1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Black Tech, Green Money. Will Lucas here so excited to 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: be back. 3 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 2: And I have a special guest today, Joan Weaver's founder, 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 2: n CEO Forefront and Atlanta based startup that's on a 5 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: mission to bring black brands to the forefront literally by 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: connecting them with influencers who promote their products to millions 7 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 2: on social media. Which is also a twenty twenty four 8 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 2: Black Ambrush and HBCU Grand Prize winner fifty thousand dollars. 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: Welcome Jordan, Thank you. 10 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 3: I'm excited to be. 11 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: Here, absolutely absolutely So I want to start this off 12 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: and I want to provide in this interview like a 13 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 2: lot of value for both black owned brands and black 14 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: creatives if you can help me out with that. And 15 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 2: so let's start with creatives. So, how can emerge in 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: creatives people who don't have a million followers yet, but 17 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: they're you know, they're talented perhaps or they think they're talented. 18 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 2: How can they start earning money from their content? Like, 19 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 2: what are the best ways to start doing this? Even 20 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: if you just have a small follower. 21 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 4: I think the best way to begin to monetize your 22 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 4: content your audience as a smaller creator is through UGC collapse. 23 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 4: So that's user generated content, and that's essentially when a 24 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 4: brand is paying you to have access to content that 25 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 4: you create. So it's not something they're paying you to 26 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 4: get access to your audience or to post in front 27 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 4: of your audience. They're just saying, hey, you create quality videos. 28 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 4: We want you to create some videos of you using 29 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 4: our product. We're going to take full license of that 30 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 4: content and share that with our audience, share that through 31 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 4: our marketing ads and things of that nature. I think 32 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 4: that's a great way for creators to start because it 33 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 4: kind of helps you to booch your rapport, booster your portfolio, 34 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 4: but it also allows you to really get that practice 35 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 4: in without having to lean so heavily on your audience. 36 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 4: So as you're still working to build your audience, you 37 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 4: still have the ability to monetize, let's say, even if 38 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 4: you only have a couple hundred followers. So user generated 39 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 4: content is definitely something that I want to see a 40 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 4: lot more creators leverage as they're working to build their audience. 41 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 4: So that's one of the main ways. But also just 42 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 4: getting started with gifted campaigns. I know a lot of 43 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 4: times people hear the word gifted free, nobody really wants 44 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 4: to work for free, but especially if you're a creator, 45 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 4: you know, just trying to get your foot in the door. 46 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 4: Give the campaigns are a great way for you to 47 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 4: boost that rapport, boost you rapport with that brand so 48 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 4: that they're comfortable to begin paying you. So they can 49 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 4: kind of see what your work looks like, how good 50 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 4: you guys work together, and then maybe the next collaboration 51 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 4: they see just the value you were able to bring 52 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 4: to that brand and that campaign, and now they want 53 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 4: to pay you. So I would say UGC but also 54 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 4: not being afraid to run from those gifted campaigns in 55 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 4: the beginning. 56 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 3: And you get free shatter, Yeah, have a free product. 57 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: And so with a brand is looking for somebody to 58 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: that doesn't have a huge follow when yet, but they're 59 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: looking for somebody to you know, take that content and read, 60 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: you know, collabor on that content, or take that content 61 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: and publish it directly on their platforms. 62 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: What are they typically looking for? 63 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 2: So because this person as does have like a million 64 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 2: followers yet, so what is it that they're looking for 65 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 2: in these smaller creators that says that's the person who 66 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: you know, I like what they do. 67 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 4: So it's actually crazy that nowadays, a lot more brands, 68 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 4: whether they're larger brands or smaller brands, they're actually looking 69 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 4: for more micro creators. And that's because they have a 70 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 4: lot more engagement. They have a higher engagement rate versus 71 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 4: somebody who has millions of followers. They may have the 72 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 4: follower account, but they might not have the ability to 73 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 4: convert or have high conversion rates. So I think that's 74 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 4: one of the biggest things that brands are looking for 75 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 4: is Okay, if I invest in you as an influencer 76 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 4: to promote and create content from my brand, what is 77 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 4: the ROI going to be? Because ultimately that's what the 78 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 4: brands are looking for. Even if it takes a longer 79 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 4: time to see that ROI, brands want to see that 80 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 4: that investment that creator was worth it. So outside of 81 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 4: just follower account, it really does have to do with engagement. 82 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 4: But also a lot of brands are wanting to really 83 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 4: work with creators that align with their brands. They're no 84 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 4: longer just here to throw money at content creators just 85 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 4: because they're cute and have a lot of followers. Like, no, 86 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 4: I want to make sure that you align with my brand. 