How to become an influencer 

Paid influencers have changed the face of digital marketing. So, it’s not surprising that more and more social media savvy users are considering How to become an influencer. After all, 49% of consumers also rely on online recommendations, which means that influencer posts can also help to reinforce brand messages while providing educational and inspirational content. But while being a paid influencer has numerous perks, much more is involved than just posting occasional digital content.

An instinctive part of human nature is the power of influence. That’s why even beginner influencers can still impact their followers’ buying decisions. In fact, just by recommending a product or posting a review about a restaurant they enjoyed eating at, they may have inadvertently influenced someone to follow suit. Social media influencers must also research the market, stay up-to-date with trends, create a content strategy, and monitor their follower count and engagement rate.

LEARN WHAT IS A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER

 3 initial steps to becoming a paid influencer

1. Start with a niche

The right niche for a paid influencer will be the topic or industry you will have to learn about and create content. So, your niche must align with your skill and passion for helping promote authentic and enjoyable content. However, a niche isn’t set in stone and can evolve with changing industries. For instance, John Cena started as a wrestler but ended up as a successful Hollywood actor and is now an Instagram influencer with 17.9 million followers. 

So, when choosing your niche, ask yourself: 

  • What area of expertise comes naturally to me? 
  • How can I help others in this field?
  • Could I create long-term content in this area? If so, what is my strategy? 
  • Will I still enjoy creating content even if I’m not paid? 

Since numerous niche genres are already available, focus on one that strikes a chord with you. These could include: 

  • Beauty
  • Gaming 
  • Travel
  • Fitness
  • Food 

With various influencers and creators already active in these genres, it’s vital to play to your strengths and be innovative. That will help you to stand out from the crowd. For instance, Karina Garcia, the “Queen of Slime,” is an influencer with 9.24 million subscribers, a crafting product line, and two best-selling books. So, whatever your passion is, consider what you could do differently from competitors. By approaching your content from a different perspective, you can establish your content as an industry authority.

2. Know your audience

A consistently high engagement rate is one of the keys to success in social media marketing. So take time to learn about the demographics of your potential followers. Platforms also have built-in analytics, which could help narrow down the type of content your audience finds engaging. For example, YouTube Analytics uses key metrics and reports in YouTube Studio to help you better understand your video and channel performance. Using this kind of stats will help you restructure your content to resonate with your audience.

3. Choose a platform 

With the wide variety of social media platforms available, choosing one that suits your niche and type of content is crucial. For example, blogging, vlogging, and podcasting involve creating a profile on different platforms. Initially, avoid spreading yourself too thin by trying to post on every platform. Choose one to two platforms that suit your niche, target audience, and skill. For example, if you make great short videos, TikTok is an excellent option. Or, if you want to focus on long and short video content, Youtube might be a better fit for you. It all depends on where you can consistently connect with your target audience. 

LEARN WHAT IS VOICE OVER AND VOICE ACTING

How do influencers make money?

Influencer marketing is a billion-dollar industry, with brands creating affiliate and incentivized programs for influencers that help them reach the right audience. So there are opportunities to earn money and become a paid influencer, depending on your industry, audience, and content. These include: 

  • Promoting brands 
  • Ad revenue 
  • Hosting events
  • Selling products
  • Offering services 

By focusing on a target demographic, influencers can better promote a specific brand/s via focused content. Their reviews and personal preferences are then like endorsements that lead to conversions. 

While each company or brand might offer a different compensation program, these types of partnerships can be lucrative. However, endorsements typically depend on an influencer’s reach and engagement rate. Consequently, learning how to become an influencer involves learning how to create valuable, engaging, authentic, and educational content that followers enjoy. 

FAQ

First, start with a niche and carve out a unique approach. Then, choose a platform that suits your content and post quality content consistently while engaging with your followers to grow your network. 

Yes and no. Creating valuable content, building a loyal following, and partnering with the right brands/companies takes time and effort. But influencers can earn through sponsored posts and brand partnerships even with a nano following. 

“My advice is to, no matter what you’re doing, be authentic, know your angles and make sure you’re always in good lighting, and if you can, try your best to have amazing high-quality photos, high-resolution photos. When I first started, I had cool pictures and it was eccentric and stuff like that. Once I started taking more pictures, more high-quality photos, I noticed a huge difference in how people received my page and how I started to grow. On top of that, I was also authentic, and that also pushed me over the edge as well.”

– Charlie G, blogger and social media influencer

LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE