SOCIAL media connects millions of people in ways never before possible.
Anyone can go online and find like-minded people sharing content that interests them, and many people are drawn to creating content themselves.
Jodie Filogomo found a niche for herself online after a more than 20-year career as a dental practitioner.
After selling her dentistry practice, she tapped into a lifelong passion and started creating content through blogs and social media.
Jodie told The Sun: “I always joke that I work harder now that I’m retired.”
She discovered ways to supplement her retirement by drawing in money through her brand.
She launched a fashion blog called Jodie’s Touch of Style nine years ago and created an Instagram page to show off her wardrobes.
Jodie has amassed more than 25,000 followers between Instagram and Facebook, and currently earns around $2,500 per month from her platform.
As a retiree, Jodie may not fit the typical influencer mold, but like all successful content creators, she built a base by posting content she was passionate about.
Touch of style
Jodie’s goal was to build a platform highlighting fashion tips and trends for women older than 50.
She knew she wanted to channel her passion for clothing into some kind of work during her retirement, but didn’t know exactly what.
“I always loved shopping and clothes, so I thought I’d become a personal shopper or stylist,” Jodie said.
“I realized it would take some time to get a clientele together, so my husband suggested starting a blog – and I was like ‘what’s a blog?'”
After doing some research into blogging and social media, Jodie launched Touch of Style featuring photos of herself, her mother, and her step-mother to show off fashion for different ages and body types.
She said one of the biggest hurdles was figuring out the nitty-gritty of WordPress to support her blog, as well as the ins and outs of social.
Jodie also said that she didn’t like social media when she started blogging and had to learn about Instagram and Facebook “kicking and screaming.”
However, as she got more comfortable with the sites she was using, her brand began to grow and she gained followers.
Since she got her platform off the ground eight years ago, Jodie has earned around $100,000 through Touch of Style.
Monetization strategies
Jodie said that most of the revenue Touch of Style generates comes from affiliate links, partnerships, and content creation.
Her content has caught the eye of brands that then reached out to Jodie seeking a collaboration.
While she said she’s selective with the sponsored content she chooses to post, she’s forged partnerships with amazing brands she never would have otherwise been exposed to.
On the Touch of Style blog, Jodie produces three to four sponsored posts each month, including affiliate links to the brands she’s partnering with.
When people buy products with Jodie’s affiliate links, she gets a cut of the sale.
To build relationships with brands, Jodie suggests only promoting products you truly enjoy.
“At first you want to work with a brand because it’s so exciting and it’s new, but if it’s not something you really love or use then it’s probably not a good fit.”
Jodie also posts sponsored content on Instagram and charges anywhere from $250-$350 for a static post and up to $550 for a reel.
Maintaining the platform
Although getting familiar with blogging and social media presented an early challenge, Jodie said she works more now to maintain her platform than she did getting it off the ground.
As she gained more readers and followers, Jodie increased the amount of content she was producing.
In addition, she strives to engage with her readers’ comments, which naturally takes more time with more people on her page.
“It’s something I really love and it’s not as stressful as owning a dental practice.”
She said she spends about 60 hours each week working on Touch of Fashion, partially since the social media aspects can be very time-consuming.
In addition to her fashion sense, Jodie said her ambition and work ethic have helped make her endeavor a success.
“I’m a type-A personality, and just get things done,” she said.
“I really don’t like to procrastinate. I’d rather just do something, and have it off my plate.”
She also said that after a few years of building her profile, Jodie became friends with other women who had similar blogs and brands.
The friendships were beneficial, and Jodie said that being able to build relationships through social media is a “major advantage” of the platforms.
Those friends helped spur Jodie to use Instagram more, and she now posts six times on the platform in an average week.
The Sun also took a deep dive into some of the richest celebrities in the US, including Scott Disick and Kim Kardashian.
And The Sun spoke with another influencer who makes up to $100,000 daily from her brand.
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