The Blueprint to Becoming an Influencer: A Guide to Cultivating Your Online Presence
It is fascinating to see how many influencers emerged in the last decade on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Earlier, A-list movie stars and politicians wore the tag of an ‘Influencer’. Today, someone who lives down the street in a city like Toronto can influence you to do something you've never done before. What if I told you, you could be an influencer too if you follow these simple steps?
Define Your Niche
The social media game is like a maze. You will only find a way out if you try every possible route. The idea is to try many things before you figure out what you're good at that others find hard to do. There, you just found your niche. Once you narrow your niche, see how to add value to your viewers. For example, if you're a gamer, don't just post general gameplay. Instead, help amateur gamers get good at the game.
Create Compelling Content
User engagement makes or breaks the deal if you want to be a successful influencer. Tap into what attracts your audience within your niche and keep churning out content consistently. Almost all the apps have in-built metrics. So, keep an eye on the trends and aim for higher viewer retention. For example, if a reel that you made hits 10k views and reaches 1000 accounts, study what went right and piqued the audience’s interest. What's compelling to you might not be in the best interest of your audience.
Monetize Your Following
If you’ve managed to attract many followers and become an expert in your niche, there are numerous ways through which you can make money. Some of them are sponsorships, partnership programs with brands, affiliate marketing where companies pay you for every customer who buys their product via a link on your site or social media page (product collaboration), selling branded merchandise, or creating your own services/products targeting this specific audience group. Choose only those companies you feel represent what your brand stands for.
Conclusion
The one question you need to ask yourself is, “Does this piece of content add value to my audience?" The more you do this, the more you influence. Most importantly, try demystifying the process. Don't create for the sake of it but for the love of your art and craft.