Ashley Houston & Ashley Wilson

Com and Ashley Wilson big announcement is rebranding. Her blog is Bow and Bows and Ashley b E A U S. And Ashley because this is about her boy and hurt. So these two actually are incredible, their moms that each have two kids, and their bloggers, their lifestyle experts, and they are so real, so authentic. They're sharing all their tricks, tricks and tips. You guys, this is a great episode, especially if you're wanting to get into blogging and if your mom how to balance it all. This is the

episode for you. It gets crazy her It's real life. It's called get Real. So we have tons of stuff going on, like babies, crying, people coming to the house, like interruptions galore. But y'all, this is real life and we are showing you how it is done in real life. So get excited. Here is Ashley Houston and Ashley Wilson. Oh work with my two favorite actually's we got Ashley Wilson and Ashley Houston. Yes, my father in law will be really unhappy. Prob and not only you guys, beautiful

inside out, Thank you you're incredible mothers. We have a baby here with us today, always a baby of this group. Wilder is actually Wilson Younges and we're just a little milk battle right now. Ball service, but your service by incredible bloggers. So we're gonna talk about it. Okay, chouted out? Okay, First off, where you up from? How did you get into fashion? What was your upbringing? Like? All right, um, I'm from Kingsport, Tennis, which is northeast Tennessee. Um, and

I already forgot the rest of your question. What every like? And how did you get into fashion upbringing? Like? How did you grow up? Really? Are we trying to get deep over here? Like I don't know what's going on? Um? Yeah, like a nature girl, I was pretty much a tomboy. Um yeah, up until middle school and then I basically had to choose between like cheerleading and basketball, and I'm it was because I wanted to be popular, so I chose cheerleading. But you really loves yeah, um, I don't remember.

That was a lot so long you're fast. I was pretty fast, so I was a sprinter also in school. Um, so cheerleading and I love cheerleading actually yeah um. And I cheered all from school and in college and then I didn't cheer anymore. Chear in college for her one year in college it was pretty chill. It was like a really chill college so um, and that's why I stopped cheering because I was a competitive cheerleader and like good stunts yeah yeah, and um, they didn't really do that.

They didn't even do like stunts period, And I was like, okay, I'm not fair to like actually cheer, so I wanted to do like the stunts, so equipment. And then I moved here when I was twenty six. I brought you to Nashville. Honestly, I just needed a a change. Yeah, And Nashal was close and also a great city. Yeah. And I had a friend that I had moved here and I didn't know anyone here and I just like

packed my stuff up. My lease was up in like three weeks, and I was like, you know what, I'm just gonna move And so I put all my stuff in storage and I came here and stayed with her until I found a job and a place to stay. And you know, you know, I was but like that's I'm not like a sporadic person. I'm a planner. I'm really really an'tal. So that was really out of my element for me to do that. How did you get the sensation that this is what you're supposed to do?

I just never beat Sheley the other day, She's like, I've never got to Nashville, But I just knew I hadn't here either. Actually, um, I don't know. I think honestly, probably partially because it was the closest big city was a big factor in it. But um, I just always you know, I grew up in a really small town, so like I always just knew I wasn't meant to be in a small town. And no nothing against small towns,

but I just knew that that wasn't me. Yeah, And I was like, I've got to get out of here, and I just I knew if I didn't do it right then, like on a whim that I wouldn't do it. So I was like, I'm just gonna do it, and I just did it. And it was, like, I mean, clearly the best decision ever made, because like, I love life. But I also like reconnected with my husband who I knew from. We're from the same town and actually he's younger town. My best friend babysat for his family. Yeah,

so you grew up with your husband. I did, but I didn't know him know him like I knew him because my best friend babysat for his family, but he his family was like rich in small town and mine was not. And I went to like the county school and he went to the city school. So he was like he was like a big fancier than me. Yeah, he lived in the nice neighborhood I lived in, Like I mean, not that I was poor of any means,

but like we we we were just different. But my best friend babysat for his family and so I stayed in his house before um when he was out. But he's also younger than me, and so we talked about this othern night. Yeah, and so I didn't I would never talk to him, you know. Yeah, that's yeah five years. Yeah, I called myself a puma also, but he looks he looks older than me, but he's actually looked fine. Girl. He's actually younger though, and so yeah, we reconnected. Wilder

who is this is my other boyfriend. Wilson's little boy is just staring at actually house loves me so much, crushing Hey, he's got this like for real. When I brought her dinner a few weeks ago and I was like holding him for he looked at me like this the whole time, like and I was like, can I take him? You know? Even that like you brought her

dinner weeks ago? That is so great. Y'all are not only like beautiful people awesome as but like couple of blockers, but your friends are supporting, and that is something that I have loved this Influencer series. It's been such a treat because I don't know how I got to fall into this group because y'all are so much more advanced school are often to me coming in that world. But I have loved getting to know you guys because not all are your talenting, go all are so supportive and

this whole group is so kind to each other. And that isn't always like face in blogger world. No, it's not. It's really not. And I didn't realize that until we are part of the Facebook group with other bloggers and they just talk about how competitive in each little niche market it can be and how it's a little cutthroat. But Nashville has a really great communal vibe bloggers, and everyone's kind and encouraging and it's the way to be. There's room for it is saturated, but there's still room

for everyone. Yeah, there really is. And I think that's what people don't understand. Like Ashley and I are kind of similar in our niche just if you say that correctly, but like, yeah, I never know if I'm saying that correctly. But but I never feel competitive with actually ever similar. Yeah, I mean, heck we have the same name. Yeah, we're good mom ash and lifestyle bloggers. And she has two boys. I have two girls. Like it's kind of like plays

off each other. But like I never ever like, if anything, I feel like I'll be like, oh, I'm working with this brand, do you want this contact? Like I think it would be a good fit for you too, And I feel like we help each other a lot and like not but not only do I not feel competitive, but I feel like we like grow off of each other. Like why do you think so many people don't catch that? Mough?

