You want to get in on it.
But between the latest “5 Ways to Make Your Reels go Viral” blog posts and the free YouTube videos that teach nada but the basics, you’re still like “I’m so freakin’ drawn to this, but HOW the heck do I do it?”
which was made humiliatingly clear when that big brand DM’d you, asking to see your media kit — and you ran faster than Sandra Bullock during Runaway Bride to put one together.
Maybe you’ve had a few TikToks blow up.
That hotel invited you for a free stay.
And the “omg, thank you for posting this!” comments came in…
and the “can we send you this free hairbrush?” DMs have all got you thinking “maybe this can become something bigger.”
But your day job is “fine.” You could totally stick it out for just a bit longer. However...
You’ve got a knack for social media.
And a firecracker spirit.
You know in your gut that becoming a content creator is what you’re meant to do.
But you’re sitting at 300 followers on a personal account that has *zero* to do with what actually makes your heart sing.
And wracking your brains to DIY your dream career with vague advice like “just pick a niche & post consistently” –
Kills your motivation faster than logging into work on Monday mornings.
have 500 new people clicking your “follow” button every single week
line your pockets with revenue through your new Like to Know It account and brand campaigns,
wake up without an alarm because you’ve instilled a “slow morning” policy
lock in an automated content plan, courtesy of your newfound skillset where you’re editing photos in Lightroom faster than a professional wedding photographer,
post 3-5 viral-worthy Reels every week so you can grow 180k in 4 months like Amanda, my student, did.
LET’S GO →
When really, your smartphone is enough. All you need is editing skills to turn smartphone photos and videos into scroll-stopping posts.
Like Amanda who grew to 200k followers AND closed 6-figures in partnerships in just one year filming all her content on her iPhone!
When really, micro and nano-influencers will be on the receiving end of the majority of brand collab money this year.
Like my student Karen, to landed her first major brand campaign with only 7900 followers. This campaign is paying her $1200 per month for 12 months. That's a total of $14,400 for ONE collab, with less than 10k followers.
Or my student, Abigail, who was able to secure NINE 5-star hotel collaborations across Asia with just 3500 followers.
Not to mention Tamra, who pitched to the Thailand Tourism Board, and snagged their all-sponsored collab with just 500 followers.
Even if there are tons of people out there creating content in your niche, that shouldn’t be the reason why you aren’t getting started now. ‘Cause all you need to “stand out” from the crowd is to create a personal brand that’s rooted in YOU. I teach you how to create an unmissable personal brand inside Module 1.
Using the same 6 principles from Module 1, Lily (from Healthy & Fabulous) created a one-of-a-kind personal brand in the seemingly overcrowded “food and lifestyle” niche - which helped grow her followers by 40k people!
✔ Deploy the same 9 strategies Jenny used to grow her fashion account from 1500 to 30k followers in 2 months
✔ Fire off your media kit (as early as tonight) using one of 3 done-for-you media kit templates I have waiting for you in Canva
✔ Whip up scroll-stopping content that grow your followers AND your bank account (by the 1,000s)
✔ Negotiate $1k, $2k, and $10k brand partnerships like a baddie — using the exact stuff I use to negotiate my own brand campaigns
✔ Utilize my pricing formula to nail down exactly how much to charge for each type of brand collab.
✔ Sound like a competent whiz while you confidently navigate industry lingo like exclusivity, image rights, whitelisting and boosting with brands
✔ Create an incredible community who DM you “thank you posting that; I feel so seen” on the regular”
By using the 10 modules full of ‘what’s-working-in-2024’ info I’m about to share with you, you’ll:
Interior design
Quantum Computing (yup)
Literally whatever you’re passionate about
Crochet!
Surfing
Minimalist lifestyle
Veganism
Beauty
Fashion
Travel
Foodie stuff
But you need an arsenal of pitch templates,
A “here’s exactly how to do it” blueprint,
And growth strategies that are working now to do it.
Pets
Health
Wellness
Parenthood
All prices are in USD. If you enroll in a multi-payment option, charges will occur today and at the same time in subsequent months until completion.
Need help ordering or have further questions?
Email us at support@catarinamello.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!
All yours for the special price of: $997
Partly because I was the solo earner of my family then, with my husband (and now business partner) pursuing an expensive MBA with a big student loan to pay.
Partly because I was afraid of being judged for switching from a “reputable” job to something unfamiliar to my friends and family.
But I also knew that I could no longer go on doing a job that made me feel suffocated.
