10 Tips to Stand Out As An Influencer
10 Tips to Excel As An Influencer. Almost everyone is an influencer these days. With the market so congested, it’s not easy for one to out out. It doesn’t help that there are well established influencers that brands prefer out there. The following tips can help you penetrate the industry, and be the best among the rest.
1. Find Your Niche
First, figure out what you’re passionate about. Is it fashion, tech, entertainment, health, or something else? From there, carve out a niche within your passion to set yourself apart from other influencers. For example, if you want to be a fashion influencer, you might decide your niche is thrift store fashion, DIY fashion, or stylish outfits on a budget. If you need help finding your niche, determine who your target audience is first.
2. Choose Your Platform
Once you know your target audience, you must choose a platform (or platforms) to reach them. Instagram is one of the most popular platforms for influencers and brands, and it’s easy to see why. However, that doesn’t mean Instagram is the right choice for everyone, mainly if your ideal audience doesn’t spend much time on that platform. If your audience is mostly Gen Z, you’ll likely want to consider TikTok as your platform of choice.
3. Create a Content Strategy
The format and quality of your content will make or break your chances of successfully building yourself as an influencer. Decide on the format you’ll use when creating your content. The format should be feasible on the platform you choose to leverage, and it should be a format that allows you to deliver valuable information while showcasing your unique personality.
4. Distribute Your Content
No matter how great your content is, if you’re not getting people to see it and engage with it, it’s not exactly practical. That said, it’s essential that you carefully plan out when you’ll be publishing and distributing your content on social media. The best time to post content on social media hugely depends on which social media channel you choose. This infographic provides a detailed breakdown of the best days and times to distribute content for each popular social media network.
5. Start A Website
Whether you leverage YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, or some other social media platform, you should always have your website as an influencer. Websites are great for SEO because they allow you a space to create evergreen content with keywords that are optimized to get you at the top of SERPs. You can create content around themes and keywords your audience is searching for, allowing them to flock to your website.
6. Stay Updated
As an influencer, staying tuned into the latest trends and buzzy topics is essential. So, follow other creators in your niche on social media, keep an eye out for trending hashtags and challenges, and know what keywords your audience is searching online. You also need to remember that social media platforms will often change their policies, algorithms, and posting terms, so stay updated to avoid your account becoming irrelevant or, worse, deleted.
7. Be Yourself
Remember, authenticity is key to being a successful influencer. The best way to be authentic is to be yourself. While your content should be quality, you yourself don’t have to be flawless to be an influencer. Don’t be afraid to be silly on camera or show off your sense of humor, consumers love influencers because they’re more relatable and “real” than celebrities or companies.
8. Engage With Your Audience
When your followers leave a question or comment on your posts, take the time to acknowledge and respond to them. That can make them feel valued and that you sincerely want to help them. It will also help you develop a relationship with them. Of course, not all of the comments and questions will be positive. As an influencer, expect that you’ll have your fair share of negative comments and criticisms. Make it a point to keep your cool and address them professionally.
9. Network with other influencers
Collaborate with other influencers in your niche to expand your audience and grow your network. You can find potential collaborators through social media, online communities, or by attending conventions and vents.
Having business cards to pass to potential collaborators also doesn’t hurt.
10. Create a Media Kit and Pitch Yourself to Brands
A media kit is an influencer version of a resume or portfolio. An influencer media kit contains information about your work, successes, audience size, and why brands should work with you. Every influencer should have a media kit to email to marketing professionals, brand representatives, and agencies to find work. The kit’s design is just as important as its content because you’ll want a design showcasing your personality because personality is key.