I think insecurity rule to be competitive, and it's very especially when you're in fashion and homecore and all these things. It's easy to be keeping up at the Joneses. It's easy to play the numbers game to see, oh, she has so many thousand, now she's growing to this new thousand. It's very, very easy to be competitive, and you're like, I know how I like this. It's just yeah all the time. But it's just as easy to be kind and encouraging. It's just it's just a mindset and you

just have to focus on it. But some people just don't see that and they just want it all really actually trying to have it really does. So basically like every time that you are friends with somebody in your encouragement and helping them, not only are you, you know, building relationship and helping each other, but you can you

can sifen their audience. So if she has a similar audience to me, yes, it is competitive, but we're also we have the SATs in the graphic as their audience, so I can sifen that from her and she can sifeen mine, and it helps them along much. I feel like people shouldn't be as competitive in the sense that like, and I'm not gonna lie and say that I don't feel that way sometimes, meaning like if I see someone growing or that got a good brand new, I'm not like, oh my god, that's all I mean, and I am

happy for them. But sometimes sometimes I'm like, why did I get that? Or why am I not growing like that? Like it's it, that's just human nature. But it's just the way you handle that. I feel like they define your character. But touch on what she said, like like her success is my success in my opinion, like in my success is her success because if you grow, that's

technically helping me. And if so, that's why I like, I think it's so good to build your friends up because like you're helping each other, and much fun is it to hang out there? Yeah? Way more fun when everyone's in the same playing field. And also you are who your best friends are and write surround yourself with. So if you surround yourself with successful people that are positive and happy, in doing big things. Then that's what

you're destiny. Well yeah, I love that. Okay, So actually, Wilson, tell me a little bit about your upbringing and how you got to Nashville. Okay, so do you want to go to your girlfriend? Oh my gosh, wild set. You can concentrate on talking. So I grew up outside of St. Louis's, small farm town, very small town, same as ash And the only thing to really do is focus on sports or dance or something like that. So I put all my energy into dance and cheering. Competitive Well there, cheerleaders too,

were somewhere. I really are so somewhere. That's so funny really, But no one was really into fashion. My parents did not understand it at all. And they would give me, you know, a budget for Christmas or whatever it was, or pick on a present for something, and my sister would get fifty different things and items. And I've just always had it in me. I just wanted that one designer piece, and I was perfectly content with my one little thing compared to her fifty. It just part of

me wanted like quality always always. And my grandmother was an artist. She's very artistic, and she is my inspiration. I love her, and she would always take me shopping. She kind of was a dress designer for a while, and I did some sewing, and so I really kind of got that from her. And then as far as like the blogging thing, I was always part of a team. So I was always like Dante cheered team teachers not It's always say I danced in college, and so I

dance in college, NBA, NFL. So I was on a team with other women that were always built in friends, built in teammates. Are ye for it? Well yeah, but I was like that my whole life. And so when I moved to be with my husband, um, I was not part of a team anymore, Like I know, where's the team? And I really missed that feeling like a community and like a you know, just a built in little family, second family. And so whenever I tried several

different things in fashion, I did styling. I actually Bow and Arrow Nashville was the name of the boutique that I was going to start with my girlfriend, and she ended up starting a successful men's store called broccol and line,

just like there yesterday did my whole hood. His favorite was honestly, YEA sure she decided to take that route, and then I decided to kind of go to logger influencer space, and then I became part of the team again and part of like a communal vibe with other women can help each other and really, how did you love team for? Like, how did you like? How did this to actually meet? Okay, so how did him for? Oh?

You know, So it's like weird because I feel like you just followed people because you want to support them, and they were like in Nashville, and so I think we just followed each other for when I very first started blogging, like um because I think actually be starting blogging, so like I would find people that kind of had

blogged in Nashville. And then so my best friend Jessica and I went to UM we I was pregnant and actually had just had a baby George, so we alternated her pregnants basically, and so she had just had her baby. I followed her on social media. She followed me and I don't know if you even remember this, are actual with this? I don't know. I think we physically meant. But then I messed you after and I was like,

oh my god, I didn't even know what that was you. Um, so you know I went to Stay Dinaho before my husband's event. Yeah, and um with Jessica and then we ran into mal Or, yes, and so we ran Yeah, we ran into Mallory in the bathroom and I knew Mallorie, but Jessica did it. And then before Mallory started doing any of this too, she was doing it already. Yeah, and so she was like talking to Jessica because Jessica is like a makeup goddess, and she was like, oh

my god, I'm obsessed with you. And Jessica was like and so that's how they met actually too. Yeah. Yeah, so actually wasn't there yet, but so she was. I was like, yeah, I was gonna go to that event upstairs, but like, I can't just go for a second. It was like a boot event or something. I walk upstairs and Ashley was sitting at this table. Because I literally feel like I'm telling a lobster right now, It's just hilarious.

