Her Campus Media, the Gen Z media and marketing ecosystem, has launched Certified Influence – a free virtual training and certification program designed to educate content creators and influencers. The program aims to provide the knowledge needed to secure and succeed at increasingly selective brand campaigns, the company has announced.

As more young people aspire to break into the creator economy and brands seek to tap into creators’ followings, a lack of formal training often leaves budding influencers without guidance. Brands may struggle to engage creators effectively for successful campaigns. Certified Influence intends to solve these industry-wide challenges.

“By offering an independently-verified evaluation of each creator’s skill set, Certified Influence will allow brands to confidently navigate the landscape of influencer collaboration, fostering impactful, authentic connections with their audience,” says Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Her Campus Media.

The three-tiered program covers key areas through written and video modules with quizzes. Topics include understanding industry terms and guidelines, enhancing creator profiles and pitches, analyzing metrics, setting rates, communicating professionally with brands, and executing brand collaborations successfully.

As participants complete each tier, they earn priority consideration for certain brand campaigns through Her Campus Media. After all tiers, creators officially receive a “Certified Content Creator” recognition to add to social media, resumes, and media kits – signaling professional qualifications to represent brands.

“Certified Influence will create an industry standard so that both creators and brands have tangible credibility and a clearer path to success,” says Lewis.

Initially exclusive to Her Campus Media’s community of over 50,000 creators across brands like InfluenceHer Collective and College Fashionista, the program utilizes the company’s influencer marketing expertise while incorporating user testing and feedback.

The certification addresses Gen Z’s aspiration for full-time content creation careers. Her Campus Media’s recent survey found that 82% want to become full-time creators, and 87% aim to secure brand deals.

For brands like Clinique, which partners with Her Campus Media for its college ambassador program, the ability to “authentically reach and connect with Gen Z is incredibly important,” says Maiah Martin, Clinique’s Executive Director of Consumer Engagement. “The Certified Influence program will be mutually beneficial for creators looking to further develop their skills and credibility while also building trust in the creators we work with.”

Creator Daniella Giovanetti of the College Fashionista community notes, “A Certified Influence designation will serve as a seal of approval that validates you and sets you apart as a professional for the brands you’re courting.”

By professionalizing the creator sphere through standardized training and verification, Her Campus Media hopes to positions Certified Influence as a paradigm shift benefiting both emerging talent and the brands seeking to work with them authentically.