Samantha Trottier and Hernan Regiardo of MATE SOCIETY on Creating Branded Content

Hernán Regiardo and Samantha Trottier, founders of Mate Society (@workbymate), built a reputation for beautiful photos and appealing content. The TikTok stars have even partnered with big companies like Bang Energy drinks and Hello Kitty. Watch this interview to learn about authentic online connections, being in the creator economy, and choosing the right brand deals.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of the Restaurant Influencers podcast, sponsored by the Toast point of sale and restaurant management company? Let us know by leaving a YouTube comment below!

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CHAPTERS:

[4:17] - Mate Society 2-Minute Drill

[8:20] - The Importance of Spanish Content

[13:45] - Authentic Connection with Audience

[22:33] - What $30,000 gets you from Mate Society

[36:55] - Choosing the Right Brand Deals

Hernán Regiardo and Samantha Trottier are Restaurant Influencers —

Throughout their Mate Society creative marketing company’s short, but impactful lifespan, the two have secured partnerships with major corporations ranging from Bang Energy drinks to Hello Kitty, and many more. How did they do it? With compelling content that people actually want to watch.

Regiardo’s visual eye mastery paired with Trottier’s penchant for learning and applying what knowledge she gathered into action, has boosted their @medialuncita TikTok following to more than a million followers.

Here’s the kicker: Their largely popular TikTok profile is almost exclusively in Spanish. Typically, the English language is only heard on their Media Luncita channel via sounds or music added to their content.

“I think it's a way to connect with your consumers and with possible clients,” Hernan Regiardo said of creating TikTok Spanish content when being interviewed on the Restaurant Influencers podcast hosted by Shawn P. Walchef of “To connect with the people you really have to talk their language.”

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The content creators say that no brand they have worked with has asked for specifically Spanish content. Regardless, Regiardo and Trottier pushed forward with their creative thoughts and continue to make a huge impression online and offline with their expanding business.

The duo strategically partners with brands they know they can work with well. Unlike some creators, they opt for brands and ads that won’t alienate the audience they have built.

“We're really particular about what brand deals we take,” Sam Trottier explained. “We'd rather do less ads that are higher money for us and actually speak to our audience so that we don't lose any engagement for doing ads.”

Engagement is the name of the game, and Sam y Hernan have found a way to reach audiences at a high level. Instead of curating their content around the companies paying them, brands allow them the autonomy to be themselves in their sponsored posts, and it has worked out beautifully to the tune of over 80 brand deals.

As their webpage clearly states: Collaboration is our culture.

NOMINATE A RESTAURANT INFLUENCER — Do you know someone or a restaurant who is great on social media? Let us know by emailing influencers@calibbq.media or sending the @calibbqmedia team a DM on social media.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Mate Society Online

• @medialuncita on TikTok

• Mate Society Digital Hospitality Interview

ABOUT MATE SOCIETY (@workbymate):

Mate Society is a creative duo specializing in photography and creative content marketing. They help brands blow up on TikTok and other digital platforms. Hernan Regiardo and Samantha Trottier are the founders of Mate Society and have grown their social media followers to more than a million followers in a short time. They have worked with over 80 brands from all over the world.

• Hernan Regiardo on LinkedIn

• Samantha Trottier on LinkedIn

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS:

Welcome to the Restaurant Influencers podcast series. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with leaders in restaurant and hospitality about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling and how to show up and engage where customers are spending time online.

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RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS SPONSORED BY TOAST:

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