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Creators: Do You Really Need A Manager?

Oct 3, 2022 · Amy Fulcher

Creators are looking to managers more than ever to help them navigate the world of sponsored partnerships. Managers or management teams can be an invaluable asset to creators in certain situations, but they aren’t the best fit for everyone. Before you enter into an agreement, it’s important to make sure you really need a manager.

Do you need an influencer manager or do you really just need a little help?

In the earliest days of sponsored content, when most opportunities were focused on blogs, virtual assistants (VAs) were the go-to solution for writers who were overwhelmed with the duties of maintaining their sites and social media presence.

VAs can be hired for a variety of tasks, from managing your inbox to syndicating your content across your social channels. Basically, any task that requires your time but doesn’t necessarily need YOU can be assigned to someone else.

Tasks That Can Be Assigned To A Virtual Assistant

Managing your inbox
Replying to pitches
Scheduling social media posts
Editing posts, photos, and videos
Pitching brands for potential partnerships
Creating content
Trend research and SEO
Managing budgets and expenses
Anything else where you could use a little help!

The tasks you are willing to hand over to a virtual assistant will vary based on your own personal comfort level. For example, you might not want your VA posting on your social channels for you. They can still create a content calendar that allows you to copy and paste pre-created captions and posts into your app or browser, saving you time.

You really can think of your VA as a “lite manager.” Once you have found a virtual assistant who is a good fit, they can start reaching out to brands on your behalf and assist in securing partnerships. You can even create a team of assistants with different strengths to help you manage your different needs.

How do you find a virtual assistant?

There’s nothing better than word of mouth when it comes to finding a virtual assistant. Ask around to see if your fellow creators have hired a VA. You can post on your social channels saying you are on the hunt for an assistant. There’s also the tried and true resource of a Facebook group. There are plenty of groups out there for both creators and assistants that can help you find the perfect match.

Another option you can pursue is hiring an intern. There are plenty of college programs that align with content creation, and internships can be a great resource for both you and them!

How do VAs get paid?

Virtual assistants can be paid by the job or by the hour. You’ll need to negotiate this during the hiring process, and come up with rates and expectations that work for you both. Remember that hiring an assistant is a business expense, meaning that it can be deducted during tax season. Speak to your personal accountant for more information on how to track and report these expenses.

How do managers and VAs compare?

A virtual assistant is someone who can help you with almost any task. A manager is someone who will only be focused on securing and negotiating deals on your behalf. An assistant will be paid by the hour or task, while a manager will take a percentage of the deals they help you secure.

When do you need a manager if you are a creator?

Not unlike deciding when you need an assistant, deciding when you need a manager is a personal decision that can be based on a variety of factors. If you feel that you don’t have the negotiating skills to make the best deals, a manager can be helpful. They can also call upon their wide network of contacts in the industry to find potential partnerships for you that might never have found on your own. While a VA can pitch on your behalf, they will not have the same business connections that a manager will have.

The one thing you shouldn’t use as a reason to hire a manager is being overwhelmed. If you’re overwhelmed, consider an assistant instead.

Can a manager help you make more money?

The money question when it comes to managers is a tricky one. Managers are often shrewd negotiators who aren’t afraid to play hardball to get you the best possible sponsorships at the highest possible rate. The flip side of this, however, is that it can also mean you never hear about a potential partnership you would love to take because the rates didn’t align with your manager’s ask.

If you do hire a manager, make sure you set up clear expectations so that they aren’t actually costing you money.

For example, if you are willing to work for a lower rate for a small business or within a particular niche, ask that all of those opportunities are sent along to you to consider, even if the rates are below your minimum.

Does having a manager mean you’re taken more seriously?

You might think that having a manager has a professional cachet that will garner more respect. To put it bluntly, when someone has a manager, that is frequently a signal to brands that you will be more expensive, not that you are more professional.

If you do think management helps you be taken more seriously, you can use a work-around by creating a management email alias. [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] as the email address in your bios can give the impression that you do have a management team behind you. (No one needs to know it’s only you or your VA!)

What are your next steps?

