5 Ways to Get Started as an Influencer Today
Have you ever looked at your favorite influencer online and thought to yourself, “ I wanna do that!” Only to realize you have no idea what you’re doing and how to get started? I feel you, girl. I’ve been there.
Here’s a quick newsflash for you – you’re already an influencer. Yep, you heard that right. Everyone has influence in some capacity, and you’re no different! The world needs to hear what you have to say! You just need to learn how to boost your influencer presence so you can start seeing some traction. Easier said than done, right?
Without a doubt, the world of digital marketing is constantly changing and evolving – making it harder for individuals to stay up-to-date with the latest influencer trends and strategies. As an aspiring (or even experienced) influencer, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how best to reach an audience without getting lost amongst the masses. Luckily, there are some key steps that any influencer can use today – which are easy, effective and wallet friendly – so you can get ahead on your influencer journey! With this post, I’m going to share with you 5 ways that you can up your influence game and start driving real results today! So let’s dive in!
Find Your Niche
When starting out as an influencer, finding your niche is the first step in building a successful presence in the industry. I know, I know…you’ve heard this before. I ignored this little gem of advice for a long time. But trust me, this is a super important step. Narrowing down to one main topic can help you focus on building content that will reach your target audience. You want people to know exactly what they’re going to get when they go to your page. Are you known for giving style inspo for working moms? Or maybe nutrition advice for people looking to lose weight? This is the beginning stages of building your brand and establishing your expertise in a certain area. If you’re multi-passionate like I am, there’s plenty of time to broaden your horizons as your influencer career progresses. Ultimately, starting off with something that you know and care about is essential for success within the industry – so find your niche today!
Establish an Online Presence
Becoming an influencer today requires having an established online presence that sets you apart from the crowd. Seems like there are a trillion platforms these days, so my advice is to just pick one or two to start with. Trying to do too many at once will likely lead to overwhelm and burnout. Think about what forms of communication come more naturally to you. Do you prefer writing? Then maybe consider starting a blog. Love creating video content? Then maybe YouTube is the best choice for you. Of course everyone knows Instagram can be a big money maker, but so can other platforms. Choose a platform where you can create the type of content that feels the most natural to you and that you can be the most consistent at.
Optimize your Profiles
Optimizing your online profiles is a big key to success. Using your online presence strategically to interpret who you are and what message you want to convey can draw in potential followers and gain you more visibility. To get started today, consider updating your profile photo, writing a compelling bio that succinctly reveals who you are as well as a snappy headline phrase, customizing your URLs and more. That way, when people are searching for something in particular, it will be easier for them to find you. And when they do, they will immediately know exactly what you’re about. This is your first step to building your brand!
Sign up for Affiliate Platforms
If you’re looking to turn your love for creating content into a career, affiliate programs are an ideal place to start. Affiliate platforms provide the opportunity to help monetize your content and track performance analytics. Signing up for affiliate programs gives you access to exclusive affiliate sales offers, discounts, and rewards – enabling you to get paid for every sale you make. With affiliate networks also providing effective support too, it’s easy to get creative with affiliate marketing techniques. But, as a newbie influencer, it can be really hard to find affiliate networks that will accept you if you have a small following. Check out my blog post here for more information on affiliate marketing and the best platforms to join as a newbie.
Start by Sharing Items You Are Already Purchasing, Using, and Loving
Being an influencer doesn’t have to mean spending a ton of money on items before you can share them. I’ve done that before, and believe me…spending more than you’re earning is never a smart idea. It’s about sharing items that you’re passionate about with others. To get started, why not let your followers know about the things you already use and love? I bet if you looked around your house you can find a ton of things to share. Ask yourself…
-What beauty/skincare items are you currently using?
-Have you made any recent Amazon purchases?
-What are some of your favorite kitchen gadgets?
-Any new clothes or shoes you bought recently?
This is an easy way to start sharing affiliate links without going broke. Plus, by happily vouching for something you are genuinely using, you’ll be sure to gain more credibility with your audience. Start by creating content around the favorite products or services in your life and see where it takes you!
Becoming an influencer today is a much more achievable goal than it’s ever been. With so many platforms to choose from, select one or two that come more naturally to you and optimize your profiles for maximum visibility. Affiliate programs are an excellent way to monetize your content, so don’t forget to sign up for some! Lastly, start by sharing items you are already using, purchasing and loving to get your feet wet and get in the habit of promoting products. Happy Influencing!