So, I pushed my fears aside and finally hit “post” from my public IG profile on January 7th, which completely changed my life…
In 2.5 years, I grew from 0-200k followers on Instagram, garnering $250k+ from brand partnerships alone.
I quit my job because I was making way more money as an influencer part-time than with my 9-5 full-time.
And I’ve only grown since then.
I’ve worked on campaigns with brands like Four Seasons, Hilton, Ritz Carlton, Marriott Bonvoy, Airbnb, United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Trip Advisor, HBO, Amazon, LinkedIn, Revolve, Japan Tourism Board, Visit Mexico, and many more.
I’ve watched the Northern Lights bloom across the sky, experienced profound moments on a Tanzanian safari, soaked up luxury in hotels across the globe… and shared it all with an incredible community.
But before you go any further – you should know I hate avocados. #sorrynotsorry
Prior to making travel my main hustle, I worked at Google advising high-level executives on their marketing strategy. Think big titles (CEO and CMO) and big-money campaigns. It was a “good” job in a "dream" company, and the career path I was “supposed” to have.
But after that one trip to Bali in the winter of 2016, I could no longer ward off my inner voice that kept telling me — “What are you doing with your life, Catarina?” And even though I knew that creating my dream life was 100% possible through Instagram
(I mean, I had a tech background. I knew how the algorithm worked. Plus, I saw how big Silicon Valley companies were delegating their marketing budgets to influencersm — I was helping them strategize it!)
→ a seasoned nano or micro creator who wants that “I create my own schedule” kinda life
→ a brand new content creator starting at zero
→ You know deep down that you're meant for more than a desk job
→ You want every piece of info you need to become a successful creator so you can stop stuffing all your travel plans into 2 weeks of PTO and continually face the reality that you have no choice but to return to the office after every holiday break.
→ You’re fiercely serious about keeping that silent promise you made to yourself to “follow your dream, however that unfolds …”
→ You’re ready to build a brand around Mom Life, Van Life, Plant Life, Travel Life — whatever it is you’re crazy about (because ALL of it is monetizable, especially in today’s climate)
→ and you’re excited for that in-your-reach moment when a brand partner responds to your proposal with a 3-liner, and it goes, “We’re in. Just paid the invoice. Can’t wait to see what you create.”
You’ll whip up a professional-looking portfolio.
You’ll master creating engaging content so you don’t feel anxious hitting ''post", knowing your loyal audience will show up almost immediately to say how much they loved it
You’ll celebrate being on the receiving end of invites to influencer events like Revolve Festival, free stays in the Four Seasons in Thailand, fun swag like free Dior Beauty boxes, free roller skates — whatever makes sense for your niche.
You’ll finally reach that “I’m really doing this!” moment because you stopped rejecting the BS belief that this would fall in your lap when the “timing was right.”
Because you took it upon yourself to take back control of your one precious life.
It’s time to put on your analyst coat ‘cause “just post consistently” typa advice doesn’t work in 2024 anymore. IG success requires you to leverage your analytics and data efficiently. By the end of Module 9, you will –
✔ Feel confident looking at numbers – and know exactly what they’re telling you about your business
✔ Employ data-driven strategies to move your biz forward
✔ Truly understand why generating performance reports could help you have your biggest month yet.
Aka, the module where you’ll learn to convert your passion to a well-paying profession. In module 8, you will –
✔ Learn when you should say no to brands – and why
✔ Create a killer media kit that labels you as a VIP (no matter the size of your following)
✔ Navigate press trips in a way that makes brands BEG you to come back
✔ Learn how to diversify your income stream (and why you’ll make more $$$ this way)
✔ Utilize my best-performing email templates so you can pitch your dream brands
✔ Confidently price the 7 different types of brand partnerships that’ll come your way
✔ Find out when to get a talent manager so you can better manage your collabs
The biggest reason why aspiring creators fall off the wagon is because they are hounded by the bazillion if’s and but’s of pursuing this career path. By the end of module 0, you will –
✔ Set yourself up for success by developing a future-forward mindset.
✔ Discover how to move past your fears and insecurities
✔ Get comfortable confidently stating your expectations for your career
✔ Learn how to use a growth mindset to move through imposter syndrome
✔ Open yourself up to the possibility of very. real. success.
