Meet French travel blogger, @nathalie_wanders. As our March influencer of the month, Nathalie shares her insider tips to growing an engaged social following, how to go viral on TikTok and Reels, and why it’s important to create bespoke content for each platform.
Congratulations Nathalie! We’re so excited to award you as our influencer of the month. Your travel content is so aspirational. How did you begin your content creation career?
I’ve always been passionate about travelling and fashion. I actually graduated from fashion school in Paris and worked for five years in Haute Couture. I started to get into travel photography when Instagram first began to get really popular. I wanted to capture the beautiful memories from my trips and share them with my small audience.
During the Summer of 2017, I travelled to Santorini. I only had a small budget but still wanted to look glamorous. So I sewed myself some dresses and shot some content with my tripod. To my surprise, one of these images went viral. I was reposted on several big travel accounts on Instagram and Facebook, and I gained around 10k followers overnight. That was the beginning of my content creation career.
What are some of your best tips for getting the perfect lighting while shooting on the go?
I will always recommend waking up early for the sunrise, even while travelling. This is for two reasons: The light is amazing, obviously, and there aren’t as many people around. I find the quiet of the early morning very soothing and it helps me be my most creative self.
I also don’t like bothering people or waiting for people to move out of my frame because I might lose the light. So, unless you like taking photos of crowds, you should consider early morning photoshoots!
What are your top five most ‘Instagrammable’ locations?
This is a hard one! Paris and Rome are obviously a must because there are so many beautiful locations in both cities. Morocco, Bali, and Iran would have to be my next three.
You’ve mastered both the Reels and TikTok algorithm. Do you have any hot tips for creating viral short-form video content?
Be yourself! I know it sounds cliche, but after the last two years we’ve all been through, people want to see more realness on social media. Being your most authentic self is really going to help you reach and engage a wider audience.
Discover Vamp’s tips for becoming an authentic content creator.
Do you think it’s important to have a balance between creating bespoke content for both TikTok and Reels, while also re-purposing relevant content across both platforms?
Absolutely. The audience on each platform is different. Instagram is still the app where content has to be ‘perfect’. While TikTok is more about having fun.
I believe it’s important to create unique content for each platform in order to stay relevant to the different audiences, even though some of the same videos perform amazingly on both. If you do want to repurpose videos, you need to understand what type of content both audiences want to see. In my case, both my Instagram and TikTok followers love when I share behind-the-scenes content.
We love how authentic and transparent you are with your audience. Take this hilarious Reel for example. Why do you think being an authentic content creator is so important and do you believe this authenticity has helped you grow your social audience to what it is today?
People want to relate to us. After years of sharing ‘perfect’ pictures, I feel like people think a content creator’s life is so wildly different. Which is not entirely true. I am a normal person. I just happen to have this job where I only show the good and aesthetically-pleasing side of my life.
But thanks to TikTok and Reels, people are starting to realise it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. Content creators go through struggles as well. It’s not always glamorous and we’re very similar to the people who follow us.
I believe being relatable makes us more lovable. And that’s the most important thing when you want to create a solid community.
You have amassed over 310.1k social followers across Instagram and TikTok. Do you have any words of advice for other aspiring travel creators who are looking to grow an engaged social audience?
Dedication. It’s a full-time job, and then some. I work more now than when I had a 9-5 job. So you have to be ready for hardships. Also, never lose hope. It can take a while until you find your path, so perseverance is key, but it’s so worth it!
Here are seven ways to grow your local Instagram following and seven more ways to grow your TikTok audience.
We can imagine living life on the go can take a toll on your overall wellbeing. How do you take the time to ensure you unwind and recharge for your next creative adventure?
I’m a bookworm, so for me, it’s about taking 2-3 hours per day to put down my phone and pick up a book.
I also try to have at least 2 weeks back home between big trips to catch up on life, chores, and duties. It’s not always easy, as my schedule is very flexible, but I try to plan my week in advance to make sure I allow myself some time off.
Quickfire round. Right now I am…
Listening to: Doja Cat
Watching: Outlander
Eating: An açaï Bowl
Drinking: Black tea
Wearing: My PJs
Finally, after working on Vamp campaigns for Huawei, Adobe, and Modibodi, would you recommend Vamp to other creators? If so, why?
Absolutely! Vamp has allowed me to work with incredible brands and companies. The team is very efficient and reactive which is a blessing in this industry. So I highly recommend it!
Want to join Vamp’s global community of creators? Download our app to apply.
