Startup Story
As a marketer for over 18 years, and after running her marketing and communications company since 2010, Jolene Roelofse, realized that there is a need for a focus on influencer marketing, that can be measured, outside of only the number of followers. Influencers who can be used for their reach and engagement with their audiences, to relay information about brand products and services. This led to the start of Fluence Africa.
LoA chatted to Jolene to find out more about her entrepreneurial journey, her move into influencer marketing, and her ambitions for the future.
What does your company do?:
We run and manage influencer campaigns for brands, by matching their products and services to the right influencers, ensuring reach and engagements that can be tracked and measured.
“We saw the need for influencer campaigns that can be impactful and where the ROI can be measured.”
What inspired you to start your company?
We saw the need for influencer campaigns that can be impactful and where the ROI can be measured. This would ensure that the right influencers are matched with the right brands.
What makes your business, service or product special?
The fact that we provide a strategy and implementation and that we provide a ROI post campaign with key insights.
Tell us a little about your team
We bring expert project managers on board on a project basis, which allows us to keep our overhead low.
“We bring expert project managers on board on a project basis, which allows us to keep our overhead low.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I ventured into entrepreneurship after the birth of my son, when I wanted to be more passionate about the projects I was spending my time on. I wanted to make a bigger impact. This led to me starting Bludoor Market, a communications and marketing agency, that focused on small and medium sized companies, assisting them with creating and implementing marketing and communication strategies that they could manage and implement themselves after a certain time. Working for myself afforded me more freedom.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We are looking to offer our services across Africa, since our service can be offered digitally.
“We are looking to offer our services across Africa, since our service can be offered digitally.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The freedom to set my own office hours and to take on projects that I enjoy.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Do your research, ensure you know your target market you are serving and that you know what problem you are solving for them.
Contact or follow Fluence
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | EMAIL jolene@fluence.africa
Why LoA loves it…
Influencer marketing is becoming an increasingly powerful tool to connect brands and their products and services to key customers. To help those brands to make the right connections with customers, marketing expert Jolene saw a gap in the marketplace and Fluence Africa was born. Today, she and her team bring their significant expertise to the table for any brand campaign that needs to really be seen and heard by customers, using influential voices that connect with their target audiences. Jolene’s business is riding the wave of a significant shift in the way that brands get their messages across - exciting times for influencer marketing in Africa. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa