Focusing specifically on smaller, lesser-known brands that are actively growing and could benefit from increased awareness through influencer partnerships:Byoma – A newer skincare brand focused on barrier repair, gaining traction but still expanding its audience.Tower 28 Beauty – A clean beauty brand that is growing through community-driven marketing.Naturium – Affordable skincare brand that’s still building mainstream recognition.Live Tinted – Inclusive beauty brand with a strong mission but still emerging in broader markets.Cyklar – Small, aesthetic wellness and lifestyle brand with growing social presence.Vacation Inc. – Niche sunscreen and body care brand with unique branding and growing cult following.Kinfield – Outdoor skincare and wellness brand that is still building wider recognition.Oui the People – Minimalist body care and shaving brand focused on sustainability and quality.Follain – Clean beauty retailer and brand supporting smaller indie skincare lines.Tower 28 – (Note: included for emphasis due to strong growth potential in clean beauty, still not fully mainstream in all markets.)These are the types of brands I would prioritize because they are still in a growth phase and rely heavily on creator partnerships to build awareness, trust, and community. Working with them would allow Julia to create meaningful impact by helping smaller brands reach new audiences through authentic, engaging content.

I would use AI as a tool to help improve efficiency, creativity, and organization in the influencer partnership role. AI can help with brainstorming content ideas, researching trends, organizing outreach, and drafting captions or campaign concepts while still keeping the final content authentic and personalized. I would also use AI to help analyze engagement trends and better understand what types of content connect most with audiences.At the same time, I understand the importance of maintaining genuine relationships with influencers and brands. I would use AI to support my work, not replace the personal communication, creativity, and authenticity that are important in building successful partnerships and campaigns!

I would approach pitching a brand deal by first learning about the company’s values, audience, and overall brand image so I can create a pitch that feels genuine and personalized. I would explain how my personality, creativity, and content style align with the brand and share ideas for authentic content that would engage their audience. I’d focus on building a professional relationship, showing enthusiasm for the product, and demonstrating how I could help promote the brand in a positive and relatable way. My experience creating content for my university’s journal over the past four years has helped me develop strong communication and storytelling skills, especially through creating engaging reels and social media content. I would use those skills to create content that is both creative and relatable while maintaining a positive image for the brand. I’d focus on building a strong professional relationship, showing genuine enthusiasm for the product, and demonstrating how I could help increase engagement and connect with customers in an authentic way.