How to Brand yourself as an Influencer
This post is the first in our new series of tips for the people at the heart of Foresting: content creators. We’re going to show you how to excel in your field and create content that your followers can’t resist but engage with.
Influencer marketing is one of the biggest trends to hit the digital landscape and millennials are flocking to get in on it. We’re sure you’ve all seen photos of girls in floaty dresses dominate your feeds- but how exactly do you become one of those so called “influencers”? And not just any old influencer, but one who actually has influence and who brands want to collaborate with.
Like with any business, branding is one of the most important things to pay attention to.
The secret behind successful influencers is rarely luck.
These are smart business people who know their brand, know who they are and know why people should listen to them.
So, if you want to position yourself as an influencer in a saturated social media landscape, here are a few tips!
Know your Niche
Niching down is one of the most important things you can do to brand yourself successfully as an influencer.
Because, let’s be honest, if you specialise in nothing, can you ever have influence?
Social media is flooded with “experts” on all different topics. So, as well as being an expert on yours, you still need to dig a little bit deeper.
It’s really not enough just to be a travel influencer or a beauty influencer anymore. So, narrow your niche.
Rather than calling yourself a travel influencer, brand yourself as an expert on European city breaks. Or luxury spa breaks around the world. Your followers who share the same values as you should know that you’re the person they should go to for advice.
Instead of being a beauty influencer, become an expert on all things cruelty-free beauty products. Or non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Find what you love, and narrow it down to a tee, so you can really have influence in your field.
Be Consistent with your Aesthetic
The majority of an influencer’s work is visual so it’s important to have a strong and consistent aesthetic.
Consider how you want your brand to look and how this will tie in with the message you want to convey.
Do you want to be romantic and whimsical? Vibrant and colourful? Dark and cool?
Whatever you decide, make sure you stick with it across all of your content. This should come down to the clothes that you wear, the colours that are dominant in your photos, the fonts that you use and your editing style, too.
Stay True to your Voice
What makes influencer marketing so much more successful than print advertising?
It comes from real people.
So, make sure you show your human side to your followers. Know your own voice and stay true to it, because that’s what makes you, you.
Know How you Want your Followers to Feel
Getting an emotional response from your followers will take your influencer marketing efforts to a whole new level. That’s why it’s important to consider how you want your followers to feel when they see your content.
Just, bear in mind, that an emotional response doesn’t always have to be “emo.” As well as tugging at people’s heart strings, you can also gain an emotional response by making them laugh. Being fun and upbeat. Or by inspiring them to make a change in their lives.
Know how you want to make people feel and echo this in everything you create.
Capitalise on what Makes YOU Different
How many paleo vegan bloggers flood the interwebs? Far too many to count on one hand, that’s for sure!
But what makes YOU as a paleo vegan blogger stand out? Did you have a turbulent journey into veganism? Can you laugh at yourself? Are you an activist?
Whatever makes you stand out from your competitors, make sure you capitalise on it in everything you do, and enjoy standing out from the crowd!
So, there you have it. We hope that these tips will help you become the successful influencer you’ve always aspired to be. If you’ve got any tips of your own, share them in the comments!
