What started with a single online offer has turned into a community movement for Mavely creator Karen Ponce, the incredible force behind Cupones Gratis. With her bubbly personality and passion for helping people save money on everyday items, Karen has spent the past seven years building an incredible community of nearly 1.7 million combined followers on her various social platforms. Karen’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, community connection, and the impact that one passionate creator can have.
By the Numbers
1.7 million – The number of followers Cupones Gratis has on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube combined!
185,000+ – The number of sales she made in 2023
2017 – The year Karen began sharing deals online
A Humble Beginning with a Big Impact
A Humble Beginning with a Big ImpactKaren started her affiliate marketing/content creation journey seven years ago with just one social post. “I tried to teach the people to use coupons and try to learn more about the sales around the apps,” she recalls. What began as a simple online share quickly grew into a thriving community of deal-hunters eager to learn from her expertise.
As a native Spanish speaker, Karen’s content is geared toward deal-seekers in the Spanish-speaking community, and spans across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as Telegram Messenger. In her popular videos, Karen takes her followers on shop-alongs through stores in her Iowa neighborhood, reporting on the biggest, best sales that can be found.
Reaching Her Community, One Deal at a Time
Karen’s platform, Cupones Gratis, is more than just a channel for sharing deals with bargain hunters; it’s a vital resource for the Spanish-speaking members of her community. “I try to share the deals with my community through videos. And I try to teach, for example, if I have a good deal in a store,” she explains. Her preferred medium? Shop-along videos in stores where she brings deals to life. “Sometimes I create posts, but my strongest way is to create videos inside the stores and show the people, ‘Hey guys, Nike has this,’ or, ‘Target has that!’”
Perseverance Through Challenges
With an Instagram that currently boasts nearly 400,000 followers, you’d never guess that Karen had to completely rebuild it just last December. That’s when she lost her previous account, the original Cupones Gratis, that had almost half a million followers. Yet, Karen didn’t let this setback stop her. She rebuilt her account from scratch, fueled by her passion for helping others save. She credits her diverse range of social platforms and having other ways to contact her followers with helping her get back on track on Instagram.
Partnering with Mavely: A Game-Changer
Partnering with Mavely: A Game-ChangerKaren joined Mavely in 2022. The partnership quickly proved fruitful, and she began linking with Mavely exclusively.
One of Karen’s favorite features of Mavely is our mobile app. “I love the app. When I walk around the store and then I find some good deals, I can link them with the app. Mavely has the best app that I’ve ever seen!” she says. The ability to link deals immediately and search for promotions on the go has made the app an indispensable tool for her.
Beyond the technology, Karen values the personalized support she receives from her account manager, Shauna Hollinger. “If I have any trouble with something in my account or whatever, I contact Shauna, and she’s amazing,” she notes.
Connecting with Her Community
Karen’s success is rooted in her deep connection with her community. She offers personalized assistance, frequently checking in with her followers via text or Telegram. “I try to talk directly with my community…usually when somebody needs help, I try to do or figure out what’s going on with any deal. I feel those kinds of things are the most important thing for my community, when the influencer responds to any question, directly.”
Words of Wisdom for New Influencers
Karen’s advice to new influencers? Focus on delivering value rather than perfecting appearances. “Try to do the best videos for your community.” She shares that when she first started out, she was self-conscious about appearing in her videos. “But now I think this is not the important thing. The only important thing for me now is to help the people save money.”
Looking Forward
Karen’s journey with Mavely and Cupones Gratis is far from over. With her dedication, she continues to grow her influence, helping more people save money every day. We’re proud to have Karen as part of the Mavely family and look forward to seeing her business continue to thrive as she shares her passion for shopping and saving with her growing community.
Care to Join Us?
Inspired by Karen’s story? If you’re ready to start your journey as an Everyday Influencer®, Mavely is here to support you every step of the way. Sign up today and begin earning right away on commissions, bonuses, rewards, contests, and more!
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