Accidentally Influential

Kate Robb and Teanna Scot
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Accidentally Influential is the show for EDUcreators, experts, and business owners who never set out to be "influencers"… but built influence anyway. Hosted by Kate Robb and Teanna Scot, we've grown a 479K+ audience and landed over half a million in brand deals; now we're pulling back the curtain on how YOU can turn your authority into income. From sponsorship strategy to creator psychology, this is your no-fluff guide to building a creator business that stacks ontop of what you're already doing. You might've become accidentally influential… but what you do with it now? That part is intentional.

  1. What Brands Actually Look for in Creators & Why You're Not Getting Brand Deals (Straight From an Influencer Manager)

    3D AGO

    What Brands Actually Look for in Creators & Why You're Not Getting Brand Deals (Straight From an Influencer Manager)

    div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown"> We've talked a lot on this podcast about how to pitch brands, how to price yourself, and how to show up like a partner. This episode? We went straight to the source. Noam Giras is the Head of Media Partnerships at Tailor Brands — with seven years of experience and hundreds of influencer deals under her belt. She's also one of the influencer managers Kate and Tea personally work with, which made this conversation as real as it gets. If you've ever wondered why a brand ghosted your pitch, what actually makes a creator stand out, or what brands wish creators understood — this one's for you. What We Cover: How Tailor Brands sources creators (hint: it's a lot more organic than you think) What brands actually look at first when a pitch lands in their inbox — and it's not your media kit The one thing Noam looks at before anything else when evaluating a creator Why a personal connection to the brand in your pitch email matters more than a perfect PDF What makes a brand delete a pitch without responding Why a "no" from a brand is almost never about you — and how timing plays a bigger role than creators realize How joining a brand's affiliate program can get you noticed and lead to paid partnerships The metric Noam actually looks at first when evaluating creators (it's not engagement rate) Why communication is the single biggest green flag for long-term partnerships — and the biggest ick when it's missing What brands wish creators understood about budgets and campaign timing Why treating your content creation like a business (LLC, invoices, contracts) changes how brands see you The difference between a creator who gets called back and one who doesn't Episodes Referenced: Episode 8: Affiliate Income the Right Way — on using affiliates strategically to get on a brand's radar Episode 12: What Happens After the Yes — building the communication system that makes brands want to work with you again Episode 4: The Obvious YES Pitch —  the 5C Framework Noam's tips plug directly into Episodes 20 & 21: The First Brand Deal Blueprint — the full system this episode builds on Links: Tailor Brands: the EASIEST way to legitimize your creator business, form your LLC, and build a business hub to make that side of earning an income SIMPLE. Tailor Brands Affiliate Program: https://www.tailorbrands.com/affiliates Join the Creator Club waitlist   — coaching, templates, rate calculators, and direct help pitching brands Follow us on IG & TikTok: @notaninfluencerco Want More Episodes Like This? →  Episode 3: Brand Deals That Don't Suck — green flags to look for before you say yes  → Episode 14:: How Honest Content Builds Loyal Fans ft. Ryan from Side Hustle Review  → Episode 15: Instagram Content Brands Actually Want ft. Mya Nichol

    49 min
  2. Your First Brand Deal Blueprint: How to Prove Your Value & Pitch Like a Partner (Part 2 of 2)

    MAR 16

    Your First Brand Deal Blueprint: How to Prove Your Value & Pitch Like a Partner (Part 2 of 2)

    If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go back to last week's episode first — this won't make sense without it. This is the conclusion of our First Brand Deal Blueprint: a four-step system for landing your first paid brand partnership as an EDUcreator. In part one we covered creating content brands would actually pay for and getting crystal clear on who your audience is. Now we're getting into the part most creators never figure out — how to use data to prove your value, and how to pitch in a way that positions you as a strategic partner, not a creator asking for a favor. The Full Blueprint (Across Both Episodes): Step 1: Post content a brand would actually pay for Step 2: Know who your content is actually for Step 3: Prove your value with data brands understand Step 4: Pitch like a partner, not a creator asking for a chance What We Cover in This Episode (Steps 3 & 4): Why brands evaluate creators completely differently than creators evaluate themselves Why engagement rate is the baseline metric that actually moves the needle with brands — and how to calculate it The difference between quality engagement and noise (and why brands can tell the difference) Why saves and shares signal something to brands that likes and views never will How to build a value narrative — not just a list of metrics — that gives brands context for why you're worth paying Why follower count is the last thing you should lead with in a pitch Beacons as a free tool to pull your media kit and engagement data without a spreadsheet The "happy to be here" energy that kills brand deals before they start What brands are actually asking when they evaluate a pitch: audience fit, execution reliability, and whether you make their job easier How to structure a pitch around why you, why now, and what it looks like to work with you Your action steps: identifying five aligned brands and writing your first pitch using your own data Your Homework After This Episode: Pull data from your last 3-5 best performing organic posts. Calculate engagement rate, note the quality of engagement, and write one sentence per post explaining what it did well and why that would matter to a brand. Then identify five brands that naturally fit your content world and draft your first pitch. Go Deeper — Episodes Referenced: Episode 2: Hot Audience > Huge Audience — how to calculate your engagement rate Episode 5: What You Should Actually Charge — how your data directly connects to your rates using the 4R Framework Episode 12: What Happens After the Yes — how to deliver like a pro once a brand says yes Episode 13: Why Retainers Are the Secret to Scalable Creator Income — turning one deal into ongoing income Episode 22: The Brand Side — we bring on a brand partner to show you exactly how brands evaluate creators More From Us: Join the Creator Club Waitlist — coaching, templates, rate calculators, and direct help pitching brands. Built for EDUcreators ready to get paid. Follow us on IG & TikTok: @notaninfluencerco Want More Episodes Like This? → Episode 4: The Obvious YES Pitch — the 5C Framework for pitching brands  → Episode 7: How to Turn a $500 Offer Into a $2K+ Package → Episode 3: Brand Deals That Don't Suck — green flags to look for in a partnership

