Author: Amy Doslich
If you had told me a few years ago that a tiny pink stuffed bunny would launch me into writing children’s books, managing multiple social platforms, and working with brands as a UGC creator, I would have laughed. But that’s exactly what happened.
It started when my oldest daughter fell in love with a pink bunny around age one, the kind of love where the bunny comes everywhere: car rides, bedtime, grocery runs, even doctor’s appointments. And one day I thought, why not turn that into a story she could see herself in, and that story became the first book in my Hannah Banana and Mary Berry series. I thought writing the book would be the “hard part.” Spoiler: it wasn’t.
The real challenge was realizing that if I wanted to actually sell the book, I had to show up online. And honestly, I had no idea where to begin. So I did what every new creator does: I went looking for answers. I listened to podcasts, read articles, joined groups, and kept getting new suggestions for what to try next. When one thing didn’t move the needle, I tried something else. That is how I slowly ended up on every major platform. I never planned on becoming “everywhere.” I was just trying to figure out what worked. And even though I would not recommend starting that way, it did lead me to some amazing communities. Instagram became my home for indie authors. TikTok connected me with moms who understood my world. Facebook kept me tied to the people who have supported me since the beginning.
But there was a problem: managing all of this is time-consuming. Any mom reading this knows the mental load of parenting, adding content creation, working a 9-5, running a small business, and trying to stay consistent on multiple platforms? It’s a lot.
That’s when I realized: if I was going to pour this much time into showing up online, I needed to find a way for it to work for me, not just drain me. That’s how I stumbled into UGC and influencer marketing.
And here’s the secret I wish more moms knew:
You don’t need a giant following to work with brands. I started landing paid partnerships when I had under 3,000 Instagram followers.
What mattered far more was my storytelling, my authenticity as a mom, and the real-life moments I shared with my daughters. Moms don’t want glossy perfection. They want relatability, and brands do, too.
Now I get to blend everything I love: • Creating with my kids • Sharing products and books that families will actually enjoy • Writing stories inspired by my kids • Hosting my YouTube series Kids Ask Authors Answer where young readers get to interview authors directly
My journey hasn’t been linear, and it definitely hasn’t been traditional. But it’s proof that you don’t need a huge platform, a perfect plan, or a fully mapped-out strategy. You just need a starting point and the willingness to keep trying until something clicks.
If you’re a mom trying to grow a creative business, whether you’re writing, filming, podcasting, or just beginning, I hope my story encourages you to start where you are, use what you have, and let your real life be the spark. Because trust me: that spark can take you farther than you think.
And if any part of my journey resonates with you, I’d love to have you join me. I’m @amyd_mom_author on literally every platform, so follow me on whichever one you already enjoy. Please don’t feel like you need to be everywhere. I’ve tried that, so you don’t have to.
And if your kids love asking questions, check out our Kids Ask Authors Answer series on YouTube. It’s one of my favorite ways to help young readers connect with the people who bring their stories to life. For each author/book we feature, it also has coloring and activity pages, lesson plans for various ages, fun activity ideas, and more!
BONUS: If you have made it this far, below are the platforms I use to land paid partnerships:
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Joinbrands – This is where I started. They have lower-paying jobs, but I was able to get jobs consistently, and it helped me build my portfolio quickly: https://joinbrands.com/?ref=roQOPf (this is an affiliate link, I’ll get $5 if you sign up and get a job.) Here is my portfolio, where you can see I have done over 100 jobs on the platform, and it may give you some ideas for setting yours up: https://joinbrands.com/@amy-doslich.
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Collabstr – This is similar to Fiverr/Upwork, but it’s specifically for UGC/influencers. The great thing about this one is you set up your portfolio, and then the brands come to you: https://collabstr.com/amydmomauthor?ref=t
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Tribe – This one you do need 3,000 followers, and I mostly get pet jobs here. It’s also mobile only.
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Insense – This one has a lot of gifted collaborations, so you need to filter those out, but I’ve gotten quite a few paid jobs on here: https://insense.pro/?ref=yjvkogu
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Later – A hidden gem. I find a lot of great collaborations on here: https://later.com/
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X – I was never on X before, but I got on it just to get UGC jobs, and it’s working.
Now that I’ve been doing this a little while, I don’t rely on the platforms as much. Somehow, the brands are finding me. I should probably ask them how, but I haven’t. If you have any questions about any of the above platforms or about getting started, I’m happy to have a chat. DM me on one of my socials. Good luck on your creator journey!
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Want more like this? Read How to Book Podcast Guests Without the Stress: My Top 5 Lessons