And actually was sitting at the table, and I remember I kept looking at her and being like, God, I know that girl from somewhere. I know that girl from somewhere, but I couldn't like place how I knew her social media because I never actually met her in person, and yeah, so actually I just kept like looking at her like the creeper because I was like, I can't for how I know her, and um, anyways, we were just there briefly and then Jessica and I went to that's event.

But um, I'm not trying to give him to you, but you can't. Like I was like, he's bouncing. Your cousin also had been there now, he used to be in it now he was nominated for like it's something for natural was a Man of the Year them like that. But when I message actually and I was like, hey, I didn't want you to think I was being rude because I didn't say hi, but like I couldn't figure it. But I was like, but I think that I saw you at this event, and and then she rubbed me

back and she was like, oh my god. Yeah, I didn't know anyway, as it was just like that and then we would like started just like commenting on each other stuff and and she looked amazing by the way you mamas look like you've never had children and you'll both had too. And I'm like, I'm like, you're crazy, but I have had no babies, and I'm like, God, look like you're swimsuit models. So about okay, so that started the last for what year was that two thousand six? Recently,

actually it was April of two thousands. It was April. That's just like warm time for Actually I love this. I mean, listen, I remember what about that. I feel like I love it. But then commably after that, we've been together like a lot because we used to live well, we we live really close together. We still don't do that, but like, yeah, we just had a lot in commons

so much. We're fun to hang out a friend when and I mean I love my other friends, don't get me wrong, but like it's just different when your friend has kids and they understand. And it's also different when they do the same thing that you do, so they just stuff. And then yeah, and we just I mean it came to like at first like texting each other about like work stuff, and then it's just like evolved, I feel like, because we just had so much in common. Like,

so tell me how I OT started separately to start? Like, how did you realize? Like the fashion and lifestyle blogging is my passion because I'm all about people finding their passions and all, and they're calling and like just living their life in a way where you can make money doing what you love, because it's the only way to live. And y'all have figured out a way to beat moms, to fulfill your passion and then have this great community.

So how did you We kind of know that was gonna happen when you started your blog actually take off, it was gonna happen. So whenever I first started this, I was just looking. I was kind of lost a little bit of what to do. And that's the normal feeling I like to talk about because so many people are lost, like after you graduate college or like you're in those twenties, you don't know what to do and you feel like stressed out, like the life is like what am I SUPs to do? I'm I ever gonna

find purpose. It's a really normal feeling. Woud I understand He's like, I got you. He has learned his voice.

So I was doing some styling and working in and out of a couple of boutiques just a little bit, but I was trying to find something where it could still this is pretty baby, which it was not very long ago, and I had two in two years, but four months A. Yeah, So I was looking for something where I could still travel with Tray and still and your hasn't an a music inste He's a man, he's awesome.

Here's it is pretty awesome. Um. Well his baby band, his main one is black or Smoke alf Um, Michael and your husband used to open for back in the day. Was just such a small, such a world. And now we're all hanging out again. Yes, so now he's got some other new clients and it's crazy, but that's that was our So you're traveling with him. So I was traveling with him all the time, and um, I still

wanted to travel, but I needed something for myself. And in Nashville, I really only knew people in the music scene through Tray. I didn't really have my own friends necessarily at my own friends circle. And I was just really crazy that So my friend bringing I did want to open a boutique and we were really I mean, we had a business plan, we had a realtor. We were trying to find a space. During the whole nine yards, it just wasn't working. It was like square pay round hole.

It just wasn't quite working. And when you feel that explained that feeling, because I've had that happen to me many times in my life, where I'm presented with this incredible opportunity, but yet it's just not coming together. There's resistance where you could push through and make it happen, but in your gut, you know that it's not about you have feeling. It was just a good feeling, and

I'm all about going with my gut feeling. Even I just eat something to speak completely, and I still sometimes like, what if that would have worked? But this was pre pregnancy, and I became pregnant right after this happened, So it was it was meant to be. I don't think I could beat in a store. I like to be hands on mom. I like to be home with my kids. I like to have not missed your moment with them. So I don't think I could be in a store

all the time and be happy with that decision. Some people would be great at that, I grant it wasn't. It just was the match. So I followed a bunch of fashion bloggers and I was just like, this is like kig, I mean, this is fun. So I started It's just truly just fashion blogging just here's the outfit, here's why I like this outfit, And it was just kind of and it still didn't feel quite right. It was I was phoning in it. I was getting that

niche and like coning it on. Is this how people you starting to field that you think you like and then you just start whittling it down and trying it out, Guys like that's how Yeah, it's And I was going from the styling and I was still styling too, but it was like taking that styling and putting it into this artistic form of photography and fashion and everything. So I liked that. But then I had George and I kind of took a six month break. I didn't really

I just spent all my time with him. I didn't really do it, and I didn't really feel right just doing fashion with George too. So now I'm kind of developed and evolved into this more um omnipresent space where it's home to core, it's mom life, it's fashion, it's everything that's part of my life, and it's just kind of it's essentially monetizing. Where did you get you? Where did you get that shirt? Where did you get that recipe? It's just kind of monetizing your life and making it

a brand. And for me that just makes perfect sense because I get a keep all my moments with these precious boys, but then I also get to do something for myself that kind of curating artistic content and also providing a service for people for inspiration, and it's just all kind of brands. Tell me about your new brand.