    32 min
  3. Your First Brand Deal Blueprint: How to Create Content Brands Actually Pay For (Part 1 of 2)

    MAR 9

    Your First Brand Deal Blueprint: How to Create Content Brands Actually Pay For (Part 1 of 2)

    We made this episode to be your home base. If you're just getting started with brand partnerships — or you've been trying to land deals and nothing's clicking — this is where it starts. In part one of our First Brand Deal Blueprint, we're walking you through the first two phases of our four-step framework. And here's the thing: neither of them involve pitching a single brand. Most creators skip straight to the pitch and wonder why they keep getting ignored or lowballed. These two steps are why. The Full Blueprint (Across Both Episodes): Step 1: Post content a brand would actually pay for Step 2: Know who your content is actually for Step 3: Prove your value with data brands understand Step 4: Pitch like a partner, not a creator asking for a chance What We Cover in This Episode (Steps 1 & 2): Why brand deals start way before you ever send a pitch How to create content that produces outcomes brands are actually willing to pay for — comprehension, consideration, and clicks Why EDUcreators have a unique advantage in landing brand partnerships How to make brands feel inevitable in your content, not randomly inserted Why a hot, engaged audience matters more than a huge one The "villain arc" mindset block that stops creators from posting about tools they could eventually get paid for How to identify exactly who your content is for — and why that clarity is what brands are actually buying The one-sentence audience statement you'll use in every future pitch A content audit you can do this week to see where brands could naturally live in your world Your Homework After This Episode: Identify 10 posts — existing or planned — and for each one, note the problem it solves, where a brand could naturally fit, and what category of brand that would be. This becomes your proof bank for Step 4. Then complete this sentence with total clarity: "My content is primarily for _____ who are trying to _____." Go Deeper — Episodes Referenced: Episode 2: Hot Audience > Huge Audience — how to build an engaged community brands want access to Episode 14: How Honest Content Builds Loyal Fans ft. Ryan from Side Hustle Review — on the creator "villain arc" Part 2 drops next Monday — Steps 3 & 4: proving your value with data and pitching like a partner. More From Us: Join the Creator Club Waitlist — coaching, templates, rate calculators, and direct help pitching brands. Built for EDUcreators ready to get paid. Follow us on IG & TikTok: @notaninfluencerco Want More Episodes Like This? → Episode 4: The Obvious YES Pitch — the 5C Framework for pitching brands → Episode 5: What You Should Actually Charge — the 4R Pricing Framework → Episode 11: The Confidence Crisis — overcoming "happy to be here" energy

    28 min
  4. How to Respond to Brand Deal Inbounds, Spot Scams & Stop Undercharging: The Reality of Working with Brands

    MAR 2

    How to Respond to Brand Deal Inbounds, Spot Scams & Stop Undercharging: The Reality of Working with Brands