Once you’ve launched into teh right mindset, you will start laying the #1 foundation for success on social media – building an unmissable, follow-worthy personal brand. By the end of module 1, you will –
✔ Discover your “X” factor aka: the unique value *only* you can provide (trust me, you def have one)
✔ Get laser-focused on your niche and your Zone of Genius (aka: things that get your audience to DM “I love your page” on a daily)
✔ Curate an IG bio that attracts your DREAM following and brand partners
✔ The 3 different IG accounts that exist – and which one your biz needs
✔ Craft your personal strategic content creation plan that feels easy to stick to - and makes you STAND OUT
We’ve got your brand foundations in place. Now, you’ll spend time learning how to make the algorithm your best friend.
In module 3, you will –
✔ Learn how the algorithm ACTUALLY works in 2024 – and why there’s so much contrary opinions about it (plus which one’s true)
✔ The 3 algorithm phases that will push your posts to the Explore page
✔ 3 crucial factors of high-ranking photos and videos to implement RIGHT NOW to create a share-worthy, algorithm-loving feed
Even if you’ve never been known for your photography skills *and* thinking about technicalities like composition, saturation, etc makes you dizzy → Module 3’s where you go from “photography noob” to “photography pro.” By the end of the module, you will –
✔ Design a beautiful IG feed that’s inspiring, personable, and genuine
✔ Learn how to take incredible photos and videos without having to buy a fancy camera
✔ Get a lowdown on planning a photoshoot in your free time like a pro
✔ Uncover the secret to my most-liked photos (hint: it’s all about the set-up)
✔ Get savvy with my editing process (like Lightroom) and presets so you can stand out in your niche
The secret to converting your page visitors into die-hard followers who always come back for more? Crafting quality content that they vibe with. With Module 4, you will –
✔ Learn how to write captions so readers feel like you’re personally speaking to them
✔ Batch out a month’s worth of content – in 1 weekend
✔ Make the content creation “C3 Method” your own so you can create an authentic and binge-worthy feed
✔ Discover the strategy for long-lasting success, and how to move through trends and seasons
✔ Plan your feed without anxiety about the “layout” or "aesthetics”
Now that you’ve learned the basics of creating a can’t-put-downable IG page, it’s time to grow your presence to reach a wider audience. By the end of Module 5, you will –
✔ Skyrocket your followers with a step-by-step guide on how to execute 9 growth strategies to reach MORE people organically in 2024
✔ Pick up a hashtag strategy that gets you consistent exposure to new audience (and yes, hashtags still work)
✔ Get aware of 4 controversial ways to gain followers (I don’t recommend them - but I want you to know what’s out there)
✔ Grasp the foundations of organic IG growth so content creation feels fun and rewarding
Tap into the fastest-growing *organic* opportunity on Instagram – IG Reels. With Module 6, you’ll find –
✔ Everything you need to know about the Reels Algorithm
✔ Anatomy of a high-performing Reel and 10 types of videos you should try right away
✔ 6 Strategies for creating viral Reels to jumpstart your growth – including how to master trends and transitions
✔ Step-by-step, easy-to-do Reel editing tutorials
One of the biggest reasons why people love personal brands is the sense of community and belonging that comes with them. In module 7, you’ll learn to create an engaged community by –
✔ Applying 4 doable-with-a-time-crunch engagement strategies you’ll want to start today
✔ Discovering what to post and when…and why it matters
✔ Activating 14 psychological triggers through your content to encourage likes, saves, shares and DM’s
✔ Deploying 4 strategies to make your Stories more interactive
✔ Becoming an IG Story Master (and get totally comfy on camera!)
"Since joining the Influencer Mastercourse I've gained over 50k followers on TikTok, had multiple TikTok & Reels go viral and I've landed multiple brand partnerships and deals including huge names like M&M's, Expedia and Chevrolet, to name a few. The course has been a great investment for me; not to mention I've gotten so many paid partnerships that it has paid for itself multiple times over at this point.”
Since joining the course I’ve achieved so much and I’m so proud and grateful. I started the course in March 2022 with just 8000 followers and I’m now at 102K. I’ve had several videos going viral (my best one had 14M views). I landed 3 paid partnerships, one with a country’s government and one with a multinational company for several thousands dollars, and I am currently working on several partnerships with companies connected to my niche.
"The last year since I joined the Influencer Mastercourse has been a whirlwind! Within the first 3 months of purchasing the course, I was already getting paid by brands. Fast forward to today, I have a community of over 100k followers, work with brands like Adobe and Notion, and made 2x my old corporate salary. Before joining the course, I had never invested in myself, and I felt like I was taking a huge risk. The investment came back 100-fold, and we are just getting started!"
