#5 steps to become a social media influencer

Nowadays, influencer marketing has become a mainstream marketing tactic that is no longer exclusive to a select few brands or agencies.

In nearly every major industry, influencers have become more prevalent. Brands are leveraging them more than ever. Therefore, the influencer industry has become so lucrative that everyone wants to become one.

In this post, we'll discuss the step-by-step process of becoming an influencer. Read on to see how your path to becoming an influencer can begin.

1. Pick a Niche

First, pick a niche. Without a niche, you will struggle to build an audience of engaged, interested individuals.

Your choice must reflect your personality because that is the only way people will relate to and trust you.

If you don't believe in what you're doing, they'll be able to pick up on that, and you'll lose your audience.

People are much more likely to engage with you when they recognize your true passion for what you do.

So make sure the niche you choose is something that really interests you. This will inspire you to persevere when things get tough, even if you just do it for fun.

2. Choose your social media channel

If you try to grow your social presence across multiple channels at the same time and pace, you'll waste more energy and time, and you may not be able to catch any rabbits at all.

It's best to focus on growing an active presence on one platform first rather than spreading yourself too thin if you want to scale fast. Even if you have accounts on multiple platforms, you'll benefit from focusing on just one channel and spending more time and effort building a following on it.

Depending on the type of content you're creating and your target audience, you may choose a specific channel. Instagram and TikTok, for example, are more suitable for fashion creators because they allow you to share bite-sized visual content. On the other hand, YouTube is the most suitable platform for travel and lifestyle creators who want to share longer Vlogs.

So make sure to publish your content on a platform where your target audience can easily see and interact with. TikTok, for example, is a very effective platform to connect with Gen Z consumers if you are targeting them, as more than half of Gen Z consumers use TikTok.

3. Create and publish content consistently

A successful influencer does not publish content once and calls it a day. By publishing quality content consistently, you build momentum and engagements on your social media channels. The more content you post, the greater the chance the algorithm will present your content to your target audience.

To achieve consistency, you have to establish a regular cadence for creating and publishing content and document this schedule in a timetable. In the case of Instagram, you can record a Reel on Tuesday, edit it on Wednesday, and publish it on Thursday.

4. Engage with your audience

How you engage with your followers will vary depending on your social media channel. Some do this entirely on their social channels. Most engagement occurs over email, either through email lists or private content delivered through Patreon. It's because of your personality, your writing, your photos, and the way you approach influencer marketing that your followers keep coming back. Give them content and a reason to stay by making connections and making friends with them.

Influencers often focus on the money and freedom involved in social media, but the friendships they can cultivate through their position are also important reasons why this vocation is growing in popularity. A genuine relationship fosters genuine and consistent engagement, and if you don't address this part of your channel, you'll damage your brand and reputation.

5. Make it easy for brands to contact you

It is time to let the world know you are an influencer. You have to declare your interest in brand collaborations.

Identify yourself as an influencer and indicate that you’re interested in collaborations in your bio. You can also provide your contact details so potential clients can easily find you.

Alternatively, you can reach out to relevant brands directly and pitch what you can offer. It is best to design a template that you can use to reach out to different brands so that you can save time.

Using influencer platforms to locate brands looking for collaborations in your niche is also possible.

You can also look for brands indirectly by tagging them and mentioning them in your posts when discussing their products.

You should build your name and network with brands in your niche to establish long-term brand associations that can lead to future collaborations.

- Final thoughts: Remember, this is a long-term process that takes time and effort. Therefore, you cannot expect to become an influencer overnight.