You might think that social influencers are an invention of the digital age. Wrong. The concept of
using your clout and reputation to promote yourself and other businesses dates all the way back
to 1760. In the 1920s, Coco Chanel and her form-fitting, black dresses were used to influence
women to dare to dress to impress. What’s different today is that you have a more widespread
audience thanks to social media.
The Millennial Going Down blog offers insight on how to become a social influencer.
Why Should I Become an Influencer?
The better question is: why not? As a social media influencer, you’ll get to promote brands that
you love and get paid in return. You’ll be more recognizable, and you can even use your
reputation to launch your own brand and business. You might make a great social influencer if
you’re an expert in a particular field or have a unique set of experiences that positions you as an
authority.
The Downside
There are many benefits of becoming an influencer, but before you dive into setting yourself up
for success, you should know that it’s not all peaches and cream. Attorney Kelley Kronenberg
explains there many downsides, including significant privacy issues. Not only do you have to
watch out for inadvertently violating someone else’s right to privacy, but everything you do
becomes public information, whether you like it or not. People will dig into everything you’ve
ever done, and your most intimate relationships will play out in public. Our society is nothing if
not voyeuristic, which is one reason that influencers are so popular but also why you must
decide if you want all eyes on you all the time.
Getting Started
There are many ways to get started as a social influencer, and social media is king. Make sure
that you stay on top of trends, such as posting TikTok videos to connect with your followers.
Find a TikTok agency and a videographer that can help you break into the market. Remember
here that to be effective (and popular), your short videos should be authentic and engaging. It
can also help to respond to your viewers and offer crossposting opportunities with other social
mavens. You’ll also want to set up an account so that you can utilize paid ads with demographic
targeting.
Tools of the Trade
In addition to TikTok, you’ll need to maintain a social presence on all of the major sites,
including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. If you don’t have lots of graphic design
experience, that’s not a problem. Look for an ad generator that you can customize but is already sized to fit your particular media. You can use this to put your logo and other aspects of your
“brand” out to the public. Other tools that you absolutely need include an exceptional
smartphone with a camera and tripod, a Google Apps account, and an email marketing service.
Just as important as all of the above is having a social media management platform that helps
you oversee your sites and networks from a central dashboard. Investopedia recommends
SpoutSocial, Hootsuite, and a few other affordable programs, all of which are available online.
If you’re looking for fame, prestige, and unlimited income opportunities, becoming an influencer
is a great option. However, you must know what tools to use, stay on top of trends, and be
prepared for privacy to be a thing of the past. It’s a great gig for the right personality, and it may
just be your path to early retirement.
Share in the journey by bookmarking Millennial Going Down, where you will find updated blog
posts on everything from finances to Adulting.