For anybody that's looking to start a business, really do your research on branding, because I just just kind of changed my name a Bow and Air in Nashville, which was the boutique, and we had saved the U r L and the Instagram and the Facebook from the boutique and I just changed it into the to the book. But really it wasn't paralleling where my life was. It was made for the boutique, and it just wasn't quite

making as much sense anymore. So I decided to change it to Bows and Ashley, Bows being my boys and a husband, and then that being more of where my life is now. So I think that when you brand, and also I didn't realize that there were so many Bow and arrows, so I thought about just changing it to Bow and Arrow and dropping the Nashville because it's

truly bigger than just Nashville. And side note, whenever you're doing a business, act like it's going to be the biggest thing in the world, and it would want it will be, because I believe in the power manifesting those thoughts and compositive thinking. But two, you really need to have your brand, your everything set up as if it were going to be a multimilie. So tell me those things that you need to set up for somebody's lyarting to brand and chime into with this and what unique

into the game, and make sure that it's unique. No one else has it. So there's so many Bow and Arrows. There's event planning company is, there's other blogs, there's boutiques, There's just tons and tons of other boone ears. So for me, I had to switch it because I needed something that was unique and paralleled with my life better. So for me, there's such a big part of it. He's a jumper, he is that bows and my boys are the biggest part of my life. Feels actually a

part of it. So when you're looking, make sure that the U r L is available, the Facebook is available, Instagram is available, and it's unique and it's on brand with what you're wanting to accomplish. Okay, so you are your little jobs like who you are. I'm sweating right now. And it's a strange thing for your brand to be your life and a crazy things, but it's it works

in a weird way. Well, especially new moms too wise and new brothers, because I feel like so many new moms they don't have the time to go spin to figure out on the fashion unless that's like your job or your interests. Like it's just too much energy to have to figure out the cord to figure out the fashion to do what stuff. So you'd rather identify the work that you love and relate to and just be like, Okay,

this is my girl and you trust. Building trust is the biggest like an actually the same thing, but like I didn't, I don't recommend something that I haven't either used myself or that I have been wanting to use, Like I don't just don't. I don't just take a paycheck, yeah girl, I don't do free Like yeah, I'm gonna

talk about all that to tell how you started your block. Okay, so the biggest things that you encourage people and starting a block actually doing a three part series blog on that the first one you're good is how to start a blog, and then the second one is how to monetize it, and the segment the third one is and then the second one who had a greater following? Okay, so let's talk about how you start your blog? Then off your those plants. Well I'll give me summaries, but

you have to cut the blog. But yeah, so that I lost my trade of thought. So I kind of had and I'm just gonna be honest, a little bit of a following already just because of Jessica and she's a bomb celebrity makeup artist, but but she she built that even you know, before the TV show. But but yeah, I mean honestly, yeah, because people do that because they cycle off each other. So, um, so I had maybe like three thousand followers, which is pretty good for a

regular person, That's what I'm saying. And um, I had people messaging me all the time and be like, how do you do your makeup? Or just because I love mine's more makeup and beauty and hair than fashion. I do love fashion, but I wouldn't say that's like mine one thing because I live in yoga pants. But I love to get dressed up. I mean, you know, but

mine was mainly makeup. Um, and I'm not a makeup artist, but I I feel like I'm really good at makeup and I've really researched it a lot too, though, Like it wasn't just like it came to me, like I would read Mad magazine. Yeah, like I would just rip pages out of magazines. I wanna make pile folders and I'm crazy like that, like about recipes about makeup, hair, skincare, all at that. And I thought that was a doorbell. I think it is. It was here? Who was here?

Oh well, this is a fun little segue because Chelsey Ashley Wilson's photographer. And another thing people don't realize is all these pictures that look so good a lot of times are real professional on Instagram. Yeah, well and a real professional first taking it. Well, that's okay, We're going to touch on that team, remind me to touch on okay? And so, um is it Chelsey? Okay, We've got a party going on in here. So sorry, this is real lot, No,

this is real life. That's why talk a little, is it? Chelsea? Good? This is hey? She's gonna tell hey, Hi, Hi, um. So. Yeah. So I had a bunch of people messaged me, asked me questions. How would always answer them just because I feel, you know, like I should And I was like what and then I kind of touching on what actually said I would see this because it was new. I guess Sami knew then, and I was like, I don't I just monetize this, like I'm already answering these questions. I'm

already telling these people what's can't care to buy? And I mean, um, and so I let me just first off say that to start a blog, it takes a lot of work. I don't know why I'm looking at camera because it's not even then I don't realize. So I think a lot of people and that's because the number one question that I get is how do you

start a blog? And I'm like, okay, this is not just me answering you in the Instagram message like this is a lot so and that it's way too much for me to even go into right now, but you need to know, I mean touching on what actually said your name is very important. So like that that took me the longest time I was figuring out my name. Um, and that um, and then you know your website, finding who's going to host your website, finding out I'm I