87 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 4: How do you connect with the creator the consumers that 88 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 4: we're trying to reach, and so brands are really making 89 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 4: they want to make sure that there's alignment because ultimately, 90 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 4: when I go back to the ROI, they wanting to 91 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 4: see how long can we work with this creator, how 92 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 4: long can we you know, establish this partnership, So it's 93 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 4: not just a one and done type of partnership. And 94 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 4: so I think again with these micro creators, they have 95 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 4: the ability to really connect with these brands, especially if 96 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 4: especially if you're an emerging, up and coming creator for example, 97 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 4: who creating content about locks, right, you have a large 98 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 4: community that you're beginning to grow that also you know, 99 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 4: come to you for style tips or you know, ways 100 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 4: to really take care of your locks. You're building a 101 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 4: community within your audience that brands really value and they 102 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 4: want to pay you for because obviously the audience is 103 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 4: really who they're looking at target as well. So ultimately, 104 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 4: outside of follower count, I think it's all about engagement 105 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 4: product alignment again, because it's a partnership, it can't just 106 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 4: be a one off type of thing. Brands really want 107 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 4: to see who they can begin a partnership with for. 108 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: The long run, defying UGC for me, So. 109 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 4: UGC is user generated content, and so a lot of 110 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 4: times people merge influencer partnerships with UGC. They're similar, but 111 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 4: they're different. So you can be an influencer with a 112 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 4: whole bunch of followers that a brand is bringing you 113 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 4: in on for UGC campaign. So again, what a UGC 114 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 4: campaign is really when a brand is paying you to 115 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 4: get access and right to your content. So let's say, 116 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 4: for example, I'm a large creator, I have millions of followers, 117 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 4: but a brand may not be able to afford my 118 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 4: rate to get in front of my followers. They could 119 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 4: possibly play my UGC rate where I can create some 120 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 4: content about their products, whether my face is in it or. 121 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 3: Not, and get access to that content. 122 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 4: So it's really a way for brands to get quality 123 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 4: content about their products or with their products without having 124 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 4: to go and create that because obviously, being a merging brand, 125 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 4: being a team of one or two creating content is 126 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 4: the last that you want to do unless you just 127 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 4: enjoy it. So UGC is a way for a brand 128 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 4: to hire a content creator who understands what it takes 129 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 4: to create quality, just convertible content and be able to 130 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 4: invest in that as a way to use that on 131 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 4: their social media pages, to use that as a running ad, 132 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 4: to use that on their Amazon storefront to kind of 133 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 4: show how the product works. You know, what are the 134 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 4: benefits of the product. So UGC is not just a 135 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 4: way to kind of demonstrate the product, but also allow 136 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 4: your audience to learn about your product, to learn about 137 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 4: your brand and why they should be buying it. 138 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: So if I'm developing content just because I love to 139 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 2: develop content, and that brand see something in my feet 140 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 2: that they say I want that, I'm assuming that's it 141 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 2: versus and you can clarify if I have this wrong. 142 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: Versus them sending me a script, it's saying we want 143 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: you to do this. 144 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, it could still be a little bit of bird 145 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 3: both excuse me. 146 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 4: Where the brand has a criteria of what they're looking for, 147 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 4: but a lot of times there may be a content 148 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 4: creator that they see that they that aligns in their 149 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 4: industry or what have you, and they want to pay 150 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 4: that creator. So sometimes the the brand can get that 151 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 4: creator full access to create on their own terms, which 152 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 4: creators really love as well as kind of give them, 153 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 4: you know, limitations just kind of what we're looking for. 154 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 4: So the brand still has some type of free range, 155 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 4: but it really comes down to, Okay, we're going to 156 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 4: get full right to this content so we own it 157 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 4: and we can use it as needed. Versus, Hey, we're 158 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 4: going to pay you to post a video on behalf 159 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 4: of our brand about our product to your audience, and 160 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 4: you leave it up for about six months or two 161 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 4: weeks however long you guys negotiate and it's off their page. 162 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 4: So essentially UGC just allows that brand to get that 163 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 4: right to that content and use it as needed. 164 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: So we have a good landscape that you've set for 165 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: the opportunity for creators in for brands. Talk about where 166 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: forefront sits in this whole ecosystem. 167 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, so I saw a Forefront just because I saw 168 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 4: a huge gap in the market for black owned brands 169 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 4: and content creators. So I saw at Forefront just really 170 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 4: for my love for black owned businesses and supporting and 171 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 4: championing those businesses and just really seeing that there was 172 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 4: a huge opportunity within the influence and marketplace for bipop 173 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 4: creators to use their platforms and their influence to support 174 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 4: and uplift black owned brands. And so that's really how 175 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 4: Forefront was birthed, just really looking at the by black 176 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 4: landscape as well as the creator economy and seeing a 177 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 4: huge gap in the market where a lot of influencer 178 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 4: marketplaces were not catering to these small and minority owned businesses. 179 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 3: So when you go onto a. 180 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 4: Lot of our competitors platforms, you don't see creators that 181 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 4: identify or look like the consumers that they're looking for 182 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 4: or the consumers that they're already targeting. So what Forefront 183 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 4: does is makes it easy for these bipod and these 184 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 4: emerging brands to be able to connect and find content 185 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 4: creators that look like them, that connect with their audience, 186 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 4: but also really can create content that's authentic to who 187 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 4: the brand is versus them getting on these platforms finding 188 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 4: a content creator who just does not look like them 189 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 4: does not align with their brand, their brand's mission, just 190 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 4: their culture. And so that's really what Forefront is here 191 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 4: to do, make it easier for emerging brands to be 192 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 4: able to play in this field of influencer marketing, which 193 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 4: is approaching a half a trillion dollars in the next 194 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 4: few years, and giving them an opportunity to earn, thrive 195 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 4: and shine in this market as well, but also on 196 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 4: the creator side, just on that same token there's a 197 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 4: lack of representation. So when they get onto these marketplaces, 198 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 4: they're not seeing a lot of brands or products that 199 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 4: align with them. Right, So what forefront is here to 200 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 4: do it just connect these creators who are looking for 201 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 4: opportunities to monetize their audience, but also connect with brands 202 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 4: that care about them, that value them, that look like them. 203 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 4: And also for the brands, making sure that they're able 204 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 4: to find creators that can help them to boost their 205 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 4: visibility and their sales online all within one. 206 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 2: And so for those brands that you know have the 207 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 2: revenue to do paid but they just want to do 208 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 2: gifted And I'm a creator, how should I think about 209 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: those opportunities. 210 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 3: From a creator standpoint. 211 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: Or from a creative standpoint? 212 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: Okay, I would say, would have. 213 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: Seen me all this stuff, but I know you can 214 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: run me your check. 215 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I would say take some of those products, 216 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 4: show them what you're capable of, even if you don't 217 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 4: want to post it. Send them a message like, hey, 218 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 4: this is what I was able to create. If you 219 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 4: want access or rights to this content, this is my rates. 220 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 4: And if not, I appreciate the I appreciate the gifts, 221 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 4: but I think that's a great way to start, and 222 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 4: even if they don't want to, you know, accept the 223 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 4: right then and there continue to show them what you're 224 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 4: capable of. 225 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 3: But like I said, I would not shy away. 226 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 4: Depending on where you are on your creator journey, I 227 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 4: wouldn't shy away from those gifted opportunities because you just 228 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 4: never know where that could lead. I get a lot 229 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 4: of brands who reach out to me personally who say, 230 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 4: this is no strings attached. You know, we're just going 231 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 4: to get your feedback on the product, whether you post 232 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 4: it or not. And so that's a great opportunity for 233 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 4: myself as an emergent creator to say, hey, I actually 234 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 4: really enjoyed this product, I would love to create some content. 235 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 4: What is your budget like? So it's really just an 236 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 4: opportunity for brands to you know, explore opportunities with creators 237 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 4: as well. It's not just that they're looking for free content, 238 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 4: but they're also looking for relationships and partnerships. So it's 239 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 4: really a matter of how you want to maneuver through that. 240 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 4: But I would definitely say take advantage of that opportunity, 241 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 4: you know, create some content if that's something that you 242 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 4: feel would be useful, If it's a brand that you 243 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 4: would desire to work with in the future and use 244 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 4: it as an opportunity as a stepping stone to get 245 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 4: to a paid partnership. 246 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 2: So Jordan, as a founder CEO, you're getting ready for 247 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 2: your day, You're getting ready to lead a house, the apartment. 248 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: What is in your EBC, your everyday carry? 