By

Bri Springs

Apr 1, 2022

Five Things I Learned Since My Time on The Bachelor

The term “influencer” never sat well with me. Maybe because there was always a stigma attached to it – something about influencers receiving free trips and products in exchange for posting and social mentions… it just didn’t seem right. However, after my time on season 25 of The Bachelor and transitioning into becoming a creator, my perspective on what it means to be an influencer in today’s world has shifted. With over 50 million full-time creators across the globe, our economy and everyday decisions are increasingly influenced by this significant pool of digital solopreneurs (or creators). This has allowed me to fully appreciate the dedication it takes to represent brands and have an impact on people’s everyday lives. 

It’s no secret that for some individuals, The Bachelor’s fandom has the unique ability to launch you into the position of instant fame, or for the lucky few, infamy. Despite being forever associated with Matt James and his wonderful dance moves (just kidding), I wasn’t entirely sure that I’d financially benefit from the show. The world of influencer marketing was incredibly foreign to me and much has been learned since my first brand deal. From signing with one of the industry’s biggest talent agencies, to navigating the complexities of working with industry leading brands, here are five things learned since The Bachelor, Season 25. 

#1 Embrace the learning curve

Everyone can universally agree that being a successful influencer doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it takes at least three years for a full-time influencer to start earning a significant yearly income. The biggest hurdle I faced was getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I wasn’t used to sharing personal aspects of my life so publicly until I learned that people were genuinely interested and curious about my day-to-day. This took a lot of trial and error but slowly and surely, I started to embrace what I didn’t know and discovered over time the type of content I should lean into and what my audience enjoyed viewing. 

#2 Work with brands and people that bring you joy 

I made a commitment very early to myself that I would only partner with brands I loved, or brands whose products I already use. This was an important boundary to me that I didn’t realize until I found myself taking on partnerships and work that didn’t serve me or my community. Specifically, I was marketing a product that I had a negative experience with, and it was emotionally draining knowing I was representing a brand that I knew wouldn’t benefit my audience. I soon realized that whenever I said yes to things that didn’t align with my passions, creating content was suddenly draining my energy. In the end, aligning with companies that brought me joy – and businesses that are leading the industry in fashion, beauty and travel – reignited my excitement about sharing products, ideas, and experiences with my audience.

#3 Set realistic boundaries for yourself 

As soon as I began to grow an online presence, I encountered incredibly exciting opportunities to connect with people. It felt like I didn’t have enough hours in the day, and the constant stimulation was quickly leading me down a path towards burnout. When I started off the new year, I set boundaries for myself that I was going to prioritize doing what brings me joy and deprioritize everything that didn’t. Today, that looks like setting boundaries for how long I give myself on social media, how long I spend creating content, and how long I spend engaging with my audience. This also means reminding myself that it’s okay if I don’t get it right all the time – in the end, be kind to yourself. I found that increased attention to my boundary aspirations helped improve my mental health over time. 

#4 You can’t be everything to everyone 

Having an influence across any social media platform can be daunting. It inevitably put me in a position where I felt responsible for responding to every person, comment, or piece of news. I learned that my community respected that I stood up for what I believe in, but what I didn’t know was that this was going to open me up to scrutiny for things left unsaid. It was very important for me and my sanity to be mindful that I cannot be everything to everyone. What works for a social activist or fashion influencer, may not work for me. Finding that sweet spot of topics I could confidently speak about was crucial to finding the right balance between sharing educational, aspirational, and lifestyle content. 

#5 Write everything down 

Working in corporate and working as a content creator can feel like you’re always on the clock and constantly multitasking. I’m not going to lie, it tends to get overwhelming more times than not, but a practice that has helped me manage my time effectively is writing everything down. And I mean everything – from my daily routine, to my morning and night routine, to my daily tasks at work, to the type of content I want to get in any given day or week, to my goals and what interests me. Writing it all down helps me stay organized, stay on track to reach my goals, and serves as a physical reminder of what I set out to accomplish. 

In closing, owning your own business or creating content that helps others elevate their life is not a one-size-fits all endeavor. You have to find what works best for you and be comfortable knowing that you might find yourself constantly reiterating your craft. As long as you stay true to yourself in the process and stay focused on your goals, you’ll be able to reap the benefits.

By

Bri Springs

Apr 1, 2022

© 2024 Lumanu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Lumanu, Inc. is a financial technology company and not a bank. Lumanu accounts are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC.

© 2024 Lumanu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Lumanu, Inc. is a financial technology company and not a bank. Lumanu accounts are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC.

© 2024 Lumanu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Lumanu, Inc. is a financial technology company and not a bank. Lumanu accounts are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC.

© 2024 Lumanu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Lumanu, Inc. is a financial technology company and not a bank. Lumanu accounts are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC.

© 2024 Lumanu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Lumanu, Inc. is a financial technology company and not a bank. Lumanu accounts are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC.