From Content Creator to Brand Influencer: Discover 11 Steps to Becoming a Highly Sought-After Social Media Brand Influencer.
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Not long ago, the term "influencers" conjured images of red carpets and million-dollar deals.
However, the rise of the creator economy and user-generated content has democratized influence, opening the door for passionate creators to build dedicated followings and monetize their voices.
In a nutshell, businesses and the general public now know that today's influencers are everyday creators like you.
Join us as we explore the typical roadmap of an everyday creator to influencer stardom.
We’ll explore the secrets of success and the reasons for this democratization, and we’ll discuss how Yoola empowers its partnered creators to land lucrative influencer marketing deals within their niche.
Are you ready to turn your passion into profit? Let's go!
When it comes to the platforms of hashtags, viral dance steps, and double taps, influencers aren't just the A-listers anymore.
So in your mind, you can ditch the red carpet image -
Today's influencers are the real people crafting captivating content and building rock-solid communities online every day.
They're the trusted advisors whose recommendations hold importance to their audience, influencing their followers' choices of everything from the latest gadgets to food to the next must-read book.
So, who is an influencer on social media?
They're CREATORS like YOU,
If you have a story to tell and the drive to share it,
A stunning cityscape or landscape you see in a unique perspective,
A great foodie with an appetite for mouthwatering dishes or culinary treats, or
An awesome ability to game and conquer virtual worlds,
You're an influencer!
In a nutshell, an influencer on social media is anyone with a passion and the power to ignite it in others.
So if that’s the case, then what is influencer marketing?
Imagine you're at a party and someone you admire, for example, someone who knows a lot about fashion (let's call the person "Trendsetter Ted"), starts talking about a recently released pair of shoes.
Everyone at the party who likes shoes listens closely because they've known Ted for a while and they trust Ted's taste.
That's exactly what influencer marketing is about!
Businesses understand that people only want to listen to other people- that they feel close to
So they team up with these people online (or on social media) who have a lot of followers ("influencers") to spread the word about their products or services.
It's like Ted recommending those shoes to everyone at the party.
Influencers might post photos, videos, or reviews, and because people trust them, they're more likely to listen and even buy the product.
Comedian and musician Nasboi masterfully leveraged influencer marketing on social media with his '#UmbrellaChallenge' campaign for his song "Umbrella."
Partnering with popular TikTok and Instagram comedians like Brainjotter, Layiwasabi, Sydneytalker, and Sabinus, he orchestrated hilarious costume swaps where the influencers donned each other's signature styles.
This unexpected twist, perfectly aligned with the song's theme of individuality, sparked the #UmbrellaChallenge on TikTok, organically promoting the song and skyrocketing it to over 20 million streams across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Nasboi's success shows the power of authentic influencer marketing and innovative concepts, proving that impactful influencer marketing campaigns on social media can be born from unexpected ideas and laughter.
Fenty Beauty intentionally partnered with influencers of various ethnicities, skin tones, genders, and abilities on social media.
This approach aligns perfectly with the brand's core value of inclusivity, resonating with a wider audience that feels often underserved by the beauty industry.
The brand #fentybeauty used hashtags on social media like #FentyFace, which encourages users to share their makeup looks using Fenty Beauty products; #FentyFam, which highlights the community aspect of the brand and encourages user-generated content (UGC); and #FentyBeautyUniversity, which focuses on educational content like tutorials and tips.
Partnering with micro-influencers (those with smaller but highly engaged followings) allowed Fenty to reach specific niche communities within their diverse target audience, creating a network of passionate advocates who shared authentic testimonials and reviews about the products on social media.
A few crucial factors separate the influencer from the content creator, and as far as brand deals are concerned, only creators with strong influence on their followers generate positive ROI for businesses.
This, therefore, has resulted in a widening gap in earnings between the top creators and the others in the economy.
Here are some guidelines for adjusting your content to exert some influence on your followers and in your niche.
While entertainment for your audience and followers is essential, go beyond just laughs or amusement.
Aim to educate, inspire, or solve problems your audience faces.
Infuse content into your regular strategy that makes them think, learn, or grow.
Instead of being a jack-of-all-trades as a creator, pick a specific niche you're passionate about and become an expert.
People like to listen to creators who have some authority or level of deeper knowledge in their field, which means you attract a targeted audience, and your content positions you as a thought leader.
Develop 3-5 core themes or content pillars that represent your niche and expertise.
This creates consistency and guides your content direction.
Prioritize quality over churning out tons of content.
Invest in well-researched, well-produced content that offers real value.
Try to respond to comments, answer questions, and participate in discussions.
Encourage a two-way conversation with your followers to build deeper connections with them.
Hosting Q&A sessions, Ask Me Anything sessions (AMAs), live streams, or workshops allows for real-time interaction and fosters a sense of community among followers.
Collaborations are the easiest way to share audiences/followers with other creators.
Partner with creators in your niche for cross-promotion and reaching new audiences.
Like Mr. Beast does with his channel
You can encourage engagement with general viewers by rewarding your followers with exciting opportunities.
Don't just create content; show your knowledge and skills.
Offer tutorials, breakdowns, or in-depth dives into your niche topics.
Be genuine and relatable.
Share your experiences, values, and struggles to connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Showcase the impact of your work.
Share case studies, testimonials, or data that demonstrate the value you bring (not just talk about).
Contribute to the community at large:
Share your knowledge beyond your platform.
Guest post, participate in relevant forums, or engage in meaningful online discussions.
Looking for your next brand influencer?
Reach out to the team at Yoola to access a list of over 3000 top creators across the world!
The democratization of influence presents an opportunity for creators like you, to turn their passions into profit especially as brands continue to become more aware that partnering with the right influencers can amplify their message, unique values and their reach.
To stand out as an influencer, consistently creating informative and engaging content, niching down your expertise, and fostering genuine connections with your audience is vital.
The aim is to establish yourself as a thought leader and attract lucrative brand collaborations.
Brands often consider partnering with influencers who align with their values and have an engaged audience, which means, Influencer marketing, when done authentically, can drive significant results and create lasting connections with consumers.
