Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Jessie li @Jessieli

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What are you doing now and where do you come from?

Investment banker turned luxury fashion and lifestyle influencer – Jessie Li was one of the earliest bloggers in Hong Kong and has since gone on to create global impact with her social channels, working with international brands around the world including an array of iconic luxury labels. As an ambassador for Calzedonia, Intimissimi and Revolve, her wanderlust worthy content effortlessly fuses high fashion with travel inspiration as she gives her followers a glimpse into her glamourous life. From being a regular at fashion week to discovering some of the world’s most stunning resorts, her content is the perfect escape, whilst her strength to follow her dreams has seen Jessie featured by ‘Insider’ for International Women’s Day.

2) What are your topics of interest? What do you post on Instagram the most?

I’m post primarily on Luxury fashion, beauty and travel before the pandemic and currently focusing more on beauty, wellness and fashion.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

My Instagram handle is my legal name 😉 I wrote to Instagram and requested for a changed and they had to resign this handle to me from an inactive account.

4) What are some apps you use to edit your photos? Share with us your photo-editing routine!

Mainly in Lightroom. I don’t do a lot of editing, I love it natural.

5) Any Instagrammers whom you really like? Which Instagrammer inspires you the most?

@nimabenati has been one of my all time favourite accounts. I love her creativities and her breathtaking imagery. Her picture worth more than a million words.
@marylawlesslee has been another one that I have been following for a long time. She styles are truly inspirational and she’s so sweet in person. Once I sat next to during the Paris Fashion Week.

6) What’s your favorite part about being an influencer?

Until 3 years ago, I had a successful career in Investment banking and I had founded my own China focused asset management firm. Whilst on the outside, many would have deemed my work in the corporate world to be a success, it didn’t fulfil me and I felt burnt out. I was exhausted and needed a change.

Becoming an entrepreneur with a popular Instagram channel, a blog and my own Media & PR company called ‘Change Global Media’ has improved my happiness immeasurably. It has allowed me to build my career around my passions and, as a result, I truly love my job!

Whatever business hat I am wearing, every day is different and I really enjoy the spontaneity and the challenges that brings. I love the creativity that comes with being an entrepreneur – I am constantly thinking of new ways to create content and new brands to partner with. It is also ever evolving, so you never feel like you are standing still. For example, adapting to the new platforms that are coming through like TikTok has also been an exciting prospect. I never feel bored and I love that aspect of my job.

7) What’s your favorite part about StarNgage? Any exciting campaigns that you have joined through StarNgage before?

I haven’t joined in the campaigns from StarNgage because I have a manager that manages all my campaigns. However I love the platform. It has a lot of educational pieces of information and and it is also a platform where all the influencers can learn for each other. I constantly log onto the platform to seek inspirations and to learn.

8) What are some of your top tips to brands for running campaigns? How do you maintain authenticity?

One piece of advice that I would like to share with anyone who would like score top brand campaigns is the need to build a solid personal brand. Actually in any fields, whether you want to become a CEO, an investment banker, an editor of a magazine or an influencer, there is one common factor when it comes to success and that is Personal Branding!

Whether people are buying into your products, services or your lifestyle, they are really buying into you and, as a result, branding is key.

When it comes to building a strong personal brand – authenticity and originality are key! It’s not about what others do; it’s not about the latest trend on social media; it’s not about what others think… it’s all about following your heart on what you think is right.

People are buying into your personal brand because they like your idea or your passion. Remember: Don’t be a follower, be the next trend setter!

9) What would your advice be on the importance of quality and original content?

building your personal brand?
1. Be yourself 24 x 7 x365
Originality is key in building your personal brand. It’s not about what others do; it’s not about what is the latest hype or trending on social media; it’s not about what others think… It’s all about following your heart on what you think is right. People are buying into your personal brand because they like your ideas through your passion. Don’t be the trend spotter, be the next trend setter!
2. Do your research
It takes time and experience to be an expert. Thanks to the good old invention of the internet, information and knowledge are so accessible nowadays. It is exceptionally important to do your research and know who are the top players in your area and who you are competing against. It is equally important to do your research and reach out to the subject matter expertise for collaborations and JVs to boost up your exposures.
3. Strategy & Patience
This bring us to the next point…
Once you know where you stand in your sector or ecosystem, you can set a mid-long term strategy which will bring you to the top of the ladder – Go big or go Home.
From there, you can lay out a action plan on how to monetize your personal brand. Think big picture – aim for the trillion dollar story. Building your personal brand is just like running a business; set your strategy and execute on it. The place where you will make the money is the place where you have control and resources, not where you might THINK the money is. Too many people focus on where they think the money will be, but they have little control of their journey. Try to avoid ‘obvious’ opportunities and be patient! Rome was not built over night, your blog or your brand is not going go viral over-night. You need to focus on your own vision, re-fine your strategy based on changes to your environment and work hard for it!
4. Work it like breathing air
Like anything in life, you need to work extremely hard to stand out from the crowd and building your personal brand is not as easy as working a job, or to pay bills – it is your own credibility and image and will require your consistent devotion. This brings me to my last point –build your personal brand around your passion!
5. Passion, Passion, Passion!
To achieve work-life-integration you will need to be passionate about what you do. Many people want a work-life-balance because they hate their jobs. However, if you are building an empire around your passion, you won’t see ‘work’ from a day job perspective, instead, you will see it as your play day, and you are earning money while you are ‘enjoying’ life! So think more than twice when you set your personal branding goals and how you set the strategy to achieve it.

10) What do you like best about partnering with brands?

I have maintained a long-term relationship with many of the brands that I have worked with. In fact sometimes I grow with them. What are value the most is the long-term relationships I have with the parents and how they can be very flexible and allow me to personalise my own campaigns According to my schedules and the events that I will be attending. I really appreciate that they value my creativities and and sometimes they help me to broaden my audience base and exposure.

Topics:

• Fashion
• Hair & Beauty
• Health & Fitness
• Travel

Country:

Australia