Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brittany Benson. *** ### **Purpose of the Interview** The interview on *Money Making Conversations Masterclass* aimed to: *   Showcase Brittany Benson’s journey as a **brand strategist**, **AI consultant**, and founder of **The Branding Bar**.*   Educate entrepreneurs and small business owners on **branding**, **social media strategy**, and the **impact of AI** on marketing.*   Inspire listeners to leverage technology and consistency to build authentic brands. *** ### **Key Takeaways** 1.  **Early Branding Journey**    *   Brittany unknowingly started building her brand in college through her TV show *On the Air with Brittany B*.    *   She leveraged early platforms like YouTube and Facebook before “social media” was a term. 2.  **Consistency is Key**    *   Success in branding comes from **consistent engagement**, even before monetization was possible.    *   Brittany grew her Instagram following to over 130,000 by focusing on consistency rather than chasing trends. 3.  **Influencer Myth**    *   Large follower counts don’t guarantee success; **engagement matters more than numbers**.    *   “If I have 2,500 followers who listen to me, that’s more powerful than 100,000 who don’t.” 4.  **Paid vs. Organic Growth**    *   Paid ads can help, but **organic growth builds trust**.    *   Best practice: build an organic base first, then use paid ads to amplify. 5.  **Pivot to AI**    *   Brittany pivoted from a traditional social media agency to **AI-driven branding solutions**.    *   She creates **AI twins** for business owners—digital replicas that can produce content without the owner being physically present. 6.  **Generative AI in Marketing**    *   AI tools can create graphics, videos, and even voice clones.    *   Brittany emphasizes AI as a **tool to enhance workflow**, not replace human creativity. 7.  **Consulting Approach**    *   Offers strategy calls to identify problems and recommend AI tools.    *   Services range from **strategy planning**, **consulting**, to **done-for-you solutions**. *** ### **Notable Quotes** *   **On branding:**      *“I was always building a brand, even when I didn’t realize I was building a brand.”* *   **On engagement vs. followers:**      *“If I have 2,500 followers who listen to me, that’s more powerful than 100,000 who don’t.”* *   **On AI’s role:**      *“AI is just a tool. It’s not going to replace your job—it still needs human direction.”* *   **On staying ahead:**      *“I’ve been told I have the gift of insight to see what’s coming, even if it’s not popular yet.”* *   **On her pivot:**      *“I started generating AI twins for business owners so they could show up online without showing up.”* *** #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.