Pitch Templates + 3 Customizable Media Kit Templates (so you can confidently land your dream collabs!)
Includes invoice template, project proposals, project recaps, and a contract checklist -- so you can start creating your biz from Day 0 minus the guesswork!
Get all your burnings biz Qs answered every month so you’re never feel you’re going at it SOLO
including talent manager, PR manager, Pinterest pro & more! Envision what your biz in the near future looks like. Then, lay a solid plan to get there.
Aka: the all-you-need key to sounding like a pro even if you’re *just* starting out
So you can edit your photos just like me with just a few clicks!
Here’s everything laid out for you…
→ 10 modules with 80+ videos to help you go from aspiring influencer to fully-firing content creator [Value $2000]
→ Nitty-gritty of “what works on IG in 2024” – algorithm, content strategy, Reels, community building [Value $2000]
→ Complete low-down of how to land collabs that pays in $1000s with pitch templates, media kits, and an exclusive training on pricing [Value $1250]
→ Vault of influencer business-specific templates (invoices, media kits, proposals, project recaps) [Value $500]
→ Lessons on photography with access to exclusive Lightroom presets for easy editing [Value $1000]
→ Monthly 1 hour LIVE Q&A sessions inside FB group [Value $600 per call]
→ Lifetime of the program access with refreshed modules [Value priceless]
→ Lifetime access to private Facebook community [Value priceless]
Ready to commit to this “influencer thing” seriously?
All prices are in USD. If you enroll in a multi-payment option, charges will occur today and at the same time in subsequent months until completion.
Need help ordering or have further questions?
Email us at support@catarinamello.com and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!
Nope! This works for literally every niche under the sun. We have successful students in over 50 different niches, including quantum computing, crochet, roller-skating, NGOs, and everything in between.
Then the first few modules might be review for you, but once you get into the monetizing module, typically that’s the game-changer my seasoned pros get excited about.
Here’s how the monetizing module breaks down:
Ways of monetizing & how to diversify your income
Working with brands
Brand partnerships + how much to charge
Adjusting your rates + sending proposals
Press trips 101
Creating a killer media kit
The top 30 influencer platforms to get on
Getting your name on PR lists
Following up: the 3x3 rule that will get people to reply
Pitching & Winning negotiations
How to review a contract
Collab red flags: What to watch out for
What to do after you sign a campaign
Getting repeat clients
When (and how) to get a manager
… if getting your hands on those 15 video lessons of Module 7 sounds worth it to you, the Influencer Mastercourse can definitely help you.
Depending on your niche, you may be able to create all your content in the privacy of your own home office. But if you know that won’t be you, can I first acknowledge that comment?
The “pretentious selfie stick girl” is pre-creator era thinking.
Content creation is a legitimate marketing job. Anytime you snap footage, you’re contributing to a content plan, whether it’s your own or a brand’s. And you’re often paid for it.
It’s not drastically different from being a professional photographer. Can you think of yourself as that instead?
Yes, taking pictures of yourself in public will always feel a little funny, and you’ll have to do it regularly (in most cases, at least). But if you can get behind the idea that you’re executing a work task, it becomes less weird.
People more or less get what you’re doing. Plus, the discomfort won’t feel so bad when you’re snapping pics knowing you...
are off to an all-expenses paid vacation to Milan next month
just watched your following count cruise from 4k to 8k over the last 4 weeks
will be invoicing $1,000 for a 8-second TikTok
Random strangers aren’t paying your bills. But your photos are. And if that’s hard to cope with, you have over four thousand friends (and counting) to lean on inside the Influencer Mastercourse Facebook Community.
Definitely not.
Unless your brand is truly the girl who Rented the Runway to shoot at the most Instagrammable spots in town (I'm all for it if it is!),
... you don't need to.
My student Bailey is jumping around in sweat pants with her kids in her Reel that got 12,211 likes (probably more now)…
Only wear a flowy dress if that’s your vibe. You see me in them just because I love them.
I hear ya. We’re content creators.
I’m not sure if the term will ever change from “influencer marketing” to “content creator marketing,” but it’s just semantics! Don’t let one word ruin the possibility of you claiming your nook of the internet.
This question is SO GOOD. If you're a travel creator, this will impact your travels to a degree, of course. But it shouldn’t ruin it.
