Being an influencer is like the “it-job” of the century. From the outside, it seems like influencers have it easy. They live these lavish lifestyles and get paid to speak about topics they are knowledgeable and passionate about.
But that’s just a summarization of being an influencer. There is a lot of work that goes into it, and you need to dedicate a lot of your resources (time, energy, money, etc.) to grow a community on your dime before you make connections with brands or organizations.
MAYO’s owner, Carrie Mayo, is transforming herself into an influencer in the realm of sustainability in our community. She is taking the time to meet the right people, join the right organizations, and make a name for herself when it comes to transforming the seacoast NH & ME communities into more environmentally conscious places to live. Currently, we are hosting events and finding speaking engagements that fit within our niche.
If you want to do it, too, you’ll need some marketing tips to get started. Here is how to become an influencer.
1. Find your “thing”
Essentially, ask yourself what sets you apart from everyone else. What are you passionate about? What do you spend your time thinking about? What is the problem that you know how to solve, and that you want to broadcast the solution to? You need to find an angle that can differentiate you from the rest, and hone in on that niche subject. The approach itself should also be something unique.
2. Pick your poison
Yes, influencers are typically seen on a variety of different channels or stages, but until you get to grow an audience, you should focus on just one. We recommend either dedicating your time exclusively to participating in webinars, making Youtube videos, finding speaking engagements–no matter your choice, it is best to start by focusing on one. Over time, you can start to extend your reach onto other platforms.
3. Have a strategy
Influencers make it seem like all of their publicity comes naturally. However, it takes a surplus of preparation to not only find the right speaking engagements, but to prepare what to focus on. Influencers make it seem like all of their postings and engagements are spur of the moment occurrences. This is rarely the case. In fact, they are typically part of a wider marketing content strategy that lays out exactly:
- The type of content
- The subjects to focus on
- Appearance frequency
4. Make connections!
None of these above tips are worth anything if you don’t take the time to reach out to others that care about your passions. Don’t be afraid to reach out to organizations, individuals, government officials, and other community members that are striving to bring publicity to similar subjects. You can be the driving force behind getting your name out there, and learning from other experts in your field.
The strategy is key here, so why not start working on it?
If you want to learn how to become an influencer, we have experience in starting the process. It certainly doesn’t happen overnight, and you need to be prepared to put in the work. Reach out to us if you are curious about how to start this process, or if influencer marketing might be the right channel for you.
