Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Gautier.
Hi Victoria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My journey in this industry goes back to 2018. At that moment I was posting places I was visiting on my account and every day a friend would text me asking me “where was the X thing you posted the other day”. At that point, I decided to open another account so I could leave those places and my friends could just head to that account each time they needed some information.
I promise back then I did not know the business behind it, and I didn’t open the account to become a blogger either. I was just leaving some cool tips for friends and family because I honestly do like to visit cool places and recommend them if they are worthy.
Six months after I open this new account a brand reached out to work with me. I remember thinking “how is this happening!!”. I never thought I was able to work with a well-recognized brand through my Instagram profile. At that exact moment, I realized I could do much more with my account. Reach more people, visit more places, try more hidden brands people may be interested in trying and so I began.
Even though it sounds cliché, I very much believe that how genuinely everything began has always been transmitted in my work. I started this journey without expecting anything in return and naturally turned into a job. Most importantly, I am grateful that I can say that I have a job that I love and have a huge passion for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can’t say it has been easy. I believe any road you decide to endeavor on will have its struggles but that is what will make it fun and what will make you appreciate the journey even more. I think that one of the biggest struggles in this industry is that it is very new. This is not a job like a lawyer or an accountant that has been around for years.
A lot of people have a huge misunderstanding of what this job consists of. Others don’t even think is a real job. Even some in our industry don’t even know how to deal with bloggers and do so many mistakes. I have created a patient that I didn’t even think I could have to explain and make others understand what this industry is and the impact it has caused in the world, especially in the marketing sector.
Also, I do believe every year more and more brands have become more conscious about it, which is something amazing to be seen since it was something very different 4 years ago. I also have to say this is a very individualistic work. At least in my experience, I am the one answering emails, negotiating with potential clients, coming up with original content creation, recording, editing, writing captions, and so on.
I believe that to be in this job you literally must become your cheerleader to move forward with firm steps. Always believe in yourself even when you think you are heading nowhere. Believe me, small steps can take you to great places and opportunities.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
VIPig is a business that was founded in 2018. As mentioned before, it all started as a hobby and very organically became a business. I don’t like to be called an Influencer or a blogger. I believe that my business is all about content creation and brand awareness. I am known for recommending great places to visit, to eat, products to try, home décor, and tips.
I think what has set me apart is the trust I have built with my community over the past years. I have worked hard for this since I believe my credibility is the key ingredient in what I do. I filter every brand I work with to make sure I am recommending what I really like and what I really believe is worth checking out, which has made me a credible source among my followers.
Brand wise I am very proud of the brands I have had the honor to work with. I would have never imagined how far I was able to go. I am proud of the community that I have built not only in the food and home field but also in the hearing loss community, which is a community I am happy to be a part of. I have raised my voice for all the communities I have chosen to be in and have tried to give something positive to them through my work.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned to go with the flow and trust the process. Sometimes you are and the edge of the mountain and sometimes you will not. In the end, those ups and downs are what will really make you appreciate where you are right now and will always push you to go for more.
I have learned that being humble and grateful for what you do will always help you go farther in your journey. Last but not least, never take no for an answer and never let anyone tell you that you are not capable of something. Proof to the world of what you can do! The sky is the limit!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/vipig_?igshid=NmNmNjAwNzg=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevipig
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vipig_?s=11&t=QD4H0IUxmHHrypC4r6NUzA