249 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 2: What are those things that you have to have on 250 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 2: you close by, within arms reach as you go throughout 251 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: your days. 252 00:11:57,720 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 3: Well, on my. 253 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 4: Laptop, I don't go anywhere without my lab top. I 254 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 4: think my entire life is on this laptop. I think 255 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 4: I have a MacBook Air. Yeah, I might need a 256 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 4: new one soon. I've had this for a few years, 257 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 4: but we're going steady. I'm still a little bit older 258 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 4: school when it comes to like my note takers. Like 259 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 4: I have two journals to have a personal journal for 260 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 4: just like you know, when I'm watching sermons. 261 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 3: Or just my every day just journaling. 262 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 4: But also I have a notebook for just my to 263 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 4: does and my task and my notes for throughout the day. 264 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 2: So any kind of journals or like mole Skins or 265 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter what kind of brand it. 266 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 4: Is, anykind really, but yeah, I have too. That's just 267 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 4: you know, regular notebooks. I just I just like to 268 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 4: write my stuff down and cross it off. So those 269 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 4: are my every day I don't know if this helps, 270 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,959 Speaker 4: but my topical little gloss that's my every day. I 271 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 4: need that to get through the day. If I leave 272 00:12:56,040 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 4: it at home, I'm like just not okay. Mentally, my 273 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 4: lists a little chat. But those are a couple of 274 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 4: things that are like constantly with me. 275 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: Say talk about you know, I talked to a few 276 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 2: creators recently. You know, DeMarcus Sean has been on recently, 277 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 2: Marshay robbers Hitt's only recently, and they talked a lot 278 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 2: about like their daily routines and how they treat this 279 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 2: like a job. Can you talk about those those routines 280 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 2: or habits or lifestyle choices that successful creators have that 281 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: you found unsuccessful ones and ones that are struggling don't have. 282 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 4: Yeah. I think one just really getting in the mindset 283 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 4: of creating content as a career. So when you think 284 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 4: of Lebron James or any professional athlete, what they do 285 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 4: on each and everyday basis is go out and practice, 286 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 4: go out, you know, shoot some threes, whatever the case is. 287 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 4: I think treating your craft as a content creator just 288 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 4: the same where you're getting up and practicing your craft 289 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 4: and proving craft, whether you have a brand deal or not. 290 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 4: If you're going out and let's say you're going to 291 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 4: support and trying out some new beauty products, create some content. 292 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 4: Don't wait for a brand to come to you with 293 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 4: a brand deal or with a check to say you're 294 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 4: gonna create some content. 295 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 3: I think that repetition is key. 296 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 4: That's how you're going to improve your craft because it's 297 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 4: definitely a craft, right there's you know, art in the 298 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 4: science to creating content. I think the more you're out 299 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 4: creating content, getting feedback from brands, getting feedback from your 300 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 4: audience is when when you're gonna really learn what sticks 301 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 4: and what's gonna work. So, whether you're a larger creator 302 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 4: or a smaller creator, I think just getting out creating 303 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 4: content as much as possible, not just for the sake 304 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 4: of us, but to really learn your craft, to really 305 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 4: learn what your audience likes and cares for. But I 306 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 4: think that just really allows you to get as much insight, 307 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 4: so when brands do come to you, you have the 308 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 4: insight they know exactly what you're good at, what you're 309 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 4: valuable with and you know, going from there. So I 310 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 4: think just having that repetition and just getting in the 311 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 4: mindset each and every day going to create some content, 312 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 4: or you're learning from other content creators, so you're not 313 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 4: just in the business of scrolling on Instagram to you know, 314 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 4: you know, for entertainment, but you're looking, you're learning new 315 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 4: tips and tricks and things of that nature. So I 316 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 4: think those are what separates, you know, the best emerging 317 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 4: content creators versus the ones who are not really doing 318 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 4: so well, they haven't really made that switch of this 319 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 4: is my career, this is something I really want to 320 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 4: truly pursue full time. 321 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 2: You talked a lot about how creators can you know, 322 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: especially are they getting gifted you know, campaigns, How they 323 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 2: can communicate value? Can you talk about like some tactical ways, 324 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 2: especially if you have limited metrics, your numbers aren't super 325 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 2: huge yet, how can you communicate your value to a brand? 326 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 4: I think, ultimately, and this is something that we are 327 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 4: being very intentional with on forefront, is really just talking 328 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 4: about how you are to use that product or how 329 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 4: that product or that brand fits into your every day life. 330 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 4: Because again I'm sure a lot of these brands, especially 331 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 4: your favorite brands. They're getting a lot of creators pitching them, 332 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 4: they're getting a lot of agencies pitching them. 333 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 3: But if you can be very unique. 