On May 5, I had the opportunity to attend the first ever Create & Cultivate Beauty Summit in New York City. What? Haven’t heard of it? Create & Cultivate is a “popular media platform and nationwide conference” founded by thought leader and powerhouse entrepreneur, Jaclyn Johnson. It’s a place where women entrepreneurs and influencers come together to talk about similar passions in life all while learning tips and tricks from the best in the biz.
Stepping into the Hudson Mercantile we were surrounded by fresh pink flowers, a hair & makeup station, breakfast provided by Daily Harvest, and hundreds of creative women. As an Influencer Marketing Coordinator, this is the perfect place for networking. For brands, it’s the perfect place to build brand awareness in the beauty space. With so many social savvy women in attendance, you’ll be sure to get some shares and followers with your branded hashtag.
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After an hour of exploring, we sat down to listen to the panelists. Here are the top five lessons we learned from our favorite #girlbosses:
What makes you different? What can you offer? Finding your niche will help you stand out in a sea of influencers and brands. If there’s something you’re knowledgeable and passionate about, that’s the perfect place to start. There is a place for everyone, especially if you figure out what you want to be known for.
“Be authentic…your followers follow you for you.” –@colormecourtney
With the updated Instagram algorithm, growing your following is harder now than ever before. So how can anyone grow their audience if it’s more difficult to see your content in followers feeds?
If there’s one thing that all panelists agreed on, it was that video is everything. Whether it’s posting personable Instagram Stories or videos to your feed, these can rank higher on newsfeeds due to engagement. But keep in mind that consistency is key and there should always be a meaning and value behind your posts.
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“You are who your friends are”. While this isn’t always true, it’s important to keep positive and successful people around you. These are the types who will talk about your goals, inspire, and push you to do your best. But what’s the first step? Y7 founder, Sarah Levy, suggests finding people who do things really well and buying them a coffee.
“Find people that will push you and are successful. Surround yourself with them.” –@makeupbymario
Makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, spoke about a time when his old boss told him not to work with Kim Kardashian because it would “ruin his career” but Mario didn’t listen to him and is now one of the biggest makeup artists in the world. “Trust your gut,” he explained. Keeping yourself open to new opportunities is key, especially if it’s something you’ve never done before. Model, Molly Sims, recommends always saying “yes” and figuring it out.
“Always say ‘yes’. Accept change.” –@mollybsims
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At the Create & Cultivate Beauty Summit, the brand opportunities are endless! From beauty to coffee brands, everyone has a place to advertise at this all day event. Best of all it will more than likely end up all over social media, especially if companies provide a specific hashtag to attendees. Being a sponsor can add personality to your brand, drive awareness, and increase social mentions. Companies are more than likely to reach potential customers as their name is out there at the summit.
