From Corporate Content to LinkedIn Influencer: Jayde Powell’s $27,000 Side Hustle
Jayde Powell, a seasoned social media strategist, leveraged her expertise to build a lucrative side hustle on LinkedIn, earning $27,000 this year by sharing her insights on corporate life and career strategies. This unexpected success story highlights the power of authentic engagement and the growing potential of influencer marketing on professional platforms. Powell’s journey reveals how a savvy approach to content creation and strategic brand partnerships can translate into significant income, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to monetize their online presence.
Key Takeaways: Turning LinkedIn into a Cash Cow
- Six-Figure Potential: Powell’s LinkedIn side hustle earned her $27,000 this year, significantly supplementing income from her social media agency and demonstrating the potential for substantial earnings on the platform.
- Authenticity is Key: Her success stems from creating content that resonates with a younger professional audience, using a conversational rather than strictly corporate tone. She emphasizes **building trust** with a real person approach, believing that this element can improve success greatly with a campaign.
- Strategic Partnerships: Powell secured brand partnerships, including a $1,000 sponsored post from Sprout Social. These collaborations are a primary revenue source and show the demand for authentic endorsements in professional settings.
- Leveraging Existing Skills: She successfully applied her corporate social media experience to her personal LinkedIn profile, demonstrating how existing skills can be repurposed for new income streams.
- Balancing Business: Managing both her agency and her personal LinkedIn brand presents challenges, but the flexibility of this setup is a significant motivator.
‘Influencer Marketing is Very Hot’ Because ‘People Trust People, Not Brands’
Before finding success on LinkedIn, Powell honed her skills creating content for X.com (formerly Twitter), garnering hundreds of thousands of likes and reposts. Seeking more flexibility, she transitioned to full-time freelancing and established The Em Dash Co. in October 2022.
Mastering the Art of Conversational Corporate Content
Powell’s viral success hinges on her ability to blend corporate-style content with a conversational tone. “Consumers are more savvy than ever; they know when they’re being marketed to,” she explains. “It feels inauthentic when brands are like, ‘Buy this product,’ over and over again. The messaging becomes boring.” This authenticity is at the core of her success.
The Rise of Influencer Marketing
This approach aligns perfectly with the booming influencer marketing industry. Advertisers are projected to spend **over $8.1 billion** on influencer marketing in 2024, a 16% increase from 2023. “People trust people, not brands,” Powell asserts, highlighting the value of authentic endorsements. A 2023 survey confirms this, showing that **more than two-thirds of U.S. consumers trust influencer recommendations** more than direct brand messaging.
Adapting to the LinkedIn Landscape
Powell successfully translated her personal voice from X to LinkedIn, maintaining an “unserious” but professional tone and tailoring her content to the experiences of young professionals. This adaptation was crucial to her success on this platform.
Becoming a LinkedIn Influencer
Following her initial success with a Sprout Social sponsored post, Powell proactively sought out additional clients. She employed the same methods used to attract corporate clients for her agency, reaching out directly to companies whose products she uses.
The Power of Personal Branding
Powell believes the income potential from her personal LinkedIn brand could soon surpass her agency work. This reflects the growing recognition of personal branding as a key aspect of effective professional marketing.
The Challenges of Solopreneurship
Powell works approximately 25 hours a week for her agency and 10 hours a week on LinkedIn. While she appreciates the flexibility, she acknowledges the inherent challenges of self-employment: “The traditional 9-to-5, 40 hours-a-week model is a bit much for me… but it can be scary in those moments where you’re like, ‘When is my next paycheck coming? When is my next invoice going to process?'”
Future Goals and Aspirations
Powell’s success on LinkedIn has fueled her ambition. She aims to reach 100,000 followers by the end of 2025 and eventually transition to full-time LinkedIn influencing. “I’ve just really been taking this platform so seriously, so I kind of want to see the fruits of my labor in that way,” she shares. “I would also love to get to a place eventually where I can do this full time, [and] be a LinkedIn influencer.”
Powell’s story serves as an inspiring example of how individuals can leverage their skills and passions to create new and lucrative income streams, offering a compelling case study in the evolving landscape of social media and personal branding. Her success underscores the importance of authenticity, strategic partnerships, and the persistent pursuit of one’s professional goals.