334 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 4: As to one, I use this product, I love this product, 335 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 4: and this is why, and then you can showcase and 336 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 4: demonstrate how you can incorporate that into your content, that's 337 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 4: going to be very valuable for brands. One of my 338 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 4: favorite content creators I can't even think of her name. 339 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 4: I think it's Chrissy, but she creates all the funny 340 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 4: content with her husband, and she's just goofy, like just 341 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 4: silly and so like she does a lot of content 342 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 4: creation or brand partnership to like these imitation cakes and 343 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 4: things of that nature, and I just love it because 344 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 4: it fits so well with her content. 345 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 3: She's goofy, she's silly, she's. 346 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 4: Just like never serious, and so a lot of these 347 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 4: unorthodox brands can come to her and they see themselves 348 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 4: in her content in her and there's alignment. So I 349 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 4: think from a creator's standpoint, just really being able to 350 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 4: not try to pitch every single brand, not trying to 351 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 4: go after every single partnership, but being very strategic on 352 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,479 Speaker 4: who are you as a person, what interest do you have, 353 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 4: what is your influence? What are you using your influence for? 354 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 4: And how can that brand fall into place with that? 355 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 4: So it's never just about Okay, I have a follower account, 356 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 4: let me just pitch every single brand I you know, 357 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 4: have locks. Let me go and work with ten different 358 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 4: locked brands to you know, people still want to have 359 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 4: that trust, so they want to see, Okay, which. 360 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 3: Lock brand do you believe? 361 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, like, which one. 362 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 3: Do you really invest your money in? Things of that nature. 363 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 4: So I think just being very strategic on who you 364 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 4: pitch and why and knowing exactly why you want to 365 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 4: work with that brand and why that product aligns with 366 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 4: who you are as a person, who you are as 367 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 4: a creator and your audience. 368 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 3: So I think ultimately just having that alignment. 369 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm founding this quote from you. 370 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 2: I don't know how old it was, but maybe there's 371 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 2: a change in how the app works now. But you 372 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 2: said we're different from other marketplaces for black businesses because 373 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 2: we're not a marketplace. We're a social shopping app that 374 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 2: lets you follow your friends and top brands and state 375 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 2: updated on your favorite products. You talk more about this 376 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 2: and how it fits into the landscape of what you're 377 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 2: doing today. 378 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, so that probably was a little bit older. We're 379 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 4: not so much of a social commerce like. That's kind 380 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 4: of how we started in like the social commerce place. 381 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 4: It was really back in the pandemic when I think, 382 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 4: really before TikTok really became what it is now. But 383 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 4: we just wanted to see again just seeing more people's 384 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 4: shop and support black owned businesses. How can we get 385 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 4: them at the Forefront, And so I had this idea 386 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 4: of Forefront being the social shopping platform where as you're 387 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 4: shopping and discovering black on brands, you can bring your 388 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 4: friends along that journey. And even though we've kind of 389 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 4: pivoted from that, we still have a similar sentiment on 390 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 4: that is just like how can we as consumers, whether 391 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 4: you're a content creator or not, how can we use 392 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 4: our influence to continue to uplift and champion black owned businesses. 393 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 4: And so at the core of what Forefront is, that's 394 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 4: what we're all about. Our vision, our mission is to 395 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 4: bring black businesses to the fore on other world. And 396 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 4: what that means to us is our black owned business 397 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 4: is becoming the next generation of household names, So how 398 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 4: can we do that? And looking at the current landscape 399 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 4: of social media and content creation and how content creators 400 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 4: really play a huge role in that. A lot of 401 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 4: the brands that we discovered today, before we go and 402 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 4: make a purchase, before we decide to purchase a product, 403 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,199 Speaker 4: we're looking at what other people are saying about this, 404 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 4: And so my thought process of what Forefront is today 405 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 4: is like, these influencers, they have huge influence and we 406 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 4: want to help We want to help them to be 407 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 4: able to use that for the betterment of our community, 408 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 4: for black owned businesses, etc. So that's really kind of 409 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 4: the starting point of what Forefront is. But ultimately we 410 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 4: learn a lot from starting there, and we just realized 411 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 4: a lot of brands just wanted to connect with creators 412 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 4: and vice versa, and so that's how we pivot it 413 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 4: into being the first influencer and UGC marketplace for emerging 414 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 4: BIPOP brands and creators. 415 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. 416 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 2: I mean, it's no secret that we're having a big 417 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 2: national conversation about you know, these. 418 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,160 Speaker 1: Big retailers like Target. 