literally taught myself everything. I didn't hire anyone to do my website. I coded everything myself. So and I'm not a Google Yeah, I was like, I'm not a tech person. Yeah. I watched a lot of tutorials and I spent a lot of time on that before I actually went live with my blog. And so basically you have to build up your website first before you can start posting stuff like sure and like the theme, like what it looks like, um,

not just having a website, like making it look aesthetically nice. Um. And so then after all of that, then I went live with it, and then um, sorry I got Georgie. We got number two. But number two hey, so he just saw the camera and literally looks at it goes, are you a real show off? Yeah, Georgie, he's got skill. You go up staious things. See, this is real life. This is why these are boss days right now, this

is we definitely juggle. It's a lot of patients, uh, a lot of hard work and every single day and you just had to be okay with it all. Actually actually laughed because every time I come over here with my without my kids, because usually I come over here without them, She's like, you thought your escape and your kids escape. But okay, so back to blow me. Okay, you like make sure that they ay work spathetically. Yeah, you gotta get the website looking good. Yeah and so

so yeah. So I was like, I'm already answering all these questions. I'm just gonna funn to let into that, um. And so then I started the blog. So I kind of, like Ashley said, I initially started with fashion, just honestly because I thought that's what I was supposed to do and it was easy, and I also felt very unfulfilled and very surface. Yeah I don't. I just don't like it, um. And no judgment to the people that do that, because I know how hard it is and how much work

it is, but I just felt fake, um. And I was like, this isn't what um, this isn't what I'm trying to accomplish. And so I was like, I want to start incorporating recipes and stuff with my kids and like my life because my life isn't fashion, Like I love it. But the truth is, like I said, I wear yoga pants most of the time, so like, I don't even get to dress up that much. And so I just slowly started adding in to who you are. Yeah,

and my name is lifestyles. That's the whole point. It's like the lifestyles get it, like but wife styles like yeah, um, so I'm like, it's my life. So my life isn't fashion, So yeah, I exactly right and so like, but people tell you like, oh, you have to pick a niche. No you don't actually like my lifestyle which is everything that embodies me, and you just have to have a healthy balance of it. No, you can't do straight fashion. And then all of a sudden be like I'm just

gonna start doing you know, hombocore or whatever. You have to like slowly start filtering it in and then you have to make it like well round it on your blog. And like I am very particular now when I wasn't in the beginning, but now I'm certainly realized that like looking at my feed and placing things strategically, you do that, like you like if you look at my fade right now, I have a straight road that's my family and children. I have a straight road that's like fashion, Like I

try to make it a healthy blend. And it's like ashiony and I were talking about this other day, but like every you know, six or so picture I do of a home decore or skincare or whatever. So it's not just like, so tell me what your posts consists of, like what are the folks that you guys and what are I think that we're pretty similar in the fact that it's recipes because both of us. No, it's fine, Hey,

this is this is residing momelife. What is there whether it's like fashion with the boys or just talking about struggles or kid products and what things I use or whatever it may be momlife, fashion, beauty, stoodcare, that kind of thing. Um here stuff home decore and then healthy living, So recipes and bitness, bitness the like. Just have a little healthy lifestyle because even the fashion um probably not what it feels. No, I'm not equally No, do you

depend up getting worse? Do you have a more like one of your is more of your number one topic? For me? Fashion does the best for me. But I was getting really just it wasn't seeming real to just talk about and alf all the time. It wasn't fiddling to me. It wasn't giving me what I needed out

of this, and so just see more Torge. So whenever I knew fashion, I try to pair the pictures in a cool photo shoot and fashion ideas that people can get to with a subject matter that is important to So with something that's goes a little deeper, or talking about being competitive and talking about for like girlfriendships, so

talking about something with it. So the picture might be perfect on Instagram, it might look great in fashion, but there's like more meat on the bones, mean with the cashion. And then that this a little log all right, okay, So it gives me like a way to still express myself and still have are I'm trying to maintain my go harder. I'm like, I wonder if her sisters about the crop, well say okay anything okay, And this is hard.

This is just so Hardlates. People don't realize how much work goes into a blog and how much time does he But when those kids and you start kids, yeah you have to put on a pause, but you also have to be so tiny. Management is so important, Like I do all of it during that time late at night. It's I think anyone who are hard as a mom is listening totally relates, and that's how I would love this. And when you're like there might any thing to try, its like that is yeah, this is what it is.

So well, it's just she said, like I don't honestly I say this to my friends that do not have

kids that blog. I'm like, so good up, like, because when you have kids, you're not I mean you basically, I'm like, you have no reason to not be killing it right now, Like you have no excuse in my mom because I am not being cocky about saying this, but I'm like, I'm doing all of this and staying at home with my children and and so I only Ashley can do it when they're napping or late at night when they're asleep, or the weekends when my husband's

in town. So if you don't have kids and you're not talking about you, you're doing something wrong because Ashley and I bust her butts and how you grow your followers and how you get these brand deals and then tell me, like, when when can you start charging for a post? I think, now having experience, how should start charging as soon as you have five thousand organic U followers or so like to where you have an actual engagement and followers that are trusting you. I think I

think that you should start targeting. You. Don't even think that the number matters. I think that as soon as you are a true influencer, meaning people are actually listening to what you're putting up, and when you put something up, people are buying or doing or taking action, then that means you can you have an actual influence as soon as you have an actual influence, because the number, to

