My approach to managing multiple creator relationships is organized, personal, and trackable.

1. Centralized tracking system

I use a simple spreadsheet (Google Sheets) or CRM-like tool (Notion/Airtable) with columns for:

· Creator name & handle

· Contact info & outreach date

· Platform (TikTok/IG)

· Status (discovered → contacted → followed up → gifted → posted → reshared)

· Notes (preferred scent, pet type, content style, last interaction)

2. Segmented communication

I group creators by relationship stage:

· Warm leads (already follow or mentioned pet-safe candles) → personalized DMs

· Gifted but not posted → friendly check-in after tracking delivery

· Active partners → regular engagement (liking, commenting, sharing their non-sponsored content too)

· Past collaborators → occasional re-engagement (new product launch, seasonal gifting)

3. Brand voice + personal touch

I keep Companion Candles' voice consistent (cozy, warm, pet-obsessed) but personalize each message:

· Reference a specific video they made ("Loved your Golden Retriever's reaction to the thunderstorm")

· Mention their pet by name if available

· Keep follow-ups helpful, not pushy ("Just wanted to make sure the candle arrived safely – no pressure to post")

4. Regular check-ins, not just outreach

I don't only reach out when I need something. I:

· Comment on their posts within 24 hours

· Share their content to stories (with credit)

· Send a quick "no ask" DM ("Saw your cat knocked over your coffee – felt that 😅")

5. Weekly organization routine

Every Friday I:

· Update statuses for all active creators

· Flag anyone who needs a follow-up (7+ days since last message)

· Review new inbound creator interest

· Plan next week's outreach batch (5–10 creators)

This system prevents missed follow-ups, keeps relationships genuine, and scales as the program grows.

I stay up to date with TikTok trends and creator communities using a simple daily system:

1. Daily "For You Page" scanning (15–20 mins) – I scroll intentionally, noting:

· Trending sounds (and how different niches use them)

· Viral formats (e.g., "POV," transition templates, text-on-screen styles)

· Pet and lifestyle creator trends specifically

2. Trend tracking tools – I check TikTok's Creative Center weekly for top sounds, hashtags, and breakout videos. On Instagram, I watch Reels explore and save trending audio.

3. Creator community immersion – I follow pet, home, and small business creators in Companion Candles' space. I pay attention to:

· How they talk about products (organic vs. sponsored)

· What questions their followers ask in comments

· Who they collaborate with or shout out

4. Saved folders & trend reports – I save high-performing videos by theme (e.g., "candle ASMR," "pet unboxing," "day in the life"). Each week, I summarize 3–5 relevant trends with examples and pitch how Companion Candles could adapt them.

5. Engage before creating – I comment genuinely on creator posts to build relationships and spot early trend signals before they blow up.

This keeps my content relevant, my outreach informed, and my community engagement authentic.

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