419 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 2: Who was you know under protest, you know, economic protests, 420 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 2: who from median our community at this point, and my 421 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 2: only you know, concern about that is like where do 422 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 2: we go next? We're not so while we have energy 423 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 2: against what is the energy for? And I hear more 424 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 2: energy about the against we don't want to shop here 425 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 2: versus energy four. Here's where we're going to shop. So 426 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 2: I would love to hear your take on this whole landscape. 427 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 3: Hmmm. 428 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 4: I love that you said that, because you really speaking 429 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 4: my language. When all this stuff was happening earlier this year, 430 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 4: I was kind of a little bit frustrated because as 431 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,400 Speaker 4: someone who always has been about this life of supporting 432 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 4: black owned businesses before it's trendy or before something happened 433 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 4: within you know, Target, or you know a black man 434 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 4: or a woman gets murdered. Like I've always been about 435 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 4: this life, I still am, you know, especially living in Atlanta, 436 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 4: it's pretty easy. I can just get up go to 437 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 4: a coffee shop black owned because of that nature. So 438 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 4: it's a lot easier for me, and I understand that 439 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 4: not everyone has that mindset to shot black first. So 440 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 4: when that entire thing happened, I was a little frustrated 441 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 4: because I'm like, why are we only talking about this 442 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 4: one stuff like this happens. We should always be supporting 443 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 4: black owned businesses. But to your point, like, why are 444 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 4: we talking so much more about boycott and Target and 445 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 4: not just supporting black owned businesses like that should be 446 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 4: in my mind, that should be just the top of 447 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 4: the conversation, and I would love for it to be 448 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 4: you know. 449 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 3: More normal, right. 450 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 4: But ultimately my initial thought process, I wasn't really I 451 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 4: wasn't against the boycott, but I was not completely for 452 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 4: it because my mind, I'm thinking about the black owned 453 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 4: businesses that I always go to Target to support and 454 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 4: how they were going to be affected by this boycott. 455 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 3: So that was my initial thide. I'm like, Okay, why 456 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 3: are we boycotted? 457 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 4: Like I get while we are, but also like can 458 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 4: we be a little strategic with it and still find 459 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 4: a way to support and champion the black owned businesses 460 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 4: who are going to be most effected by this boycott. 461 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 3: And understanding just the land of just. 462 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 4: Retail partnerships and things of that nature, why them being 463 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 4: on these shelves is so impactful for these brands. But 464 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 4: also I had to realize from the grand scheme of things, 465 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 4: and then seeing some of these brands, you know, get 466 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 4: on board and say like hey, continue to boycott Target, 467 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 4: like we'll figure this out. 468 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 3: We're gonna survive. 469 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 4: And I think ultimately we do have to think bigger 470 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 4: as a community where we're talking about boycotting or supporting 471 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 4: black owned businesses and really having to sit down and 472 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 4: think about how are we as a community going to 473 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 4: benefit the most. So to your point, I think besides 474 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,360 Speaker 4: just saying boycott's target, boycott Amazon, we should be highlighting 475 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 4: where are we shopping, how we're going to shop. And 476 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 4: a lot of people were taking that stance of like, 477 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 4: let's just support them on their websites. But again, if 478 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 4: we're only going to do that for the first couple 479 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 4: of weeks while it's trendy, it does no good for anybody. 480 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 4: So I think even with forefront and our goal is 481 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 4: to continue the conversation, to continue to keep these brands 482 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 4: at the forefront of consumers of our timeline, So regardless 483 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 4: of if something is trendy or not, somebody is being 484 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 4: boydcotted or not, we're still in the mindset of supporting 485 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 4: these black owned businesses. 486 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 3: Three sixty five twenty four to seven. 487 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, and kind of along that line, Like you know, 488 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 2: I think a lot about ownership and we're always or 489 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: we're too often in my view, reliant on somebody else's 490 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 2: thing to make our stuff go and so that that 491 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 2: leads me into this question of because we talked a 492 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 2: lot about creators here and how can we use our 493 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 2: platforms are you know, thousand and ten twenty thousand followers 494 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 2: million followers to launch our own. 495 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: Products and services. 496 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 2: So instead of just relying on you know, these brands 497 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:51,919 Speaker 2: to give us deals, how do you encourage creators? You know, 498 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 2: you should be thinking about your own stuff too. 499 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's so important. 500 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 4: Like you're seeing a lot more creators nowadays leverage their infots, like, hey, 501 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 4: I sold millions of products, millions of dollars in products. 502 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 4: Now I want to create my own. I love to 503 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 4: see Jackie and and she she did something very similar. 