Vaughn-Jefferson says that unlike many influencers, she wants to hire a team in order to move faster. I didn't want to waste my time learning every trade in this business. That's what I believe helped me get a lot further. I was open to working with a team.
After having her baby girl last year, the 28-year old credits her team with her success. She has been able keep her momentum up and incorporate her lifestyle changes into work.
My success in this year's business was largely due to the support of many baby brands. This allowed me to create new brand partnerships and increased my income. I bought a new house so that I could partner with house brands.
Vaughn-Jeffersons' work has attracted the attention of many leading brands such as Weight Watchers and Arm & Hammer.
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These brands noticed me because I did the job before I actually did the job. Before I decided to work with brands, I was already sharing the products I love every day. Brands I have worked with have been following me for many years. Because they admire my consistency, they reach out to me. They are impressed by how I interact with my audience, and get things done.
Vaughn-Jefferson says there is no secret to her success. Her success is down to a few key ingredients.
I am a leader and have tunnel vision. It's a passion that I have. It is what fuels me. It fuels me. It makes life so much simpler. Many people believe that there is some scientific calculation that got me here. I just love what I do. I enjoy working quickly and efficiently and getting things done. This is what got me to where I am today.
