What does it take to build an online presence and become a professional streamer and creator? Melonie Mac joins John in this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to share her journey from being a game lover to making a living by sharing her passion with the world.

Melonie talks about how after failing an audition, she realized she needed to hone in on her on-camera skills, what it took for her to go full time in content creation.

She also talks about what influencers need to know when starting out, and how to really work with sponsors, in addition to what sponsors need to know to truly take advantage of working with a talent.

To connect with Melonie, visit:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meloniemac

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQMEms3zgX-dmS2mttSJEYw

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/meloniemac

To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:18 – What it’s like to be a content creator and a gamer for a living, and how Melonie got involved in it.

5:05 – Why Melonie started her YouTube channel so she could get more comfortable on camera, and why natural talent is the only way.

9:17 – What were the Frag Dolls, and what role do they play in helping to empower women in gaming?

11:27 – What can be done to help women become more welcomed and comfortable within gaming? 

15:27 – Melonie gives the details of her journey after interning with Frag Dolls, and why she finally decided to go out on her own.

19:27 – Huge insight into understanding how you can stand out as an influencer with other brands.

20:00 – What was the moment where Melonie really realized that she could take a leap of faith.

21:51 – The advice Melonie would give to help those influencers who just starting out trying to break out and find sponsors.

23:29 – Consistency is key, but what are the other important things aspiring influencers should focus on when trying to grow an audience.

25:50 – Why understanding the balance of popularity and what you love is important.

27:09 – What are some of the most important skill sets that content creators and gamers need to have, and what’s the balance of time Melonie spends in front of behind the camera.

32:53 – Why understanding all of the components of being a talent is so important to understand vs. just being in front of the camera. If you want to play the long game, this is an important piece to understand.

36:42 – Understanding the difference between creating content for yourself vs. creating content for a large brand.

39:20 – Why understanding yourself is so crucial, and why it’s so important to be yourself when you’re actively streaming

44:10 – What should brands understand when hiring an influence to represent your brand in understanding how to let the influencer’s brand shine through.

48:54- Why diversifying your content across channels is important because keeping up with algorithms is important.

53:30 – What is Melonie’s favorite thing about her job and being a content creator.