If some told you ten years ago that you will have the ability to make money from talking to a camera or taking pictures of yourself, you would have probably laughed. Fast forward to today where you can make a fine earning from being an influencer. And, if that’s something you find appealing then the first thing you should do is figure out which type of influencer you want to be.
For quite some time, internet marketing was all about affiliates. But as the landscape of advertising and marketing continues to redefine and change, brands are doing their best to find the best and effective way to reach their target audience.
In today’s world, the influencers’ power to raise the profile of brands can be very valuable when channeled correctly. And brands that once relied on affiliates for promoting their products online are now turning to influencers for reaching a wider audience.
Many brands realized that influencers are way more effective in spreading their messages, through people that consumers trust. And as influencers realized the power they hold, the cost of influencer partnerships has risen accordingly.
We have come a long way from celebrities being the only ones that can spread power and influence other people. Today, anyone can become an influencer, as longs as you have:
- A phone
- Social media account
- Something interesting to say
Without a doubt, influencer marketing is the new wave of affiliate marketing And, it can be said with certainty that the influencer marketing space will keep evolving, and it’s interesting to see what the future has in store next.
The Importance of Not Having Just One Social Media Platform
If there’s one thing you should understand about being an influencer, it’s that things can change drastically very fast. And if you want a steady income as an influencer then you need to have a presence on multiple social media platforms.
Social media platforms come and go, we see it all the time. Trends are changing all the time. In one moment high waisted jeans are popping in the next moment low-rise jeans are. In one moment playing high variance slots are in, and in the next one low variance slots are, and so on. Things change, and you need to be ready to adapt to every situation.
A few years back Facebook was the number one social media platform, then Instagram, now TikTok. TikTok was the fastest growing social media platform, and no one expected that the app would be banned in some countries due to security concerns, but it happened.
Having multiple social media platforms as an influencer extends way further than having a backup plan when one becomes unavailable. People are spending more time on multiple social media channels, therefore why wouldn’t you grow your audience and influence?
Let’s say you want to be a fashion influencer. Posting pictures on Instagram can get you followers and the attention you seek, but what happens if your account gets deleted? All of your hard-working years to build an audience fall into the water.
On the other hand, if you have at the same time a TikTok account and YouTube channel, you won’t have to live in fear of having your career end within a second. Not only is your career not in total jeopardy but you can build a way bigger audience and following if you are on multiple platforms at once.
The Secret Ingredient for Success
Undoubtedly, you have seen a famous social figure endorsing a brand that you know is not authentic and honest, so you wonder how he or she agreed to that sponsorship? There are many people who will promote anything just to get that cash and those are the people you don’t want to be associated with.
The key and the secret ingredient for success as an influencer is authenticity, honesty, and transparency. Don’t become money-hungry, pick your battles. If you are endorsing an unauthentic and questionable brand, your audience will recognize that and unfollow you.
Don’t let “fame” hit you in the head, eventually, it will backfire. People can sense when you are promoting something you haven’t actually used. Don’t let yourself make that mistake; it’s very important that you are honest and transparent with your audience all the time.
Never Take the Power You Hold Lightly
Whether you have fifty thousand followers across your media platforms or millions, one thing stands, you have an influence on those people and hold great power, therefore you need to lead by example. Very young children follow influencers, so you need to be aware of what you say and do on social media.
As an influencer, you have the ability to intentionally use your influence to make a positive impact and change on your followers. Take that seriously. Your followers want to learn something from you, so teach them valuable lessons. Use your platform to elevate others, not bring them down.
