Lindsay Silberman is a magazine editor-turned-influencer who shares unfiltered advice about travel and style on her Instagram and blog. Because of her authenticity and #noBS approach, she has built a loyal, engaged community of almost 200,000 women. She’s like that in-the-know girlfriend who will always tell it like it is, and I think all of us can take a page from her book!
Lindsay joins the podcast to talk about her transition out of the media world in New York, how to stand out on Instagram in an authentic way and how to build a thriving, engaged community online. We also talk about Lindsay’s unique strategy for landing completely organic collaborations with brands and how she creates #ads that seem like anything but.
HOW DID YOU TRANSITION FROM THE MEDIA WORLD TO BEING A FULL-TIME SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER?
“I thought my plan was to work my way up to become an editor in chief, but as the digital landscape started changing, my dream began to shift,” Lindsay explains. “I had grown an Instagram following over the past 4-5 years and felt like I was living a double life.”
“It took about a year for me to decide if I was bold enough to make the leap,” Linday admits, sharing how she reached out to other influencers to get a feel for whether it was possible to match the income she was making in her 9-to-5 as an influencer. “Everyone gave me the confidence I could do it, so in 2018 I left my job and have been doing this ever since!”
I want to leave my 9-5 to become a full-time influencer, how would you recommend I prepare?
In the episode, Lindsay shares how she smartly and safely prepared for the switch. “I was very focused on being able to survive financially because I did have such a stable job for so long. I have a high maintenance taste, so I wasn’t ready to be eating ramen noodles for 6 months.”
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SHOW UP ONLINE AUTHENTICALLY, AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS?
“Being a filtered, censored person on Instagram is sooo f*cking boring to me!” Lindsay states. The realization that she wasn’t being completely herself came a few years ago when she was hit by a car in NYC and was lying in the hospital bed. In real life, she was prepping for spinal surgery, but on Instagram, she was posting the same content she normally would despite what was going on. Her dad asked her, “Why are you doing that? Why don’t you just show what’s really happening in your life?”
Since that moment, Lindsay has let down the ‘perfect’ filter which many Instagram users and influencers feel pressured to throw over themselves. Through being real with her audience, she was able to develop a deeper connection with them. In the episode, Lindsay also shares her best advice on how to authentically engage with your community through IG stories and captions.
HOW DO YOU MAKE #AD LOOK SO AUTHENTIC, AND WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGY FOR ORGANIC INFLUENCER BRAND COLLABS?
“Sponsored posts should really add value to your audience, and not just to your bank account,” Lindsay explains the importance of thinking outside the box with brand collaborations, as well as engaging with and reaching out to brands from an authentic place. “I’ve spoken to so many people in-house at big bands who say ‘We would much rather work with a smaller influencer who is a loyal long-time fan of our product, than someone who is bigger but never once posted about us.”
To hear more of Lindsay’s tips on how to approach brands, lock in collaborations and make #ads seem like anything but, be sure to tune into this episode. It’s packed with actionable tips to start cultivating that deeper connection with your online community.
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relevant links:
Lindsay’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaysilb/
Lindsay’s blog: https://www.lindsaysilberman.com/
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