Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ Eckstein
Hi AJ, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey has been a mix of traditional business, unconventional risks, and a lot of trial and error.
I started in consulting at Accenture, working with Fortune 500 companies. It was a great job—good pay, smart people, and a clear career path. But over time, I realized I was renting my brand instead of owning it. I wanted to build something of my own, where I had control over my growth, impact, and upside.
At the same time, I was becoming the LinkedIn guy at my company. I built a strong personal brand, created daily content, spoke at events, and even launched LinkedIn Learning courses. Brands started reaching out, asking me to run LinkedIn influencer campaigns. That’s when I saw the opportunity—LinkedIn was an untapped platform for creator marketing.
So, I took the leap. I left my six-figure consulting job, went all-in on Creator Match, and bootstrapped it from day one. I had no salary, no investors—just savings, a vision, and a belief that LinkedIn creators and brands needed a better way to connect.
Now, Creator Match is the #1 LinkedIn Creator Marketing Platform, helping brands like HubSpot, Notion, and BetterHelp run high-impact LinkedIn influencer campaigns. It’s been a wild ride—long nights, constant problem-solving, and plenty of uncertainty. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
At the end of the day, I believe in owning my future, betting on myself, and building something meaningful. That’s what got me here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not even close to a smooth road.
Leaving a stable, six-figure consulting job to build a startup from scratch was terrifying. I went from a clear career path and guaranteed paycheck to zero salary, no safety net, and the constant pressure of making it work. Every dollar I made went straight back into the business, which meant I had to live off my savings—and watch that number shrink every month.
Beyond the financial stress, imposter syndrome hit me hard. In consulting, I worked with Fortune 500 clients and always had a team around me. But as a solo founder, it was just me. No boss, no title, no established company backing me up—just my idea and my ability to execute. I kept thinking, Who am I to build this? Why would anyone trust me over a big agency?
I also struggled with comparison. I’d see other startups raising millions in funding while I was bootstrapping, working ridiculous hours, and trying to do everything myself. There were nights I’d lie awake wondering, Did I make the biggest mistake of my life?
But the one thing that kept me going was proof. Every time a brand ran a campaign through Creator Match, every time a creator told me it helped them land a sponsorship, every time I saw LinkedIn’s creator economy growing, it reminded me why I started.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but that’s the tradeoff for owning your future. The highs are higher, the lows are lower—but at least they’re mine.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Creator Match?
Creator Match is the #1 LinkedIn Creator Marketing Platform and Agency. We connect brands with LinkedIn creators to run high-impact influencer campaigns—something that was nearly impossible to do before.
What We Do & What Sets Us Apart
LinkedIn has an untapped creator economy, but most brands didn’t know how to leverage it. Other platforms focus on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, but no one was helping brands navigate LinkedIn sponsorships—until we built Creator Match.
Our platform helps brands:
✅ Find the right LinkedIn creators for their sponsorships
✅ Track creator stats & content performance (both organic & sponsored)
✅ Analyze competitors’ campaigns and see who they’re sponsoring
✅ Refine their strategy with data-driven insights on post formats, engagement types, and posting schedules
What I’m Most Proud Of
I built Creator Match from the ground up—bootstrapped, no investors, just pure execution. We’ve helped brands like HubSpot, Notion, BetterHelp, Teachable, Wix, and more tap into LinkedIn influencer marketing.
What I’m most proud of? We’re changing the game for LinkedIn creators and brands. Before, getting sponsored on LinkedIn was a mystery. Now, we’ve built a system where creators can monetize their expertise, and brands can partner with the right voices—all backed by real data.
What Readers Should Know
If you’re a brand, agency, or creator, Creator Match is your go-to tool for unlocking LinkedIn sponsorships. It’s not just about running ads—it’s about leveraging the power of thought leaders and industry experts to drive real business impact.
And the best part? You don’t need a million followers. We believe influence is about trust, not just numbers. If you’re creating valuable content on LinkedIn, you can monetize—and we’re here to help you do it.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The creator economy is just getting started—especially on LinkedIn. Over the next 5-10 years, I see some massive shifts coming:
1. LinkedIn Will Become a Major Creator Platform
Right now, LinkedIn is where business happens, but it’s still early for creators. Unlike Instagram or TikTok, LinkedIn is built on trust, expertise, and thought leadership. That’s why brands are starting to see real ROI from LinkedIn creators—because they’re reaching decision-makers, not just casual scrollers.
In the future, we’ll see:
More brands shifting ad budgets to LinkedIn creator partnerships
LinkedIn launching monetization tools (like revenue-sharing for creators)
B2B influencers becoming as mainstream as B2C influencers
2. AI Will Change How Content Is Created
Creators will use AI to:
Scale their content faster (but originality will still win)
Analyze what’s working and refine their strategies
Personalize engagement at scale (automating outreach, comments, etc.)
But here’s the catch: AI can’t replace authenticity. The best creators will be the ones who use AI as a tool—but still bring their unique voice, expertise, and personal brand.
3. Creator-Led Marketing Will Outperform Traditional Ads
People trust people more than they trust ads. Over the next decade:
Brands will prioritize partnerships with niche creators over generic ad campaigns
Employee creators will rise (Companies will invest in turning their employees into industry influencers)
Micro-influencers will be the new power players (Smaller, engaged audiences > Vanity metrics)
4. LinkedIn Will See a Wave of New Creators
Right now, LinkedIn is where Twitter was 10 years ago. It’s still early, but in the next decade, we’ll see:
More Gen Z & Millennials using LinkedIn like a content platform
Video & multimedia posts dominating (Not just text & carousels)
New analytics & discovery features helping creators get found
The bottom line? We’re about to see a LinkedIn creator gold rush. Those who start building their brand now will be ahead of the curve—and Creator Match will be there to help them monetize and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creatormatch.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aj_eckstein/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-aj-eckstein/
