How to become an influencer in eight easy steps

Step 1: Start a niche
Step 2: Choose the right platform
Step 3: Know your audience
Step 4: Have a content strategy
Step 5: Optimize your profile
Step 6: Engagement over the following size
Step 7: Consistency is key
Step 8: Be authentic

Step 1: Start a niche

The easiest way to start your journey as an influencer is to pick a niche and grow your following in that one niche. When you’re choosing a niche or an industry, ask yourself these two questions:

• Am I an expert in this niche?

• Am I passionate about this topic?

Answering these questions is important because you’ll be creating a lot of content for a long time, and it’s important that you’re knowledgeable about the topic or you’re passionate about it, so you never run out of steam.

Here are a few examples of popular influencer niches:

• Business

• Marketing

• Travel

• Beauty

• Lifestyle

• Gaming

• Tech

It will be hard to grow your personal brand when you choose a broad topic at the very beginning.

Step 2: Choose the right platform

Next step once you know your niche will be to decide on which social media channels or mediums you’re going to use to grow your personal brand.

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Twitter

• Medium

• Facebook

• YouTube

Which platform you’re going to choose to start with depends on what type of content you want to create and where your audience spends the most amount of time.

For example, My audience mostly spends time looking for inspiration and answers on Pinterest. So Pinterest becomes one of my primary platforms where I share my blog,  knowledge, and expertise as a content marketing expert and coach. 

Useful links: 

7 Ways to be successful in the creator economy

Step 3: Know your audience

Knowing who your targeted audience is is crucial for business owners and influencers. You can create relevant content when you know who you’re talking to and what they want. Try to answer these questions when you think about your ideal audience:

• Where do they live?

• How old are they?

• What’s their income?

• What are their interests?

• What jobs do they have?

• Where do they like to shop?

• How much do they make?

• What kind of music do they like?

This is a place where you want to be as specific as possible. Having all these details will allow you to find things over which you can connect with your audience through your content.

Know Your Blog Audience Worksheet 

Step 4: Have a content strategy

Once you know who your audience is and what type of content they want to see from you, it’s time to create a content strategy. All content you share has to be unique, high quality, and offer value. And it’s easier to create this type of content when you prepare and plan.

Step 5: Optimize your profile

Optimization is key in getting found on social media platforms, and it’s also crucial to help people know what your account is all about and what they can expect. So, ensure your profile picture is on-brand and of good quality.

Step 6: Engagement over the following size

When it comes to your community, the size doesn’t matter as much as engagement. Brands will be more likely to work with the smaller influencer who has high engagement than with a large influencer with an audience who doesn’t care much about what they post.

Jenna Kutcher, influencer and creator, says, “More important than the number of followers you have is if the people who follow you trust you.” So, as you’re creating and posting content, always have your audience in mind and ensure that you’re posting content they want to consume.

Step 7: Consistency is key

Social media is a long-term game. You never know when a video or a post can go viral and gain traction.

Consistency is also important for your audience. People trust influencers who are consistent with their content and show up when they promise they would. Even if your following is small at the start, it’s important to keep being consistent and posting regularly, so your audience notices your efforts.