May 17 2023
We spoke to lifestyle, travel and beauty influencer Rahma (@____rahma on Instagram, and @rahmaxali on TikTok), to discuss making a hobby a career, changes in the influencer marketing space, and balancing online and offline.
Check out the full blog below!
My background is actually in Biology, I never considered myself to be creative whatsoever. I went on a girl’s trip to Malta in my last year of uni, and vlogged to capture the moment for myself and during the editing process, I had a sudden urge to give YouTube a try. Editing really allowed me to express a creative side I never knew I had and for a long time creating content was just a hobby.
When vlogging no two days are the same. If I know I’m doing something exciting I plan my days around the vlog, however I’m quite spontaneous and like to vlog what I’m up to day to day.
@rahmaxali Wedding glam 🧕🏾🫶🏾✨@Morphe 2 @Lancôme @Charlotte Tilbury @e.l.f. Cosmetics @elfcosmetics @maccosmetics @Sephora UK @MorpheOfficial @Rose Inc @NARS Cosmetics @BourjoisParis @COSRX Official @Supergoop #somalitiktok #hijabitiktok #hijabi #somali #muslimtiktok #dirac
I enjoy each platform for its unique reasons. YouTube will always have a place in my heart as it’s where my journey as a creator began. TikTok is fast-paced and the algorithm always introduces me to new things, whilst Instagram is quite aesthetic and allows you to keep up with what your friends and family are up to on Stories.
I create a lot of vlogs. I enjoy travelling and YouTube allows me to share my experiences and connect with new people.
Influencer marketing is a form of social media marketing. Creators all have different interests so they are placed between a brand/product and their audience. Usually, a creator will align with what they are sharing with their audience which is a great way to share beneficial products and services. I have often been more inclined to try products recommended by influencers if I enjoy their other content.
@rahmaxali Date/Timir Cake 🫶🏾✨ #ramdanseries #ramdanbaking #bakingrecipe #datecake #timircake #muslimtiktok #somalitiktok #ramdanmubarak
I have worked with quite a few brands, and if I enjoy the product/service that a brand is selling I decide to work with them. However, if I have no interest I would rather wait for offers that align with me and my audience.
Of course, influencer marketing will drastically change in the next 12 months. The space is always changing with new trends, platforms and software features, such as short-form videos becoming more prevalent in our consumption. I’m sure a new social media platform will come along and draw all of our attention soon.
When I first started creating content, TikTok wasn’t around. There has also been a huge shift in brands working with micro-influencers. I believe everyone has influence and sometimes you trust what your friends recommend without needing a huge platform. Also, social norms are changing, you don’t have to look a certain way or come from a specific background, anyone can create content.
I use my phone a large amount of the time, it’s always in my hands and the cameras are becoming better by the day! For vlogs I use my Canon G7X Mark 2; I’ve actually been using the same camera for 3 years and it hasn’t let me down and I use iMovie to edit. I learnt how to edit from scratch with my first vlog and learn new techniques all the time through YouTube.
The easiest way to balance your life on and offline is to be yourself, you won’t feel the pressure of having to present yourself in a certain way, and you don’t always have to be done-up or funny, be genuine and you’ll attract an audience that appreciates you for you.
At the moment I’m inspired by fitness creators, it’s an aspect of my life I’m working on so I take inspiration from workouts, recipes and exercise classes such as Pilates. I gave Pilates a try last week despite being fairly unathletic and it was such a good decision, sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to get new experiences.
It’s less about where I’d like to take my career and more about where I’d like my career to take me. I enjoy going with the flow but I’d love to spend more time travelling in 2023.
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