me is not nearly as important as the engagement. Your engagement just comments and life, which I mean, yeah, is um just whenever you know that you are truly making an impact and having it, Like when you post something and someone messages you specifically about that atom or you know, like it's just not even like what's your lipstick or what you're like, like, for example, like a lifestyle brand and they're like, oh, like what I've been trying to

eat healthier? Like what's a good yogurt? Like stuff like that. They're actually wanting your opinion on it, like they think that you may, I mean, but you are because you're testing it out like that. We're basically like reviewers testers for people. Yeah, so crucial, right because if people can if you want a long term business, I can't even tell you how many free things using air quotes I've turned down because it's not something I would actually authentically

purchase myself. Every day. I turned down free stuff, which when you first start out is really really difficult to do. You want you want to pass up. And now I've come to a point where I where I have to turn down pay gigs because it's it doesn't alive with my brand and it doesn't make sense in the long term and building off that. The most important thing you can do is in this whole space and this influencer space,

is gain trust from your followers. And the way you do that is to just be authentic to yourself every single time you post, every single day in every way. So just authenticity is king in this whole space. Like creating good content that's authentic to you is how do you do it? So how do you get brands? And then how how how do you know just based on your your brand is what brand deals you want? You reach out to brands and they reach out to you.

I do a healthy bland. I haven't personally been able to reach out to brands as much lightly just because thinks have been hectic, and that actually takes a lot of time. The pitch where the pitches a lot people don't realize so much the pitches I do reach out to brands. I go through my daily life and think, what are these products got to use? What are these

brands that are really liking right now? What are the even down to the little things like the laundry of the churchip, like the swinger you put your coffee whatever, maybe things you already are authentically you say in fettle cash about like I really love this product for whatever reason I mean. And then I will pitch a proposal to a brand with a specific campaign detailed out how I would how I would promote the products, how it

would work in their favor and my favor. You you send them, okay, I seen them a plan, a campaign plan, and when I send it to them, it's pretty detailed. And it can even include a media kit which just has a rundown of you know, past partnerships that you've done services, there are services you offer, And then that's how I start, because that's the most authentic, that's what I'm actually using in my life. I love that. And then sometimes there's agencies that work with brands and they're

kind of a middleman. Yeah. There, it's basically like the bloggers world of applying for jobs. Right, you go on there and you a property specific campaign, so let's stay for qualities. Yeah you're so, well, it's already on there, so can aligned with somebody that they think. So I will get emails from a brand from an agency, and you can kind of align with the ones that you work. So if there is someone that reaches out and I hadn't heard of them, but it's a way to find

a new brand. But I truly like it, and that you know, it's a good man. I get something I think you would use, So you would you tell your followers I haven't used this that I've loved it for a long time. I never posted about it until I actually tried it, so I would if I truly didn't like it when they sent it. I sent the back before and said this, like one time, I really liked this necklace, but the second that I pulled it out

of the back, it literally broke in my hand. The first second was just not a good quality, just didn't feel right. So I just sent it back and said I just don't think this is gonna work, because I didn't want to promote that to your and then have people messaging and bailing and then the cally not either. So I always try it before I posted, because we are for the like reviewers. Yeah, so I'm really really active on It's Too stories. That's like my main thing.

So I try to be like, I think it's yeah, and so like I will show them the whole process, so I will be like, hey, I haven't tried this, but I'm trying it now. I'm gonna show you guys like my because I told you I just started the

supplement company or supplement thing last weekend. So like right now, I'm kind of going through the process with my followers because I can't personally recommend it rot this moment, but I can tell you how I'm feeling on day four and day five, and then after you know, a couple of weeks or however long it takes to see like the full results, then I can be like, Okay, and

this is my point right now, you know. So I think it's good to just bring them along with it, um and it feels more authentic and genuine because they're actually witnessing it and they I mean, and they are they feel like they're a part of your life and

they are part of my life. Like it's crazy because I really weirdly connected to my followers, but relationships in the end, building these I talked to them like we we messaged, like it's all about building relationships exactly why this whole influence of space is such a great way of marketing, and it's really where the future is going. Like this here is a five billion dollar industry. It's really it's supposed to turn into a ten billion dollar

industry in the next five years. So this is going know where it's a media that's just more organic, it's authentic, a new wave of marketing and advertising just vaccines or print, yeah, I mean, and the and touching on what she said, Like the thing is is that like literally anyone could do that even if you're not making like a really good amount of money and you're not like a top influencer, you can still do it because like you're still asking

your friend, like what skincare do you recommend? Or like, hey, I'm my face is breaking out, what should I do for this? You know what I mean? And like just making that suggestion, like you're being an influencer, so like you might as well. I mean, you can write about

it if you like. I enjoy writing, so like, yeah, just talk about it or just talk about it on Like I have friends that aren't like full on influencers, like that's what they do, but like they touch on it and like they'll go on there and talk about whatever product they're using um at the time, like the Central Oils or the Whole thirty like stuff like that, and they're still educating people, you know what I mean.

