Being an influencer sounds like a pretty sweet job. Who wouldn’t want to get paid just to post about their life on social media? I think many of us have been tempted at least once to give it a try for ourselves. It may look easy from the outside, but in reality there’s a little bit more to it than that. Influencing can definitely be fun, but it’s not always a walk in the park, and as the field grows, there are more and more things you need to know to have any chance of being successful.
If you are interested in becoming an influencer, below are some keys to success. These are the steps you need to take to start off on the right foot.
1. Choose a niche
The very first step to becoming an influencer is to choose the niche in which you want to establish yourself. What is it precisely that you want to post about, that you know a lot about, and enjoy talking about? Be as specific as possible while still choosing a topic that can appeal to a wide audience.
If you are really unsure or have many different interests you want to bring together, you can stay generic and label yourself a “lifestyle” influencer, but be wary: the wider you cast your net, the harder it will be to establish yourself.
2. Choose a name
Now that you know what you will be posting about, it’s time to choose a fitting name. You generally want to give your brand a title beyond just your own name. Make it snappy and quirky while still cluing followers in to what they’ll be seeing on your pages. You can definitely get creative, just don’t stray too far from your niche!
Here are a few stand-out examples: @champagneandchanel – Classy, fashion, lifestyle @chicmamachronicles – Fashion and motherhood @polkadotsandpleats – Fashion and style
3. Set up accounts
So you have a name and an idea what kind of content you want to post. Time to get your accounts all set up! You will need a clear profile picture and an engaging bio or About Me section. Your profile picture is the first visual anyone will see of your brand, so make sure it represents you well. Ensure your bio includes important information like your name, location, area of expertise, and email address. Beyond that, use your wit and creativity to grab people’s attention! Tell your story and give a sense of who you are in a short, engaging way.
You will also want to change your profile from a personal account to a business account on any platforms you can (Instagram and Facebook allow these kinds of changes).
4. Follow similar accounts
After getting set up, it’s time to start building your following. Until you are established and able to grow organically, the best way to gain followers is by following others. Follow influencers and brands in niches similar to the one you will be in. Not only will this give you some ideas about what to post, but will also get your name out there to garner familiarity. Other good accounts to follow: friends and family who are likely to follow back and influencers in fields different from yours but still complementary (ie. if you are a vegan recipe influencer, you may want to follow vegan and cruelty-free beauty influencers or wine influencers).
5. Engage, engage, engage
The final way to start your influencing career off right, even before posting ANYTHING, is by engaging with others on the social platforms you plan to post on! Comment on posts you relate to, express interest in brands you would like to work with in the future, and direct message more established influencers in your area to build a network. The more engaged you are at the start, the more eyes are likely to see your first few posts, even if your following is still small.
Following these 5 steps will put you in a position to confidently kick off your career as a potential social media influencer. Check back in a couple weeks for part 2 of our Tips and Tricks for Influencers series to learn how to grow your presence once you have established yourself.