If you still aren’t sure if a manager or an assistant are right for you, take your time to decide. Identify other content creators who have a following and style similar to your own and reach out to them! Find out how they’re managing their business and share tips. Maybe they have an assistant or manager who will be perfect for you, too!

Weekly Posting Checklist for Instagram

Sep 26, 2022 · Jemimah Scarlett

Instagram may not always be extremely clear on what kind of content grows accounts and gains consistent engagement, but one thing is for sure, if you aren’t posting on Instagram, people won’t see or engage with your content! A weekly checklist for Instagram can help give your content a better chance of being seen.

When it comes to being consistent and showing up on the platform there are a few tactics that you can implement to keep you on track and working towards your goal(s) on the platform whatever they may be.

Weekly Checklist for Instagram

Here is a weekly Instagram checklist that you can refer to guide your content creation.

Create an Instagram Calendar

If you’ve never created a content calendar before, it can be helpful to assign each day a general topic. Mondays could be behind the scenes, Wednesdays are for lifestyle content, Fridays are for a recipe, etc.

You can also take a look at a social media calendar that outlines unofficial social media holidays and see what resonates with your brand. Create content that goes with those days. If you are a great baker there is no reason you shouldn’t be posting on “National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!”

Thinking ahead about relevant topics and content will help you when those days come when you aren’t inspired to create.

Schedule your Instagram Posts

There is an option through Facebook Meta Business Suite that allows you to schedule your Instagram posts for free. This is a much better option than the third-party apps (some of which require a paid subscription) for scheduling.

Sitting down once a week to schedule three or four posts that you sprinkle in with spontaneous postings will ensure that at least the majority of the week you have some content going live on your Instagram profile.

Don’t overthink the content, you could’ve taken a picture of a pretty flower you saw while on a walk, post that! Write a caption on how pretty the flower was, or tie it into a story for instant content.

Check Your Instagram Analytics

Here’s the thing, you may put a lot of time into the perfect post but your audience prefers your off-the-cuff, real-life posts. How would you know that if you didn’t dive into your analytics? It’s often the things we think will resonate that don’t. And the things we think aren’t that great are the ones to go viral! It really is a luck of the draw at times, but you can see what your audience is tuning into your channel for by looking at your analytics.

Taking a weekly look at your metrics is a great way to find out who is looking at your content, what time they are online, and what posts they engage with the most.

That’s not to say with this information you will niche down and only post that type of content, but it will give you an idea of where to place your energy when it comes to the type of posts you share.

Follow a Few New People in Your Niche Weekly

Most people aren’t just content creators, they also enjoy looking at other people’s content. Follow people that are in your niche and have a similar follower count to start growing your community. They just might follow you back and it becomes the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Remove Instagram Followers

I know, it sounds counterintuitive, but trust me it will help your engagement rate in the long run. If you are able to, when new accounts follow you, give them a quick glance to make sure they aren’t spam. If they are spam or seem suspicious you can remove them as a follower right then.

Keeping followers on your account that are bots or don’t engage will hurt your metrics in the long run. You would rather have a small but engaged and mighty audience than a large one that doesn’t engage.

Engage With Your Followers Accounts

It is likely that some of the people that follow you aren’t content creators at all, but are people who just use the platform for fun. Please engage with them on their posts in a genuine way. If they support you, they would love to hear from you on their posts as well.

Maple Bourbon Apple Pie Recipe

Sep 20, 2022 · Featured Blogger

The inspiration for this maple bourbon apple pie recipe came from the idea of giving new life to traditional Thanksgiving and fall classics. The combination of molasses from the light brown sugar and maple syrup melt together to create a caramel sauce that coats the apples, making this apple pie recipe a show stopper. Brown butter makes the sauce silky smooth, and the addition of bourbon makes the flavors pop.

Maple Bourbon Apple Pie

Just like the addition of red and white wines to stew, braises, etc… the alcohol burns off leaving behind the aged-to-perfection flavors. When you cook with alcohol (wine, beer, spirits), make sure it is one you would actually want to drink. Your pie is only as good as the ingredients you use.

The Apple Filling

In this recipe I used a combination of Jazz and Granny Smith apples to capture both sweet and tart flavors. The secret is to use 4 sweet apples, and 3 tart apples. You can use whatever your favorite is. I am completely obsessed with Pink Lady apples, so generally that is my first choice for a sweet apple. But Gala could work nicely, as well. The most important thing is to use whatever is organic, fresh and available to you locally.

Pie Crust Design & Decoration

This could potentially be a two day process depending on how many details you are creating. Once you roll out your top crust dough, you have to let it chill at least 15 min on a parchment paper lined sheet tray.

To create braids, use a sharp long knife and a ruler to score 1/4 inch marks in the dough. Cut them straight, then separate them into groups of three (use a bench knife or something similar for assistance moving). Pinch the top to begin the braid and cut off a clean edge at the bottom.

A good strategy is to make three pie crusts. Use one for braids, one for cookie cutter shapes and the smallest one for the pie plate. Rotate sheet trays so you can keep working while the other chills. Repeat chilling for 15 minutes at a time as needed.

Prepare the top crust decorations up to 5 days ahead of time. Cover the sheet trays with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake the pie, all you will need to do is prepare the filling and assemble! Use egg wash as glue to hold on your designs.

*Tip: Press the fruit down firmly so that the crust doesn’t sink when baking. Any air gaps will collapse in the oven.

MAPLE BOURBON APPLE PIE RECIPE

Pie Ingredients

Pie Filling

3 tart large apples (such as Granny Smith)
4 sweet large apples (such as Jazz, Gala or Pink Lady)
1 tsp Cinnamon
Pinch of Allspice
1/2 tsp salt
2 tablespoons all purpose flour

Secret Sauce

1/4 cup Grade A Maple Syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
2 tablespoons Bourbon
3 tablespoons grass fed butter

Pie Crust

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tsp salt
6 tablespoons ice cold water, divided
2 sticks COLD butter, cut into cubes

Egg Wash

1 large egg + splash of milk or water to thin if desired (but not necessary).
Instructions

Instructions

Cut butter into 1/2 inch cubes and place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Weigh 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour in a large mixing bowl.
Add in 1 tsp salt and 1 tablespoon sugar and mix.
Cut the cold butter into the flour using a pastry blender until you have several flour coated butter chunks the size of peas.
Add 2 tablespoons ICE COLD WATER into the bowl and toss with a spatula to distribute.
Repeat with 2 more tablespoons of water.
Using your hands, try and grab to flour together to see if it holds. If its still dry and falls apart add another tablespoon of water. Repeat with one more tablespoon until the flour sticks together. **(I always use exactly 6 tablespoons, try not to use more than 7.)**
Form the dough into a ball, then divide it in half and flatten each into a disc.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for AT LEAST ONE HOUR. Two is best.
Roll out the larger half on a well floured surface. Once the dough is rolled out, roll it onto your pin to transfer it to a large sheet of parchment paper.
Flour your cookie cutters and press them firmly into the pie crust.
Set them aside on a sheet tray and chill them when finished.
Roll out your bottom crust and fit it into a lightly buttered 9 inch pie dish. (I like glass so I can see my bottom crust brown).
Chill your pie crusts while you make the filling.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and place the rack in the lower third of the oven. (To ensure your oven is actually 425 when you put your pie in it, use an oven thermometer.)
Combine maple syrup, brown sugar and bourbon in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved.
Once the liquid starts to boil, turn it down to low and let it simmer gently to thicken. Avoid stirring at this point! *you can gently swirl the caramel sauce if you think it is burning.
After about 10 minutes the sauce will be thicker. Add in the butter and swirl it around to melt and combine.
Let caramel sauce cool in the pan while you prepare the apples.
Peel and core the apples. Slice them very thin (1/8 inch) and place the apples in a large mixing bowl. You should have about 5 cups of sliced apples. It is important to do this step last so the apples don’t macerate in the bowl and create a lot of liquid.
Toss the apples with salt, cinnamon and allspice ensuring they are all coated well.
Pour the caramel sauce over the apples and toss to coat the apples completely.
Place the apple mixture into the prepared bottom crust.
Press the apples down into the pan to make sure you sink any gaps (so your crust doesn’t sink).
Prepare egg wash, then assemble your pie
Seal your top crust (or decorations) with egg wash.
Brush the entire crust with egg wash when complete and sprinkle with white sugar if desired.
Bake for 20 minutes on the lower rack at 425.
Remove the pie, cover the crust with a pie shield (or foil strips).
Return the pie to the center rack and lower the temperature to 375.
Continue baking for 25-30 minutes until the filling bubbles and the crust is golden brown.