So now there is so many of those George George is like I agree on there, there's now it is becoming saturated. But every field is saturated. There's a lot of mans in New York, there's a lot of actors in l A. Everything is saturated. There's always room for something, there's always room for greatness. But no matter how saturated it is. With that being said, though, you have to set yourself apart. Like for me, a pretty Instagram feed

is not enough anymore. People love the incestry where they can really see into your life and see your personality. It just takes a little bit more so the pretty Instagram There is great because it used to be it had a pretty Instagram feed. That's how it started. Now you want to eat, that's the video, it's the story. I feel like it's, honest to god, the best thing that they have ever done that has skyrocketed my engagement

and my I mean can claim my following. I feel like that's like I prefer instant And I started to pitch that to brands because I'm like, that's actually authentic to me because it takes trying to get filtered, but it takes a consumer at least three times to see a product before they usually about the bullet and make

a decision on it. Like I can post about it on my Instagram feed and it's beautiful and it's there, but like it might put it in their mind, but then if they see it on actual's feed and they see it on this person's feed, it might take them like three times. Actually makes a purchase if they see you using it in your daily life and you're constantly talking about it, that's more making that sale for that

consumer than just posting one picture about Instagram feed. At least for me, it's more of an artistic So Instagram feed is artistic. It's carefully curated. It's gotta, you know, a cohesive look to it. It's about the editing and the photography, and that's fun for me because it's an artistic space and it's supposed to be that. And then this instant story in the video and even you know YouTube vloggers and all those things. That's where it gets

deeper and shows your personality. It shows like you were saying the product more detail, so you might have a pretty picture of the product that kind of They can use that kind of for an ad as well. Right, that's more their ad like more of a typical. Um, you're creating an a typical like no different than a picture of right exactly. But then what goes what penetrates even deeper is the video where you're slaming it or

where you're opening it. You can go from the whole at choosing the whole process, opening it out like trying it on your inside. You can save those in stories now, yeah, you can put them on your organize them by what they are, so I have to go away. So that's also great now that you know, grants are also starting to catch on to that, and like that's part of a lot of my deals now like is maybe permanence or just talking about on into stories to it's not

even just on my feet anymore. And you know, and I feel like catch showing to about this, but like I feel like not as not as many people were doing, like actual blog posts. They're doing antographer, we got the whole part, but like they companies aren't wanting actual blog posts as much anymore conversations but like a lot of companies I've realized aren't wanting as many blog posts. They're wanting more directed towards Instagram and then like the inst

stories and video content, um, which is fine. But at the same time, again, I love to write, so I kind of want the blog post, but that's also given me and I actually do because I've noticed she's doing

that all up. Sorry sorry, It's just like it's giving us more of an opportunity to like really right, if that makes sense, because now I can write actual articles that I'm wanting to that I've been wanting, right, but I haven't had time because I'm like doing all this stuff, and now I'm getting paid pretty well to just do like Instagram photos, which are a lot easier to me, but it's still creating content for that brand that's helping them.

But I'm not having to like put all of my recent or says into a blog post, and I can funnel more like my creativity and my writing for the blog post, or I can have more time to do YouTube videos, you know what I'm saying. So, but you're still creating like beautiful content for them on your Instagram feed, which is to situally what they want. And now with the answer stories, they have that background of it tour before you would have to write like a blog post

for them to have the background. I think the magic happens for brands and an influencer whenever, Okay, so whenever there's a couple of things done first, whenever they let their expectations be known in writing, because it's still like the wild West in this whole space. It's pretty crazy. There's no actors guild where there's a skilled pay and the right it's it's very well West, and so it's

kind of figuring it out. But there's a couple of things that I've learned the hard way that makes everybody happy in the long room, and it's putting the expectations up from from the get go. Someone a brand really knows what they want when she was saying, sometimes they want it it's the stories. Sometimes they want like a review like that. Sometimes they just want a pretty picture that they can use for their own marketing needs and

also side being an audience, whatever they may want. Putting those expectations in writing from the beginning of the product. I love that. Then, um and in writing is important because you can reference it, and it's important to have contracts. Now, you really don't want to get yourself in a bad situation, So just laying it out in very simple contracts, laying all the expectations out, then letting the brand who's paying you or who's giving me the product or whatever it

may be, letting them have some creative guidance. So I've even been telling them lately, send me a mood board, send me a picture of something that you really like, tell me where the campaign's going, let me know the hashtags, what's the field of campaign? Really, letting them have that guidance I call it, and then giving up. And then when a brand's too guided into control, has too much control, it doesn't work because pally paying you as they do

not authentic. T is authentic Souid is that not control, guidance but not control, So setting up the expectations. Then the brand having guidance but not control, then they created, having created control to do what they take that to be and to me and what fits their life and is authentic with their life, resonates with their audience because they know their audience, and obviously the brand wants to tap into the audience audience because it's the same demographic

of them or whatever it may be. So giving them that control and then executing it correctly, so executing the picture, having a great photography, having all the correct hashtags, having a great captivating caption, whatever it may be, executing that

all the way through. And then on top of that, so everything being laid out, expectations, deciding who's you know, all the design control then um already for us, but this is no this is great, great geting it by executing it, and then on top of that, after it's all executed, keeping a long term relationship going with them, because one off that is the best ones do not do as well because it doesn't come across as often. Something and like you guys are saying earlier, this is

your real life, you really use it. So you want to keep that relationship, keeping a relationship with brands where you're doing a campaign every spring and fall or whatever it maybe you're yeah, you're just working with them again, not just one offs that like really that's where the magic happens. Because this is I love that you guys are writing this done. It is real, Like you don't want to see your profession stre selling stuff, but any stuff you believe and not everyone does it like that.