    We showed up late, hadn't washed our hair, and had 696 unread emails between us. Welcome to Q&A day. In this episode, we're answering the questions we see most from creators trying to land brand deals and sponsored content — and being fully honest about what's actually happening in our own businesses right now. We break down a real UGC inbound Kate received from a brand she loves — why the offer was way off, why she said no even after they doubled the rate, and what the face association risk in UGC deals actually means for your personal brand. We also get into Tea's current $30K long-term brand partnership pitch, how to respond to inbounds without the "happy to be here" energy, and the exact red flags that tell you an inbound is a scam before you waste a single minute replying. Plus — we get real about content slumps, creative burnout, and the batch filming vs. same-day posting debate. Spoiler: we are complete opposites and it works for both of us. What We Cover: How to evaluate a brand deal inbound fast — and when to just say no Why doubling a lowball rate still doesn't make it a good deal UGC deals and face association risk: what creators don't think about Tea's $30K long-term partnership pitch and the retainer strategy behind it Red flags that signal a scam before you even respond Why the first email a brand sends tells you everything about what working with them will be like How to get out of a content slump without doom scrolling for "inspiration" Batch filming vs. same-day posting — which works and why it depends on your brain Balancing sponsored content with your own business content when burnout hits LinkedIn brand partnerships — a first for both of us Episodes We Referenced: Episode 13: Why Retainers Are the Secret to Scalable Creator Income — the strategy behind Tea's $30K pitch Episode 14: How Honest Content Builds Loyal Fans ft. Ryan from Side Hustle Review — on UGC and face association risk Episode 2: Hot Audience > Huge Audience — why engagement rate matters more than follower count when evaluating a deal Episode 5: What You Should Actually Charge — the 4R Pricing Framework for when an inbound comes in low More From Us: Join the Creator Club Waitlist – Want coaching, templates, audits, and direct help pricing & pitching? Our membership is built just for creators like you. Follow us on IG & TikTok: @notaninfluencerco

    34 min
  5. How to Grow on Instagram & Turn Followers Into Paying Clients (Even If You're Stuck Under 2K)

    FEB 23

    How to Grow on Instagram & Turn Followers Into Paying Clients (Even If You're Stuck Under 2K)

    How to Grow on Instagram & Turn Followers Into Paying Clients (Even If You're Stuck Under 2K) - w/ Jenna from @jennaspaige If you're posting consistently on Instagram but not getting clients… If you're stuck at 1K–2K followers and growth feels slow… If you're growing an audience but not making money… This episode is for you. Today we're joined by Jenna Harding, marketing coach and host of the Shiny New Clients podcast, to break down how to grow on Instagram in a way that actually leads to sales — not just likes. Because here's the truth: Growing your Instagram following doesn't matter if you can't turn followers into paying clients. In this episode, we talk about how service-based business owners, coaches, and creators can grow an audience that builds trust, authority, and real revenue. In This Episode, We Cover: How to grow on Instagram without chasing viral trends Why you might be stuck at 2,000 followers How to turn Instagram followers into paying clients Instagram marketing strategies for service-based businesses The difference between audience growth and revenue growth How to build authority in your niche Creating content that attracts high-quality leads Why consistency alone isn't enough How to monetize a small Instagram following   Who This Episode Is For: Service-based business owners Coaches and consultants Content creators who want brand deals Digital product sellers Anyone trying to turn Instagram into income Because landing brand deals starts with one thing: An audience that trusts you. And trust isn't built through hacks — it's built through intentional marketing.   About Our Guest – Jenna Harding Jenna Harding is a marketing coach who helps service-based business owners simplify Instagram marketing and turn followers into clients. Through her program Magic Marketing Machine and her podcast Shiny New Clients, she teaches sustainable Instagram growth strategies that focus on authority, visibility, and sales.   If this episode helped you rethink your Instagram strategy: Leave a rating and review Share it with another business owner Tag us on Instagram with your biggest takeaway Because growing on Instagram isn't about going viral. It's about getting paid. Find all things Jenna Here: - Magic Marketing Machine -Instagram    Resources + Mentions: Join the Not An Influencer Creator Club (Waitlist Open!) →  Join the waitlist

    47 min
  6. How to Deal With Hate Comments as a Creator (Handling Trolls, Online Criticism & Going Viral): The reality of being a creator

    FEB 14

    How to Deal With Hate Comments as a Creator (Handling Trolls, Online Criticism & Going Viral): The reality of being a creator

    Let's talk about the part of content creation no one prepares you for: The hate. In this episode of Accidentally Influential, we're getting honest about: Hate comments on Instagram and TikTok Trolls after going viral Mean DMs Public criticism And the emotional toll of being visible online If you've ever: Posted something that blew up… and the comments turned ugly Felt sick reading negative comments Questioned your business because of trolls Wanted to quit after one viral backlash moment Wondered how other influencers handle hate This episode is for you.   In This Episode We Cover: Why hate comments increase as you grow The psychology behind internet trolls What happens when your content reaches the wrong audience How to emotionally detach from negative comments When to delete, block, or ignore When criticism is helpful vs. just noise Building thicker skin without losing your humanity Protecting your mental health as a content creator We also talk about the difference between: ✨ Feedback ⚡ Projection 🚨 Straight-up trolling Because they are not the same thing.   The Truth About Visibility The bigger your platform gets, the more exposure you have. And exposure doesn't just bring opportunity. It brings opinions. We break down how to: Stay grounded when strangers critique your business Not let negative comments control your content Continue showing up confidently after backlash Build resilience as an online entrepreneur Because you can't build influence without visibility. And you can't have visibility without some noise.

