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For those who don’t know, Blake Linder is a 17 year old full-time highschool student that runs a successful sneaker/streetwear YouTube channel. The content he creates is based on his love for filmmaking and his love for the culture of sneakers and fashion. Being from Los Angeles, Blake takes to the streets in every video to record the hottest and newly released fashion. He also hits up Downtown Los Angeles to visit @havasole to hand out sneakers to the less fortunate.
Blake has amassed a social media following with over 300,000 followers on Instagram and over 629,000 subscribers on YouTube. He started off as a young 12 year old with a few sneakers and a passion for creating videos. Being persistent with his uploads, attracting a bigger and wider audience with each one which has led to the following and impact he has now. I had the pleasure of interviewing Blake, here is what he had to say:
@HAVEASOLE
A few years ago Blake was shown the instagram account @Havasole. SInce streetwear is one of his passions he was interested right away. Being able to give back to the less fortunate in a sneaker related manner was important to him.
Blake Linder: I sent a message to the account and got a response back from Rikki, the founder. We set up a date for me to come down to the headquarters and see what it was all about. The first time I visited Havasole, I was astonished. Rikki explained and show me the 1000s of pairs he had collected from different sponsors and companies all for giving back to the people of LA that needed new shoes the most. From that day on, I would frequently visit Rikki and I would hand shoes to the homeless of DT LA with Rikki and his team which has always been an amazing experience. Being able to get so up close with someone who has been through so much and at the same time be able to connect with that person over a common love and interest is one of the greatest feelings I have felt.
Consistency and Persistence
Blake Linder: My advice for anyone who wants to start taking social media serious and build an influence is to be consistent and persistent. Consistency and being persistent is so important. With my channel, things didn’t take off at the very start. I had to create a lot of content and believe in myself and my skills in order to grow my channel. When things didn’t go how I had hoped, I had to keep creating more and more videos, instead of feeling down and wanting to give up
Learn From Others
Blake Linder: A fellow sneaker youtuber by the name of Qias Omar helped me grow my channel at the beginning. He featured my early on sneaker collection and the video was seen by many fellow sneakerheads. Qias is known as the OG of the sneaker youtuber community and really started the whole base of sneaker videos on Youtube. I look up to Qias as a mentor and as a close friend who has taught me so much on how to have success on this platform.,
“The best part of my success has to be the impact that I have made on so many young viewers of my videos. It’s one of the best feelings when a supporter comes up to me at a random time and place and tells you how much your content and work means to them.”
Blake Linder
Defining Success
Blake Linder: My personal definition of success is that if what you’re doing has a positive impact on someone else’s life, then you’re doing it right.
Advice For Those Starting Out
Blake Linder: I wish someone had told me that no matter what you do or say on social media, you still can’t make everyone happy. There are always going to be haters no matter what. Also, when I had my low times on YouTube, such as slow growth on the channel, I wish someone had told me that consistency was a key early on. This is something I recognize now.
The Streetwear Influence
Blake Linder: The culture of streetwear and how basketball players I looked up to were wearing the newest kicks really took me in. Fashion and how someone dresses depends a lot on what is hot and trending at the time.
Thanks for speaking with us Blake, How can our readers follow you on social media?
Blake Linder: My Instagram is @blakelinder and my YouTube channel is @BSNEAK
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