We don't. It is a long term business. It's just a quick paycheck for them and for you guys, this is your life, this is your brand. Okay, So we gotta wrap up. Tell me a piece of advice that you would tell a long one get started? What would you tell them? Knock knock it out, go ahead? What's the best Because of my detailing, you person, learn to get involved, um, do your research, and don't take the

easy way out. So what does it not take an easy way on me by buying followers, doing multiple international giveaways, buying likes comments, it's just not real. And yeah, I mean and and and try to grow yourself or gamingly in the beginning. Also just because like that's that's your strong point, because that's who you are. Yeah, you're figuring everything out and yeah, I agree. Okay, so I don't want to talk more slow process. That's what people have to realize. It's one, it's a lot of It's not

just putting a pretty picture up. It's a lot of work. It's branding, it's marketing, it's s c O optimization, it's figuring out the Instagram algorithm is constantly changing, and how to manipulate that. It's just trial and error, and the only way to combat all these algorithm changes is being authentic and creating content that is high quality and that

answers a question of what people are meeting. And so just really knowing that it's going to take a long time, not taking the easy way out, and just always creating the highest quality content you can and authentic. I mean, actually I've been doing this for like two years or two years, like we're at the same time, so like

we've I feel like we're seasoned. And the fact that we've done a lot of trial and air and it didn't happen overnight, Like people can ask us for advice right now, but like it took a full year before I even made money, period, So and then it took another six months before I was making an actual income. And essentially it is your life. So everyone's brand is so different because everyone's life is so unique to them, and everyone's brand is unique to them. So there's no

cookie cutter way to do this. There's no business plan laid out to do this. Everyone's is different. It is trial and air. There are some things that you can do to push the mistakes to and not have as many mistakes, but it is tarlier and it is hard work, and there is a lot of world. Just don't expect it to be easy. Don't go in and thinking that it's just like an easy job and you're gonna be like a big sensation and taking I think that the mistake wise and that people think it is just take

pretty qiit. Sure it's getting free stuff, but that's the farthest from the truth. Throat so much thought marketing. Well, furthermore, research free stuff doesn't pay your bills. So like, at first,

that's great too, and I'm not gonna lie. I did a lot of free stuff in the beginning, but like, and you have to you have to pay taxes on that stuff, so essentially exactly and you're having to probably pay for photographer, Like, I know a lot of people have their husbands or friends do that, but you're still spending your time to create that content. So make sure it's worth it, don't just and I'm made that mistake.

I'm saying that so like I would just take things in the beginning, and now I don't even take that. I'm like, no, I don't mean it's just sitting in the house like it doesn't. Also, as a community, the bloggers, the community is really um kind of joint forces and joined together to say we're not doing this for free anymore because we are valuable. Right, you do have influence, we have an overhead, we have photography of our time,

and our time is worth totally. It's worth something. So everybody just starts taking it for free, then it loses its value. This is its value. So that everyone pushes together and says we're all going to charge a fair amount the amount that compensates us for our time, our creative direction or photography or overhead. And when everybody pushes together and does that, eventually the space will change and brands are realizing that this is the way to go

and that it's worth the value. Okay, So we're gonna wrap up and you all are just realize the late inspiration, how you learn inspire people, How you want your life to inspire people. What you've learned, that's inspiration, you want to share with people, it doesn't happen, that's necessarily give up wagging. Just how do you want to inspire people that are following you? Um? I, And this is the goal of my I want to inspire other women by showing them that, a they're not alone, and because I

feel like that's the main thing. People feel so stressed out every day, especially moms, and that's I mean, god, I get off the topic. Sorry, that's like the number one thing I'm sure actually gets too but like just people being like, thank you for being real, thank you for being real, thank you for showing like the real sides of motherhood, the real sides of life. And so I just want people to know that they're not alone. And it's hard, it lots hard, but you can do it. Okay.

So this is what we should. We have this bond over positive thinking, manifesting your dreams. And I think that if I had to leave my life, it would be that it is not easy to think that way and to be that way. But every little day you wake up and you choose to get it all done. You choose to be happy, choose to think in a positive way. You choose to encourage other women instead of being competitive. It's a choice, it's a hard choice, and it takes

a lot of work. You choose to have a baby on the chip and still work in and you just have to choose to put yourself in a positive mindset and put yourself words all well, get done, and give yourself rest when it doesn't. I love that. I love I got bows and Ashley s and we got Nashville lifestyle, Nashville wife styles, not lifestyles Ashleys. How freaking precious was that interview. Not only are they so smart, so beautiful, so talented, they are real. I love that. There was

so much going on. I just want you guys to know that being an influencer, talking to all these girls, getting to be a part of this group with these girls, it is a lot of hard work. It's not just I want to have a pretty blog. No, There's so much that goes into it. So I'm so thankful they shared that with me. Next week, you guys, I have two of my face favorite. It's my favorite twins ever. Megan and Liz. They have already joined me once on my podcast and they're joining me again. Liz just got

engaged and we're just gonna talk about everything. It's gonna be awesome. So y'all tune in next week for my Influencer Series, Part three. H