Becoming an influencer online has seemingly never been easier. People as young as 14 have been known to grow large social media followings and make a career out of it, so why shouldn’t you?
This career might not have been around some ten, twenty years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a real job with real responsibilities. In fact, being an influencer comes with a unique set of challenges that you need to be prepared to face if you want to be successful.
For example, social media is always changing and you need to be able to change with it. What worked to grow your following last year might not work this year. And while this might be an aspect that different industries encounter, it can be tough to manoeuvre as a social media influencer.
Here Are Seven Tips On How You Can Master Social Media As A New Influencer
1. Be Consistent
This is probably the most important tip on this list. No matter what social media platform you’re using, whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, or Snapchat, it’s important that you’re consistently putting out content. This doesn’t mean that you need to be posting every hour or even every day, but you should have some sort of posting schedule that you stick to. This could be once a week, once a day, or even multiple times a day. It all depends on what you’re comfortable with and what works for you.
But consistency is key because your followers will come to expect new content from you at certain times. If they know that you post every Tuesday at 10 AM, they’re going to check your account at that time to see if you’ve posted anything new. And if you don’t, they might start to lose interest.
Of course, there will be times when you can’t stick to your schedule. Maybe you’re going on vacation or you’re just too busy to post. That’s totally fine. Just let your followers know in advance that you won’t be posting for a while and when they can expect new content from you.
2. Find Your Niche
One of the best ways to grow your social media following is to find your niche. When you’re first starting out, it can be tempting to post about anything and everything, but that’s not always the best strategy. It’s much better to focus on one specific topic that you’re passionate about. That way, you can build a following of people who are interested in that topic.
For example, if you’re passionate about fashion, you could start a fashion blog or YouTube channel where you post style tips, haul videos, and look books. Or if you’re into fitness, you could start a fitness Instagram account where you share your workout routine, healthy recipes, and progress photos.
The sky is the limit when it comes to finding your niche. Just make sure that it’s something you’re genuinely interested in and that you can see yourself posting about long-term.
3. Be Engaging
It’s not enough to just post quality content, you also need to be engaging with your followers. This means responding to comments, liking and commenting on other people’s posts, and just general interacting. The more you engage with your followers, the more likely they are to engage with you.
Of course, you don’t need to be on social media 24/7. That’s not realistic or sustainable. But you should try to set aside some time each day to engage with your followers. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, it will make a big difference.
4. Perfect Content Creation
Creating content is one of the most important parts of being a social media influencer. After all, without content, you have nothing to post. So, it’s important that you’re taking the time to create high-quality content that your followers will actually want to see.
This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours on each and every post. But you should put some thought into what you’re posting and make sure that it’s something your followers will actually be interested in. If you’re just posting random things that you think are cool, chances are your followers won’t be that interested.
It can also be helpful to take some time to plan out your content. This doesn’t mean that you need to have every single post planned out months in advance, but it can be helpful to have a general idea of what you want to post and when. That way, you’re not scrambling to come up with something at the last minute.
You should also invest in the right tools or software for photos and videos. This can make a big difference in the quality of your content, especially if you improve your understanding on this aspect, too. You could soon learn the difference between transparent png and jpg, for example.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating content. But as long as you’re putting out quality content that your followers will actually want to see, you’re on the right track.
[Related reading: How To Create A Succesful Content Promotion Strategy]
5. Be Authentic
People can spot a fake from a mile away, so it’s important that you’re being authentic on social media. This doesn’t mean that you have to share every single detail of your life, but you should be genuine about who you are and what you’re posting about.
For example, if you’re a fashion blogger, you shouldn’t post about something just because it’s trending. If you don’t like it or it’s not your style, don’t post about it. It’s much better to be authentic and post about things that you actually like.
There’s nothing wrong with posting sponsored content. But even then, you should only be posting about products or brands that you actually use and like. Otherwise, your followers will be able to tell that you’re not being genuine and they won’t trust you.
6. Grow Your Following Organically
When you’re first starting out, it can be tempting to buy followers or use some other shady tactics to grow your following. But trust me, it’s not worth it. Not only is it unethical, but it’s also not sustainable. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out that you have fake followers and they’re going to lose respect for you.
Instead, focus on growing your following organically. This might take some time, but it’s much better in the long run. There are a few things you can do to grow your following organically, such as using hashtags, running giveaways, and collaborating with other influencers.
7. Be Patient
Growing a social media following takes time, so you need to be patient. It’s not going to happen overnight, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Just keep posting quality content and engaging with your followers and eventually, you’ll start to see your following grow.
These are just a few tips to help you master social media as a new influencer. Just remember to be consistent, find your niche, be engaging, be authentic, and grow your following organically. If you do all of these things, you’ll be well on your way to social media success.
[Recommended reading: Top 15 Instagram Networking Tips For Newbie Influencers]
[Image credits – Main Photo by Victoria Akvarel; other images: see the credits in their respective articles.]
Kris Olin, MSc (Econ.) * Editor in Chief at Social Media Revolver * Web Designer * SEO Specialist * Author of the Facebook Advertising Guide. Follow Kris on Twitter and LinkedIn. See his photos at Flickr.