Once – not so long ago – you had to be a notorious celebrity to create a brand from your name. Today it has become a lot easier, thanks to social media. Becoming a social media influencer is a perfect way to reach, inspire, inform other people and make some money.
In recent years, innovative influencers have used their platform to reach thousands of followers. Writing blog posts and creating entertaining video or photo content was the way for these influencers to engage their followers and reach new followers. The content creators benefit from the transparency of the internet; anyone can become an influencer! The road there may be a bit more bumpy now than it was a few years ago, but there is still a chance of becoming an influencer.
Content strategy
When you have decided that you want to become an influencer, you have to realise that building an online presence takes a lot of time. You need to come up with a strategy that explains what you post, when you post it, why you post it, and where. Your followers should regularly see relevant content from you. After all, the quality of your content is the key to developing a relationship with your followers.
How often you have to post depends very much on the platform. On Facebook, for example, you should post something 1-2 times a day when you have more than 10,000 followers. That frequency produces the most clicks. On Instagram, however, we see that the top 55 brands post 1.5 times a day on average. Instagram stories, on the other hand, are a completely different story. Make sure to post often enough that your followers don’t forget about you, but don’t bother them either!
Find your niche!
As mentioned earlier, it is essential that you have a niche. Only by specializing you can compete for an influential position. Position yourself as an expert, authority or icon within a certain industry and become more than someone with a popular Instagram page. Become a real influencer.
On Instagram, there are influencers who specialize in almost everything. Whether it’s fashion, travel, fitness or comedy, you have to stand out from the crowd. That’s the only way to stand out and create your own brand.
Create a Persona
While it is important to share your passion in an authentic way, it is also smart to create a “persona”. Create a character that sticks with people – after all, you sell yourself more than an idea or a product. The basis of marketing is that you have to create an identity that matches your target group.
If you’re trying to reach millennials (or the “generation Z”), it’s a good idea to capitalize on the interests and trends that suit your target audience. For a fashion brand, for example, you can use a very extravagant persona and share this content on Snapchat. In the US, 41% of all 18-34 year olds are regularly on Snapchat – so you can share custom content with lots of people!
Be active
If you want maximum results as an influencer, it is important that you always communicate with your followers. Search for other people with knowledge within your niche, reply to comments, share your content on other channels and look for brands that suit you.
By creating a network that goes beyond just your posts, you become a valuable member of your community. Dealing with others in this way ensures that you quickly have new fans who can share your content again. Those shares of other influential members of the community are very valuable.
Earned influence
It is always important to keep in mind that not everyone is or can be an influencer. Many popular social media figures seem big and famous, but appear to have no real impact on their target audience at all. Precisely by building your online presence on solid ground you can ensure that you not only become an influencer, but can also exert real influence.
Choose a niche, generate knowledge, think about a creative approach for a longer periode of time and regularly create high-quality content. Only then you can expand your online persona to a brand and be an added value for your followers.
