The concept of being a social media influencer didn't exist ten years ago. Now, it's a booming, thriving industry that allows plenty of people to work from the comfort of their own homes. If you're intrigued by the idea of becoming a social media influencer, know that it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. However, there are some fast and easy tips you can quickly implement in order to jumpstart your career as a social media influencer. Consider the following three tips.
1. Choose Your Platform of Choice
Social media influencers tend to be the most prevalent on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. However, they're still present on platforms like YouTube and Facebook as well. You'll want to choose a platform based on two main components. First, choose a platform based on where your audience is. If you're looking for Millennial moms, you'll find them on sites like Instagram. If you're looking for Baby Boomers, you might have better success on Facebook.
Once you're clear about who your target audience is, the second component you'll want to consider involves your preference. If you're a whiz at creating entertaining videos on YouTube, invest a lot of time there. If you can manage your Instagram account in your sleep, spend more time on that platform. It's not just about considering the reach you'd like to have. People can tell when you're really into a specific platform or not. Choose one that's authentically your favorite. When you choose well, it's a lot easier to gain long-term success.
2. Actively Engage and Interact with Your Community
Once you're clear about who your target audience is and where you'd like to hang out, develop an actionable plan that will allow you to actively engage with your community. If your account is private, make it public. Then, find a few hashtags that will redirect you to people within your community. If you'd like to become a gaming influencer, start to connect with other gamers.
Like, share, and tag their content. Comment underneath their photos. Strike up authentic conversations in the comment sections. As you become a familiar face to people, they'll naturally follow you and pay attention to your content.
One of the best ways to legitimize yourself is by building your following. When you have a significant number of followers and fans, it'll be easier to bring those stats to brands when you try to pitch. Look into a fan site for social influencers. When you're utilizing various techniques in order to gain traction, you'll build a large following of fans who actually engage with your content and provide the results you desire.
Believe it or not, it is possible to build a large following of people who only like your content, but don't engage with it or purchase the products. While you don't want to solely focus on making the sale, you do want to become strategic in learning how to communicate with your followers in a way that makes them feel like they can trust your word over anyone else's. Social media influencers are simply word-of-mouth marketers. When it's done well, it doesn't come across as forceful.
3. Produce Valuable Content
Developing amazing content is one of the easiest tasks you can start doing today. If you're a mother who's made it through the newborn stage, offer tips to mothers who are expecting. Let them know what to expect. Host live, interactive sessions where expectant moms can ask questions.
As you freely offer content, more people will share your information with others, encourage others to follow you, and be more likely to purchase any products that you'll recommend in the future. Just be very strict about what you recommend because you don't want to become someone who only produces ad-based content.
As you work to become the best social media influencer you can be, don't feel bad about where you're starting from. Everyone has to start somewhere. It doesn't matter if you're starting with 200 followers or 1,200. Build on what you actually have. With consistency and strategic moves, you can gain a following that you can monetize.
When you're interacting with social media platforms, you're no longer scrolling as a consumer. You have to switch your mindset and scroll as a producer. By producing monetizable content that offers tons of value, you can transition into a social media influencer who gets amazing results.