The amazing world of social media remains occupied by many incredible influencers. Who wouldn’t want to enter the great world of influencers and everything it has to offer? However, getting it requires a bit of work and creativity. But fear not, as this list complies with some of the best advice to prepare you for the social media world.
Keep reading for the Top 8 Tips & Tricks to become an influencer:
8. Find Your Niche
Social media remains filled with thousands of people like you who want to be the very best. Finding your voice in making content will be the ultimate game-changer. You can’t be scared of evolving your content style either. Sticking to the same video idea could get boring so being scared of change wouldn’t be an option. You could create a list of topics that interest you to get started.
“Social media is a fascinating realm to explore, and while we may not be perfect as creators, know what you’re passionate about in terms of content. What excites you enough to share to a world audience?” Adelphi University graduate Malika Burieva said.
If you find your mind gravitating towards comedy then comedic videos could be your thing! Experimenting with your content will always be the focus of your career. Don’t be afraid of going outside your comfort zone and trying something new. Maybe that niche hobby that you love so much was made for the world to know. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be someone’s new favorite creator to watch during lunch.
7. Familiarize Yourself with SEO
When it comes to growing your following, it’s crucial to know about search engine optimization (SEO). SEO helps with the visibility of your content. The more you know about SEO, the better chances you have of reaching a wider audience. Marketing yourself will always be a big factor if you want to achieve the influencer dream. By researching SEO, you can be on top of the search engines.
“I wish I knew more about search engine optimization, also known as SEO. Because some people search for your videos. When you’re creating hashtags and captions, you wanna tailor it almost like a Google search. When people are looking for your videos or other content, how would they search for it? Knowing how to operate SEO can definitely boost your engagement,” Adelphi University graduate Kennie Dionisio said.
When making high-quality content for SEO, search engines can recognize that your content is significant. By researching SEO, you can achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself. Figuring out what trends are popular could also boost your follower count. Keywords, accurate information, and knowing a lot about your topic are all part of the job. Knowing your audience and how SEO works will be the key to reaching people from around the world. Monitoring your comments and viewer count can also help you determine what impacts your content.
6. Balancing School and Influencer Life
Listen, being a college student will never be easy. Especially if you’re balancing a work life as well. The hardships of being a full-time college student and being an aspiring content creator can weigh heavily on one’s shoulders. With this in mind, it’s important to keep yourself organized so a planner and Google Calendar will come in handy. It won’t do you any good if you lag behind your classmates. Writing that essay is just as important as creating that piece of content.
“A work-life balance was important to me: my work being studies, and life being content creation. If weekdays consisted of studies, I would dedicate the weekends to filming videos and editing. Later on, I was involved in content creation through Adelphi’s Social Media Team. Social Media was involved in my studies in a way as well which eased the balance,” Burieva said.
Building your schedule around both your school and influencer work will always be a challenging feat. That’s why you have to figure out what bullet point to cross out first on your to-do list. Making sure when to say no will also be important. Make sure to keep your body and mind in a healthy state as well, you can’t let yourself burn out on week 2 of trying to be an influencer.
5. Seek Brands that Align with Your Creations
If you’re serious about being an influencer, then brands are essential. This way, you can start to gain money from your content. Finding the right brand will be the first step. An important thing to note is that not all brands reach out to you, you also have to do the digging. Don’t be shy and if there’s a brand that you’re interested in, reach out!
“As a Central Asian content creator, I always strive to support Central Asian-owned small businesses. Either I’m reaching out to them via Instagram direct message, or they are reaching out to me. Since the diaspora of Central Asians are very widespread, these businesses are all over the world and it’s always a pleasure working with them, some include Jevaher Designs (an Afghan-owned business in Australia), ArtyNumpty (an Uzbek-owned business in London, UK), Nazuk Beauty (an Uyghur-owned business in New York), Nomad Threads (a Kazakh-owned business in Kentucky), and more,” Burieva said.
By using keywords, you can look for brands that way. Even if you get rejected, don’t let it damper your spirits. You can also research your colleagues and what they’re sponsoring. Even so, you do have to have some great content to back you up. Tons of content creators reach out to brands so make sure to engage with them.
4. Find an App that Benefits You
One of the steps to becoming an influencer will be to find the platform that you belong in. By figuring that out, you can better cater to your audience. Finding a platform involves some trial and error. TikTok and Instagram seem to be the most popular place to grow your following. However, what you put out there also matters.
“From my experience, every platform works differently. Instagram and TikTok are the two main platforms that I use. I post more consistently on Instagram and that’s why my following is much better on here. However, if you gain traction on TikTok, and are consistently going viral, it could be easy to gain followers. It’s really all about throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks,” Dionisio said.
TikTok seems to be the app to grow your following fast. However, none of that matters if you don’t post consistently. Knowing how every platform works will give you a better understanding of how to operate further. Whether it’s creating commentary videos on YouTube, or funny little skits on TikTok, every app has its own algorithm. Creating original content seems to be what will attract the most growth.
3. Burnout is Unavoidable
In any field, burnout will be inevitable. When trying to combat burnout, it always seems impossible at first. But, recognizing it is the first step in recovering from it. Taking a well-deserved break can be a way to recover your creativity. Even the most creative and strong minds get tired. That’s why, making sure to take a break will be vital in making the best content.
“When burnt out, I like to take a breather for the sake of my own mental health. It’s essential that my mind has reset first before I can get my head back in the game. Once I’m feeling better, I get back into the flow. If it hinders performance, so be it, because I can always get back on track,” Burieva said.
Know that creativity takes time. Your studies can also be draining so in order to not let that slip up, you must know when to hit the pause button. This way, you can put 100% into both your college and influencer life. Having a set sleep schedule and not missing a meal will improve your work and school career. Surrounding yourself with a positive attitude will surely bring a smile to not only your face but to others as well.
2. Negativity Will Always Be Around the Corner
It’s hard to escape negativity both online and offline. It’s important to be able to distinguish if the comment is actual hate or constructive criticism. Social media can be an interesting place, but it can also be filled with hate. It’s important to not let this strike you down and face the hate with a smile. But like most things, that’s easier said than done.
“I post more comedic content on my TikTok, and sometimes it’s a tough crowd out there. I recently made a post poking fun at my unemployment after I graduated college. And some people commented stuff like, ‘How do you not get a job as a minority?’ or ‘You were probably lazy in college.’ Stuff like that. I didn’t know people were this passionate about a stranger on social media. And that’s really why I just let it go,” Adelphi University graduate Kennie Dionisio said.
Letting the hate fuel you instead of knocking you down is the best way to go. What’s important to keep in mind is that the people in the comment section do not know who you truly are. They are just making assumptions about you. It’s important to not let the hate seep into you. Do what truly makes you happy and reap the benefits.
1. Consistently is Essential
With everything, consistency will be a big factor in your success. Even when one piece of content seems to have failed, there’s no telling what the next one will do. Always being on someone’s timeline can be beneficial in the long run. This way, you can form a bond with your viewers. By being memorable, you’re sure to gain some followers.
“Some special tricks or tidbits that I can share include knowing your audience and posting almost every day. If one video doesn’t work, the next video might impact a wider audience. Also, it’s best to understand what kind of content you’re making for your audience. The internet is a very powerful and diverse medium, almost anyone is a content creator or can be one. How does your content differ from another creator? What’s your niche? How can you impact your audience?” Adelphi University graduate Malika Burieva said.
It’s also important to recognize your schoolwork as well. Growing your following shouldn’t also be the first thing. Being consistently on top of your school work will always be the key to success. Knowing what your audience likes will grow your following. College work and influencer work can be brutal at times, but being consistent is key.
