Still riding the high from Philly’s first ever influencer conference, #PIMCON ✨ I had the honor of moderating the Inside the Brand Mindset panel, where I sat down with powerhouse businesses that actually hire influencers to get real about what they’re looking for when it comes to collaborations We covered the big questions every creator in the room wanted answers to: ⚡️ Do follower counts still matter, or is engagement more important? (Spoiler: engagement > vanity numbers every time.) ⚡️ What makes a creator stand out as the right fit for a brand? ⚡️ How do brands feel about cold DMs and emails? One thing all of the panelists agreed on: remember that there are people behind the brand. The best way to stand out isn’t just through your content—it’s by being someone people want to work with. That means being kind, showing up on time, and delivering on your promises. Professionalism goes hand in hand with creativity, and the brands in the room made it clear that reliability is what keeps influencers top of mind for future opportunities As someone who’s been on both sides of this industry—creator and brand—I can tell you: these insights are gold for anyone looking to build long-term partnerships instead of one-off gigs Huge thanks to @Vida Fashionista for inviting me to be part of such a game-changing event. Philly has been needing something like this, and #PIMCON showed up and set the tone for the future of our influencer community. 🖤 And yes, I did it all while rocking a cape jacket designed by Philly-based fashion designer Caroline Leary (aka my current obsession!!) 👉 Tell me in the comments: would you go to an influencer conference? #PIMCON #PhillyInfluencers #InfluencerConference @Han @Philly Mag Events & Promotions @Philly PR Girl @Heyday @Helium Comedy Studios @burble @datecandy @Michele @mkinphilly @MensStylePro Fashion drawing by @Cynthia Lawson Some photos by Joe Mac Creative 📸❤️ - @iamdaniellemassi