This makes one 9-inch pie.

Author Bio: Jenn
Born in South Florida and raised in North Carolina, I acquired a strong sense of Southern hospitality growing up. After I graduated from nursing school in NC in 2007, I moved back to Florida to pursue my dreams. Somewhere along the way I met my amazing husband Mike, we married in 2014 in Costa Rica and recently relocated to Dallas. Gardening and cooking are the two hobbies that have inspired me to share what I have learned with the world on jennsfarmtable.com.

POWER HOUR PLAYLIST: 1990S EDITION

Sep 19, 2022 · Aimee Reatherford

Welcome to the ‘90s! This decade was a part of my childhood and it brings back so many amazing memories. From watching Pop Up Videos on VH1 every Saturday morning and catching up on the latest episode of Saved By The Bell to raising my Tamagotchi. This 1990s playlist will have you dancing in your chair and wishing someone would just invent a time machine already!

Don’t forget to pin this graphic so you can save this great list of songs from the 1990s!

Power Hour Playlist: 1990s Edition with a list of great songs from the '90s.

Power Hour Playlist: 90s Edition

I Want You – Savage Garden
Hold On – Wilson Phillips
Doo Wop (That Thing) – Ms. Lauryn Hill
Check The Rhime – A Tribe Called Quest
Only Wanna Be with You – Hootie & The Blowfish
1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins
Whatta Man – Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue
Cosmic Girl – Jamiroquai
Show Me Love- Robyn
You Get What You Give – New Radicals
How Bizarre – OMC
Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
Steal My Sunshine – LEN
Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
Spiderwebs – No Doubt
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over -Lenny Kravitz

Like our song choices? You can find our Power Hour 1990s Edition playlist here.

Want more great Sway Community playlists?

Check out our collections below and follow us on Spotify.

Power Hour Playlist Collection

Seasonal Playlists

Strawberry Pie Recipe

Sep 19, 2022 · Aimee Reatherford

This pie is delicious, refreshing, and very pink! This no-bake strawberry pie recipe takes only 30 minutes to prep and will be a fan favorite with both family and friends.

I’ve made this no-bake strawberry pie a few times now, and here is a key takeaway that I’ve learned: make sure your jello mixture is cool to the touch and has the right consistency. Otherwise, you will melt your whipped topping and it will become a runny mess. (The first time I made this pie it was very runny, so I ended up freezing the pie and it was just as delicious!)

Strawberry pie with real strawberries sitting next to it on a wooden table.

No-Bake Strawberry Pie Recipe

Ingredients you will need for strawberry pie:

1 (3 ounces) package strawberry-flavored Jell-O® mix
¼ cup white sugar
½ cup boiling water
1 (8 ounces) container frozen, whipped topping, thawed
2 ½ cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Pink pie on a wooden table with strawberries.

How To Make Your Own Strawberry Pie (No Baking Required!)

Mix your strawberry Jell-O, sugar, and boiling water together in a large bowl. Stir until the gelatin and sugar has dissolved

Refrigerate your mixture for at least 10-15 minutes, until it becomes thick and syrupy

Gently fold in your thawed whipped topping and mix well

Next, add your fresh strawberries to the whipped topping mixture until well combined

Spoon mixture into the prepared graham cracker crust and decorate with additional strawberries (this is optional)

Refrigerate your delicious pie for up to 2 hours before serving

Strawberry Pie with graham cracker crust.

Add fresh strawberries for garnish.

Fun Tip: If you want to get SUPER fancy, you can make strawberry roses!

This strawberry pie is great for spring, summer, or any season, really! It’s light and refreshing and so easy to make. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine did!