504 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 4: She launched a candle line and a perfume line. And 505 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 4: you know, I think that's it is needed, right because 506 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 4: brand deals aren't going to always be there, especially even 507 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 4: for some of the larger creators who you know, they're 508 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 4: saying a lot of these brands are going towards some 509 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 4: of these smaller creators because they're cheaper and they're a 510 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 4: little bit more valuable in. 511 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 3: Terms of engagement. 512 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 4: And so I think it's so important because again, if 513 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 4: you can sell somebody else's product, you can sell your own, 514 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 4: especially if it's your product that aligns with who you 515 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 4: are and why your audience supports you. I think it's 516 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 4: kind of a no brainer, and that's a way for 517 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 4: you to continue to leverage your influence for your own good. 518 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 4: You don't have to rely on brand partnerships coming in 519 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 4: or out. You know, regardless, you're going to be good 520 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 4: because you have this one product that already resonates with 521 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 4: you and your audience, and they trust you because of 522 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 4: your influence already. So I think I would love to 523 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 4: see more creators leveraging that, and I don't think you 524 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 4: have to be a larger creator to do that. You 525 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 4: don't have to have, you know, millions of followers, and 526 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 4: it doesn't have to be you know, to the extreme, 527 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 4: doesn't have to be a CpG product. It could be 528 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 4: an ebook, just starting from there and continuing to leverage 529 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:18,199 Speaker 4: your platform, how it aligns with your audience. So it 530 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 4: could be educational, it could be a plethora of things. 531 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 4: I think, just finding what aligns with you, what you're 532 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 4: good at, learning, what your audience comes to you for, 533 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 4: Why do they go and view your content, why do 534 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,360 Speaker 4: they follow you? A lot of those things will tell 535 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 4: you the type of products that you can launch to 536 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 4: continue to have that revenue coming in as a content creator, 537 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 4: despite you know, rand. 538 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 3: Deals or not. 539 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 2: You know, I was paying attention to this streaming university 540 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 2: that Kay Shann had going on that recently. Yeah, And 541 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 2: I think about this idea of collectives and cooperatives and 542 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 2: you know, many of us, many of us have also 543 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 2: not heard of these influencer house to where you know, 544 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 2: you go or you live there and you create content 545 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 2: with each other. And like, what are some of the 546 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 2: benefits can you speak to of creating these collectives and 547 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 2: cooperatives enhance you know, both you know, awareness and earning potential. 548 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, first I want to speak on the streamer university, 549 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 4: Like that was just so legendary. 550 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 3: I love Kasana. 551 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 4: I'm not even like big into the streaming world, but 552 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 4: anything that he's doing, I'm paying attention because he's so 553 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 4: iconic to this generation what the creator economy is. 554 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 3: But also love that he knows his value, just the fact. 555 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 4: That he turned down so many you know, streaming deals 556 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 4: just because he knew his value. He knew he could 557 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 4: do you know, millions of streams. And I think I 558 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 4: can't remember what they said, like three I can't even 559 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 4: I'm not even going to call it. He just did 560 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 4: his thing with the streamer University in terms of just 561 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 4: viewership and engagement. He didn't need a Netflix, he didn't 562 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 4: need an Amazon Prime, and he did it on his own. 563 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 3: But I think that just speaks to. 564 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 4: The value of the volume of community and why that's 565 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 4: so important. 566 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 3: He has learned outside of just. 567 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 4: Viewership, the importance of a community and finding people who 568 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 4: can in some way aspires. They want to aspires to 569 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 4: be similar to you. They want to get to a 570 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 4: level of a Cai Sanace. So anything that he drops 571 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 4: they're paying attention to, they're learning from. But if there's 572 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 4: an opportunity to be a part of this larger collective, 573 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 4: a streamer university where I can I don't even know 574 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 4: if they were really learning. I know they have professors, 575 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 4: I know it was like on a college campus, but regardless, 576 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 4: it seemed like it was more so even an association 577 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 4: thing where people's follower account just grew just simply being 578 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 4: in attendance, and I think that's beautiful. But also just 579 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 4: seeing how intentional Kai was with selecting smaller creators who 580 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 4: might not be the most watched on Twitch. What have you, 581 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 4: but they're eager, they're hustling, they're ready to learn and grow. 582 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 4: I think that's so important. So some of the things 583 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 4: that we're considering as we're thinking about growing our own 584 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 4: creator community is just education. How can we continue to 585 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,439 Speaker 4: uplift these creators, give them access to the education that 586 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 4: they need to be successful creators, to be, you know, 587 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 4: at the levels that they want to be, whether they 588 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 4: want to be on the. 589 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 3: Costs that level, Jackie, ain't a level, whoever. 