Alexis Hedley went from posting one viral TikTok in college to managing 200+ creators and millions of views as Playkit’s Campaign Manager.

In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to succeed as a creator or land your first role in the UGC space. From monetization frameworks to horror stories of creator outreach, Alexis shares the tactical insights every founder, brand, and aspiring creator needs to know.

What you’ll learn:

• How Alexis went from creator → strategist → campaign manager.
• The 4 monetization “buckets” every creator should know.
• Why you don’t need a huge following to make money.
• The right way (and wrong way) to pitch brands.
• What creators get wrong about “finding a niche.”
• Why startups are the best place to launch a content career.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Cold open: Alexis on content & monetization

0:09 – Intro to Alexis Hedley, Campaign Manager at Playkit

2:00 – The For You Page, TikTok Lives & how algorithms influence behavior

14:00 – Alexis’ background: small-town California → Ole Miss → first viral TikTok

23:00 – Breaking into startups with no experience (and first big lessons)

26:00 – The money behind UGC: what creators actually charge

30:00 – Creator outreach horror stories & how to stand out

35:00 – Why startups are the best way to break into content + taking initiative

46:00 – Running her first campaign, making $10K in bonuses, & helping friends quit jobs to create full-time

56:30 – How Playkit structures creator pay: weekly payouts + bonuses

1:02:00 – Finding your niche: what you love to create vs. consume

1:06:00 – The 4 monetization buckets every creator should know

1:13:00 – The evolution of UGC: hook + demo → skits → founder-led content

1:23:00 – Rapid fire: craziest excuses, proudest moments & final advice

If you’re a founder or creator who wants to grow your engagement and eventually monetize your accounts, you’re going to love this. Tune into this episode of Hooked on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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