Momo's Writ 340 Blog

For our first book assignment, I chose to read American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by actress America Ferrera. Reading is extremely difficult for me due to my poor attention span and busy schedule, but American Like Me drew me in with its unique structure and overall theme of balancing family values and traditions with American culture. The book is a vibrant collection of first-person stories from some of the most popular public figures in the world, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Liza Koshy. Knowing that this book was a collection of stories, rather than one long, drawn-out narrative that would’ve taken too many chapters to become “interesting enough,” was honestly what compelled me to read it. If a short story wasn’t well-written or just didn’t capture my interest, I could skip over it entirely without missing anything from an overarching storyline—since there wasn’t one. It’s like watching an anthology series similar to American Horror Story or The Twilight Zo...

How Social Media Influencers Earn Their Money and How You Can Too A Deep Dive Into the Creator Economy, Monetization, and User-Generated Content Although I am very passionate about my career in influencer marketing, it never fails to humble me when I see influencers earning my entire salary—or sometimes even quadruple that—off a single TikTok video. If you tuned into The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives this month on Hulu, you may have been surprised to discover that influencer Whitney Leavitt was offered $20,000 for a single Instagram Story post promoting a sex toy brand. The opportunities are limitless, and with few FTC regulations in the evolving creator economy, influencers are always looking for the next revenue stream to tap into. As avid social media users, my peers and I deserve transparency—not just on how much creators are earning, but also on how we can tap into that flowing stream of income. Outlining Money-Makers In the Creator Economy According to data from Goldman Sachs, the...

     The last time I read an entire book was more than a year ago, that book being The Song of Achilles  by Madeline Miller. I'm a big fan of Greek Mythology because of its collections of compelling storytelling including both dramatic and relatable characters. Selecting a text for our first book assignment was a tricky task considering that: 1. I find it extremely difficult to follow through with reading a book, 2. I'm going to have to pay for this book out of pocket so I have to read it, and  3. I'm busy working two jobs plus being a full-time student, so whatever book I choose needs to be interesting and worthwhile.       After some careful deliberation, I decided to purchase and read American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures  by actress America Ferrera. I didn't pick this book because it was the first one on our list of recommended readings, but I did pick it by breaking the cardinal rule of reading: judging the book b...

  Junior Marketing & Creative Specialist Every single advertisement you swipe past on your social media feed has been carefully curated to your identity. If you’ve ever wondered why your algorithm served you a particular ad or how it was developed, you have come to the right place. As a Junior Marketing & Creative Specialist, I’ve worked with big brands on influencer campaigns. Funny enough, I once saw an ad from one of my favorite social media stars that I wrote for a campaign with Palmer’s. Let us dive into the world of the Creator Economy and unpack your unique advertising algorithm. The role of a Junior Marketing & Creative Specialist can be different depending on the company. Simply put, I have overlapping tasks between the Marketing and Creative departments at The Influencer Marketing Factory, which involve internal and external marketing efforts, market research on the Creator Economy, and helping with creative campaigns for our clients. I work from home, so I c...

Welcome to my blog!       My name is Momo Messerschmidt, I’m an LA native, and I currently study Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing at USC’s Marshall School of Business. Although I have spent most of my life in the South Bay, my future lies in San Diego where I plan to live with my partner and work from home in the digital marketing industry. I currently work at The Influencer Marketing Factory, a full-service marketing agency, and I am discussing a post-grad offer. My studies at USC and independent marketing certifications will support my career growth.       I find that there are many interesting parallels and differences between myself and my parents. I share my mother’s love for Sanrio, chihuahuas, and the beach. When I’m away at school, my mom always sends me videos of the ocean waves because she knows it helps with my anxiety. She also used to regularly send me photos of our pet chihuahua Teacup before he passed away. Our ...