Say your niche ends up being luxury travel and the hotel you reach out to lets you stay 3 nights for free in exchange for 2 reels and 3 story sets. And you want to grab extra content to post on your account for the next week — the reality of your trip will be some version of this:
you wake up for sunrise to get footage, then spend the day enjoying the property with your travel companion and block another 2 hours around sunset for more content
or you spend 1 full day, snapping photos and filming in a few spots you pre-planned on your shot list
You’ll put boundaries on it, so you know when you’re shooting and when you’re “off duty.” The majority of your trip should be off duty. Otherwise, what’s the point?
No. The Influencer Mastercourse is a marketing course. It just doesn’t require you to know who David Oglivy is (like that college elective you took). You’ll know exactly how influencer marketing works so you know what you’re talking about with brands.
It’s going to be a good amount of work, and success won't come overnight. But it’s doable work.
Shoot content regularly.
Write captions regularly.
Post regularly.
Analyze regularly.
Sometimes brand collabs will feel like a pain-in-the-neck. My student Sally will tell you about the time a brand had her edit the TikTok they were paying her to make 7 times. And she spent 3 hours per edit. That’s 21 hours of work on editing alone. Granted, she forgot to add a limit to the contract on how many rounds of review the client could request (something I teach in the course, btw). Stuff like that happens as a content creator. This work can be tiring. Sometimes you’ll be hangry because you've been shooting all morning and haven't eaten breakfast yet. But what’s driving you? For Sally, she was getting paid $8,500 for that TikTok plus one other video, so the 21 hours were worth it.
The ones who don’t succeed always know why they aren’t succeeding:
“I know I haven’t been pitching brands as much as I should be.”
“I know I should get myself on all 20 of the platforms brands use to hire influencers.”
“I know I’m not posting strategic content as consistently as I could.”
At the end of the day, succeeding as an influencer is just a formula. As long as you follow through with the actions and have discipline, especially on days you don’t feel like it — success is inevitable. But you have to do the tasks the formula requires of you, and be patient.
Absolutely NOT. In fact, I don’t recommend quitting AT ALL until you’re making close to (or more than) your corporate salary. Quitting your corporate job too early might add too much pressure to your work as creator, which often leads to burnout. I only want you to launch yourself into this new career when it makes financial sense to do so.
Besides, pursuing influencing part-time is 100% possible with a day job. I only quit my day job at Google after I started making MORE from Instagram than my yearly salary – which happened a little over 2 years after I started this side hustle!
Of course you do. You reading this page, imagining an alternate career where you can work from *anywhere* and out of your own schedule tells me you’re MEANT to be here. Remember, nobody in our industry was born confident. You need to work through your limiting beliefs patiently. I know I did when I was afraid of starting out because I thought being a non-native English speaker – my accent would be made fun of! And I most certainly didn’t have a growth mindset from Day 0.
Which is why, I dedicated a special module (Module 0) for just mindset. And none of it is complete without a tried-n-true strategy to back up your determination. A step-by-step roadmap to grow your following and monetize it – which is exactly what the rest of the course is for!
Here are a few non-negotiables. You must be willing to…
✔ Niche down. Instagram won’t show your stuff unless it sees you consistently posting about topics in one overarching niche. If you don’t know your niche, I’ll help you figure yours out without it feeling like a constricted box.
✔ Show your face. S Sure, there are ways to grow without it, but it’s WAY harder, and also not very good when it comes to monetizing it. Putting yourself out there is scary, I know. But I'll help you get over your fear of judgment (and failure).
✔Play around with the 10 types of Reels I suggest. No more picking apart what others are doing and guessing how they got so many views. Just do what I say when it comes to Reels, and your account will grow.
✔ Check in with me inside the student-only Facebook Group at least every 2 weeks. That way if there’s been changes to the platform, trends, or new algorithm rules — you’re the first to get my “here’s what to do” solution.
I’ve always wanted things fast. Which is why, if you’re committed, I insist we work fast. If you’re dead-set on staying middle of the pack (and can digest continuing to “live for the weekends”), I’m not here to convince you otherwise.
But if you’re committed to fast (and at times, scary) growth, If you’re cool spending 1.5 hours per day on this, plus a few more on weekends — knowing the upfront hustle will be worth it.
And you’re willing to let me coach you through a new abundance-based mindset, growth strategies, and influencer marketing know-how, stuff that’ll make your ascent 10x faster?
The Influencer Mastercourse takes your seed of ambition to become a well-paid influencer, and douses it in Miracle Gro