590 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 4: It is, whatever level you want to be on, how 591 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 4: can we help prepare you to get to that point 592 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 4: and allow you to do it amongst other people who 593 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 4: are like minded, who are also trying to grow. And 594 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 4: so that's something that we're being very intentional about. How 595 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 4: can we create these different experiences and these different opportunities 596 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 4: for these creators to come together and not have to 597 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 4: feel like they have to build in silos. And I 598 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 4: think that's one of the biggest things that we've learned 599 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 4: a lot of creators they're just trying to figure things 600 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 4: out on their own when there's so many other ways 601 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 4: to go about it amongst the community, amongst other people 602 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 4: that you can learn from. And so I think that's 603 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 4: the biggest thing, is just being able to provide value, 604 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 4: whether that's education, just opportunities for them to. 605 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 3: Continue to grow. 606 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 4: But yeah, I think what ka I did was very 607 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 4: much legendary and that's something that we're definitely, you know, 608 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 4: watching and learning from as we're continuing to build our 609 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 4: own community for creators. 610 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 2: I find this other quote from you. You said, it's 611 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 2: been a long journey getting to market. I had a 612 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 2: huge vision for Forefront that involved tech, but I had 613 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 2: no tech experience. And ca you talk a little bit 614 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 2: about being a non technical founder and how you've navigated, 615 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 2: you know, building a technology without being able to do 616 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 2: it you know yourself. 617 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 4: I think it's all about finding the right people, regardless 618 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 4: if it's a tech company or not being a solo founder. 619 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 4: Just being a founder or CEO, you realize, Okay, I 620 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 4: have to play into my own strengths and find people 621 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 4: who can operate in some of those things that I 622 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 4: consider weaknesses. And so the first person that we brought 623 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 4: onto the team was Alison, who's our head of product 624 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 4: and that was game changing for me and for Forefront 625 00:29:57,600 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 4: in general, because it allowed me to be able to 626 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 4: focus on what I do best, which has been the visionary, 627 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 4: which is kind of helping to bring this company about 628 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 4: where we can bring out and on who has expertise 629 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 4: of building product and technology and helping us to bring 630 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 4: that forward. And you know, he and I we can 631 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 4: collaborate on brainstorm different ideas and he can go out 632 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 4: and execute that. So that's been game changing, just realizing 633 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 4: all right, kind of getting out of the mindset of 634 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 4: just I want to be an entrepreneur to I want 635 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 4: to be a founder and CEO and making sure that 636 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 4: I can bring this vision to life with the right people. 637 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 4: And so that's something that I've been learning along this journey, 638 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 4: is like we have to bring on the right people. 639 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 4: So on top of that, we also just hired our 640 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 4: new partnerships coordinator who's going to be helping us to 641 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 4: just really facilitate better partnerships. 642 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 3: Within the marketplace. 643 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 4: So I think overall, is being able to be a 644 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 4: good leader in general is just being able to take 645 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 4: a step back of like, Okay, what does your company 646 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 4: need to be successful? Can I provide that? And if 647 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 4: I cannot, can I bring the right person on to 648 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 4: do the job. And so that's how we've been able 649 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 4: to you know, step into this landscape of technology without 650 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 4: my personal expertise of being a coder. 651 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, before a creator, I should say what are the 652 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 2: steps to join Forefront if it's that kind of process. 653 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, So for creators and brands, you're able to create 654 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 4: your own account. Obviously for brands and creators will be different. 655 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 4: But if your creator that's interested in you know, securing 656 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 4: brand deals and want to use your influences, your influence 657 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 4: to uplive black on brands and other minority brands, you 658 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 4: can just create your account. You let us know your interests, 659 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 4: your hobbies and the top of brands that you're looking 660 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 4: to work with, and then from there we'll be able 661 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 4: to match you with the right brands to begin those partnerships. 662 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 4: And so you can do that a Forefront atl Backslash 663 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 4: creators and sign up there. 664 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 2: Black Tech Green Money is a production to Blavity Afro 665 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 2: Tech on the Black Effect podcast Networking Night Hire Media, 666 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 2: and it's produced by Morgan Debonne and me Well Lucas, 667 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 2: with the additional production support by Kate McDonald, Sayah Ergan, 668 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 2: and Jaden McGee. Special thank you to Michael Davis in 669 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 2: Love Beach. Learn more about my guests and other tech 670 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: distructors an innovators at afrotech dot com. The video version 671 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 2: of this episode will drop to Black Tech Green Money 672 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 2: on YouTube, so tap in, enjoy your Black Tech Green money, 673 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 2: Share us to somebody go get your money. 674 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 1: Peace in love,