There’s something thrilling –and terrifying – about going it alone.

Just like the green-skinned witch discovering her power high above the Emerald City, solo influencer marketers are constantly defying expectations.

You're handling discovery, outreach, contracts, tracking, and reporting while keeping stakeholders happy. All by yourself.

It feels amazing when it works. And utterly exhausting the rest of the time.

No wonder you’re constantly looking for ways to defy gravity. 

Our team talked to marketers who've been doing this solo and gathered their best advice. Their insights are below, but this conversation doesn't end here.

Join our "Grow your influencer program as a team of one" live roundtable next week.

You'll hear from two experienced marketers (Michael Todner & Artūrs Zāģeris) who manage their programs alone. Bring your questions!

Until then, here's how to survive running an influencer program when it's just you.

Survival Tactic #1: Stop doing everything from scratch

Look, you're not a pioneer churning your own butter. You don't get extra points for making everything from scratch.

The time you save on repetitive tasks can be used for things that actually need your brain, such as strategy, creative thinking, and building relationships.

Here’s how we audit our time at Modash. You’ll need an open document and your calendar.

First, from memory, write down everything you spend time on. Every meeting, every task category, and everything you do goes on a list. Once you can’t remember anything else, start going week by week through last month's calendar and look for other hints of where your time goes. Put all of it in a list. 

Next, organize the list into two categories. Gives energy or takes energy. If you aren’t generally happy when it pops up in your calendar, stick it in the takes energy list. 

Next, take one of three actions on every single task in your takes energy list.

• Eliminate it (Do you really need to do it?)

• Delegate it (Can you outsource this to a freelancer or agency?)

• Make it better. (Can you automate or templatize this?)

A few examples of how to make influencer tasks better:

• Automate content tracking: Let software tell you when influencers post instead of refreshing Instagram like it's your job (well, it is your job, but you know what I mean).
  

• Semi-personalize outreach: Make templates with fill-in-the-blank spots for personal details. A Modash survey found that 54% of marketers combine templates with small personalization.
  

• Automate follow-ups: Set up email sequences that nudge non-responders without you having to remember who's gone silent.

QUICK WIN: Create a "swipe file" Google Doc with your five most-used outreach messages. Each time you write an email that gets great response rates, add it to your collection. Start with just one template today.

Survival Tactic #2: Batch similar tasks to save your sanity

Bouncing between discovery, emails, and reporting isn't just exhausting—it's killing your productivity. Each task switch wastes time and mental energy that you can’t afford to lose. 

Solution: batch similar work into specific time blocks.

How the pros do it:

• Andreea Moise (HypeMaven) structures her week by task type. Mondays are for follow-ups, mornings for emails, and afternoons for discovery and pipeline management. This prevents distractions and helps her stay on top of everything without feeling overwhelmed.  

• Michael Todner (Gear4Music) dedicates a specific block of time at the end of each week to influencer communications. This structured approach means no conversation is forgotten or dropped.

QUICK WIN: Block off two 90-minute focus sessions on your calendar for next week—one for creator discovery, another for content reviews. Protect these blocks strictly. No interruptions, no exceptions.

Survival Tactic #3: Create better moments, not more moments

The time you invest doesn't predict relationship quality. Instead, it’s how you make influencers feel when you do interact.

Focus on making each interaction count:

• Be genuinely positive when you communicate

• Ask questions you actually care about

• Respond quickly, even if it's just to acknowledge a message

• Share specific compliments about their work

• Connect on personal interests—a relevant meme or comment about a shared hobby goes a long way

Michael keeps a simple spreadsheet with "last contacted" dates and notes about conversations, birthdays, ongoing projects, and content ideas. This gives him instant context when he reaches out.

If managing many creators, prioritize your most valuable relationships—the ones driving results.

QUICK WIN: Identify your three most valuable creators. Add a calendar reminder to check their personal Instagram (not just their brand content) once monthly and leave a genuine comment about something in their life.

Survival Tactic #4: Trust your creators more, review less

Reviewing every piece of content creates mountains of extra work. The easiest way to lighten your load? Give influencers more creative control.

How the pros do it:

• Noor Ahmed (Mad Kicks) pre-approves broad content directions but rarely interferes with execution. This allows influencers to create content that feels natural while freeing up her time.  

• Michael (Gear4Music) loosens the reins for influencers he’s worked with multiple times. When trust is established, he lets them run with ideas, avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth over minor details. 

Still nervous? Start small. Grant more creative freedom to your long-term partners who have already shown they understand your brand voice and values.

QUICK WIN: For your next campaign, create a simple one-page brief with three "must-haves" and two "absolutely avoid" points. Then, tell creators that everything else is up to their creative interpretation. No approval needed.

Bonus Survival Tactic: Attend the IMS USA 2025

Flying solo? Fly to The Influencer Marketing Show USA instead.

This is where the brightest minds in creator and influencer marketing come together to share challenges, solutions, and fresh perspectives.

When: April 22-25, 2025

Where: Hollywood, Florida

What: Three days of expert insights, lively debates, and unmatched networking with top brands, agencies, and tech shaping the creator economy.

Use our code MODASH50 to get $50 off the price of your ticket.

See you in the next issue of ROI!
Eleni Zoe xx
Marketing @ Modash. Say hi on LinkedIn or visit Modash.

📌A NOTE ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST READ

The tips in this newsletter might not be right for your specific case. Use good judgment when deciding whether to take advice from the internet—even mine. My team and I survey & interview influencer marketers whose advice and observations come from their direct experience. ROI is meant for you to connect the dots and be inspired or challenged to think about your influencer marketing in a way you haven’t before.