    38 min
  7. The Legal Mistakes That Can Cost Creators Thousands: How to Protect Your Content, Brand Deals & Digital Products w/ Alyssa from Legal Doer

    FEB 9

    The Legal Mistakes That Can Cost Creators Thousands: How to Protect Your Content, Brand Deals & Digital Products w/ Alyssa from Legal Doer

    If you're a content creator, digital product seller, or coach — this episode is a must-listen. We're joined by Alyssa from @legaldoer, an attorney who helps creators avoid the kind of legal mistakes that can cost thousands — or even ruin your business. We cover everything from how to legally protect your brand deals, to what contracts you actually need, and the surprising ways creators are leaving themselves exposed (even on a $27 product). Whether you're brand new or scaling fast — this episode will help you protect your business before it's too late.   In This Episode, We Cover: The biggest legal mistakes creators make (and how to avoid them) Why contracts matter even for gifted UGC or $200 brand deals How to legally protect your digital products with the right terms & licensing What to do if your content is stolen or someone copies your work Should you form an LLC now or wait? Alyssa breaks it down by state The truth about AI-generated contracts (and why you should be careful) How to handle FTC disclosures for sponsored content (without killing your reach) Why legal protection isn't about fear — it's about confidence & control What to include in your terms of use, refund policies, and licensing Cease and desist letters, DMCA takedowns, and enforcing your rights without going to court Resources Mentioned: Alyssa's Legal Business Checklist: TAP HERE Legal Templates & Membership: TAP HERE Follow Alyssa on IG → @legaldoer ⚠️ Reminder: Even if you're just getting started, you still need legal protection. This episode will help you understand your options — without feeling overwhelmed.   If this helped you: Leave us a 5-star review, share it with a friend, or post your biggest takeaway on IG and tag us @notaninfluencer & Alyssa @legaldoer.

    44 min
  8. How to Land Brand Deals on Instagram (Even With a Small Following!) ft. Mya Nichol: Turning Educational Content Into Brand Deals

    FEB 2

    How to Land Brand Deals on Instagram (Even With a Small Following!) ft. Mya Nichol: Turning Educational Content Into Brand Deals

    If you're an educator, coach, or course creator using Instagram to grow your business — but feel stuck on how your kind of content could lead to brand deals… this episode is your playbook. This week, Tea and Kate sit down with Mya Nichol, a sustainable business coach, Instagram growth expert, and creator who's built a half-million-dollar business from authentic, strategic content — all while working part-time hours as a mom and homesteader. Mya breaks down exactly how she attracts aligned, long-term brand partnerships without compromising her values or her content strategy. Whether you're new to brand deals or already dabbling in affiliate marketing, this conversation will help you unlock sustainable, layered income on your own terms. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ The real reason brands reach out to Mya (hint: it's not just her following size) ✅ How to use affiliate marketing to get on a brand's radar — and get paid before they even email you ✅ The one thing most beginner creators get wrong when they want brand partnerships ✅ The difference between top-of-funnel and conversion-driven content — and how to use both ✅ Why Mya stopped chasing trends and started doubling down on evergreen, educational videos ✅ Her strategy for layering brand deals, affiliate links, and digital products in one post ✅ How to work less, earn more, and land repeat brand contracts that last ✅ What to say to a brand if you've never worked together but you're already posting about them ✅ The importance of community trust — and how it helps you charge more   Who This Episode Is For: Instagram educators, coaches, or course creators who want to monetize without while continuing to be AUTHENTIC Edu-creators looking to build long-term brand partnerships Creators who already sell digital products and want to stack brand deal income Business owners who want their content to work harder for them Anyone who's felt "not influencer-y enough" for paid sponsorships Where to find Mya! Instagram: @myanichol Website: myanichol.com Podcast: Radical Disruption More from us: Join the Creator Club Waitlist – Want coaching, templates, audits, and direct help pricing & pitching? Our membership is built just for creators like you. Follow us on IG & TikTok: @notaninfluencerco Want More Episodes Like This? If you liked this one, you'll love: → Episode 8: Why Affiliate-Only Deals Are Undervaluing You — and What to Do Instead → Episode 6: How $10K+ Brand Deals Actually Work (Boundaries, Burnout, and Reality (Unfiltered Q&A) → Episode 4: What to Charge Brands for Content: The 4R Pricing Framework for Brand Deals

    54 min
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Accidentally Influential is the show for EDUcreators, experts, and business owners who never set out to be "influencers"… but built influence anyway. Hosted by Kate Robb and Teanna Scot, we've grown a 479K+ audience and landed over half a million in brand deals; now we're pulling back the curtain on how YOU can turn your authority into income. From sponsorship strategy to creator psychology, this is your no-fluff guide to building a creator business that stacks ontop of what you're already doing. You might've become accidentally influential… but what you do with it now? That part is intentional.

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