6 Steps to Becoming a Successful Influencer and the Secrets to Online Brand Management
Influencers and social media brands make hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. If you have hopes of becoming the world’s next big influencer, you can start today by following these 6 easy steps towards successful online brand management. A lot of people go into the ‘influencer’ trade with different motivations – money, notoriety, recognition, credibility, and more. Any brand can carve out its niche, if it knows how to maximize the available resources. To create a meaningful influencer brand, here’s where to start.
1 – Identity a unique selling point
There’s something about you that you do better than anyone else. Find out what that is because that’s what’s going to make you stand out in a crowded marketplace of influencers. Think about what knowledge or skills you have, what excites you about your industry or niche topic, what motivates you about your industry or niche, and what you love doing. The best influencers are passionate. If you don’t have any passion about what you’re talking about, there’s no point.
2 – Identify what digital channels you want to use
An influencer can easily spread themselves too thin by creating profiles on every platform they think of. Be selective with how you use your time and which platforms have the best return. Ask yourself where your audience is, what type of content suits you best (i.e. video, photography, writing, etc.), which channels others are using, and if you have enough time to manage a profile on a given platform. An influencer’s main platform they use is going to be where they want to invest the most time.
3 – Choose your side projects
A successful influencer will regularly field requests for guest blogging, collaboration opportunities, podcast invitations, and more. Choose wisely where you put your time. Don’t take on too much and identify where you’re getting your best return. When asked to collaborate, ask how well the other party’s brand aligns with your values and goals for your brand, whether it’s an opportunity to grow your audience, what other things a collaboration could lead to, and whether you have the time to put towards doing a collaboration right.
4 – Be authentic and true to your personality
Don’t try to be anything that goes against your true, honest self. If your audience thinks you’re being insincere or somehow faking things, you’ll lose more than you ever gain. Don’t endorse products or brands that you do not genuinely believe in, stay humble in your interaction with audience, and respond to criticism in a polite way, even when others are being less than polite with you.
5 – Use a ‘student mentality’
Watch, learn, listen, and apply. Pay close attention to what’s working for others and see if there’s a way to adapt it to your brand. Subsequently, you can learn from others’ mistakes. Research strategies being used by other influencers. Even as you gain success, the best continue to watch and learn. Potentially seek out a mentor in your industry. Always take the best parts of what’s working for others and ensure you’re not betraying your brand by adopting a strategy.
6 – Reach out to your audience
Any influencer serious about building their audience must be open to appealing to them to subscribe and follow. Subsequently, look out for networking events and opportunities, consider opportunities to help others, connect with other influencers and thank them for their content, consider writing guest blogs, and join relevant social media groups. The more you put yourself out there, within reason, the more likely others will see you. Before long, you’ll be growing your audience at a steady pace using this strategy.
Create unstoppable, consistent momentum as an influencer and a social media brand. Partner with Unlimited Exposure today to begin on your journey towards maximum success!