Maliyad lifestyle and fashion influencer

Could you tell us a little about yourself so that we can get to know you better?

I'm Malika Souyad, lifestyle and fashion influencer. I've lived in Crissier near Lausanne since I was a little girl, but the call to discover the big cities that inspire me led me to study event management in Paris, to work in Dubai and to do my language studies in San Diego! I'm 30 years old, I like to move around, and I'm just as likely to be seen in hiking boots on a Sunday in the Valais, or in stilettos at events, as in sneakers during the week. I love spending time with my family and my 3 adorable cats. I'm Algerian-Swiss, and I love this mix of cultures because it's brought me so much richness.

When did you start your activity on social networks as a lifestyle and fashion influencer?

I opened my account in 2018 but like many I decided to put it in public and operate it during the first containment so the first quarter of 2020

What community and audience are you targeting?

Beauty, makeup, fashion, lifestyle, girl boss

What triggered you and why did you embark on your social networking adventure?

My entourage, my entourage always advised me to get started because I have always had a creative spirit and I love this world but I never dared... Then I lived a few months in Dubai where literally everyone is an influencer (no it's not a myth) so my friends there motivated me to get started and then I returned to the first lockdown and I set myself a challenge by the end of the year you have 10K or you stop, I am very competitive and workaholic so I got started and I worked hard and I reached my goal and I realized that I really liked it too so it's just happiness!  

How much time do you spend on your posts and/or lifestyle videos? Creating, directing, editing...?
Do you produce your own visuals and photos? And if so, what equipment do you use?

It depends, but I would say at least 5 hours per week creating content and editing, etc.
I've invested in quality equipment and so either I create my content alone tripods, remote control, ring light and co or my sister who does photography takes my picture or my girlfriends I have a crack team to help me in this challenge ¨

I take care of all the editing and retouching, and work a lot with Canva, inshot...

How do you manage your time, between your family, your work and your social networks? Do you have a job or other activity besides your work as a lifestyle and fashion influencer?

I'm the kind of person who gets more work the more efficient I am, I think haha This year I worked at 80% as a lawyer's assistant, I was doing my digital strategy specialist course and I had some freelance clients as a community manager (a food job, a job that helps me develop my skills and a job for fun (content creator).

And with all that I've been able to travel, spend time with my loved ones, and even organize my sister's wedding haha - really, it's all a question of organization (see point on organization).

Where do you find your lifestyle and fashion inspiration? And which social networks do you use most?

Pinterest !!! It's so satisfying as an app if not tiktok, instagram, YouTube
I have a base of influencer girlfriends all over the world and exchange a lot too, so that helps.

What was your strategy for developing your lifestyle and fashion Instagram community?

I think the fact that I'm very close to my community means I always try to respond to comments or messages, I'm constant and organized, I take this activity seriously as if it were a job and I try to always be on the lookout for new things by listening to podcasts, scrolling intelligently on the networks, YouTube videos and to complement all that I've even done a specialist training course in digital strategy at SAWI.

Would you have any organizational tips for other lifestyle influencers? What are your 3 tips for someone just starting out on Instagram?

- Be consistent in your posts
- Persevere and never get discouraged many boom accounts after several years of network presence
- Enjoying what you do, having fun posting and visiting this platform is super important so that it doesn't become toxic.
- Once launched planning and objective (every Sunday I plan my week in a special social media diary: collabs, stories, polls, posts, actuals

What do you think makes a successful collaboration proposal?

When all parties are happy, including the community! Respect for deadlines, quality creation, feedback from both the influencer and the brand, good communication on the expectations of the collaboration, no pressure on the influencer, compensation commensurate with the work, and acceptance of constructive criticism.