In the time before social media, our influences were reserved to very special role models. Our families and friends, our teachers and coaches, and maybe even some celebrities on TV had the ability to guide our decisions towards or away from different places or products. Today, we’re given a platform that makes it possible for anyone with a social media following to become an influencer. Here are some tips that we have gathered from our favorite social media influencers…
1. Be Authentic
Authenticity goes beyond #nofilter. People will follow people that they can relate to. Sure, everyone loves beautiful photos from far away places, but we also want to see the REAL side of the story. Authenticity also plays a part in the luring temptation of buying followers. While it may seem tempting to have 20K followers, does it really matter when only a fraction of them are authentic? This will reflect in the engagement on your posts, and those who are truly following you will certainly take note.
2. Be Current
Follow trending topics. Know your schedule of social media holidays. Join in on the conversations that people are having today. Keeping up with current events is a great way to engage an audience that is interested in similar topics as you. While some topics being discussed in today’s world may be a bit polarizing, that does not mean you should be afraid to touch that conversation. In these instances: always remain respectful, open minded, and considerate of others’ views that may not be the same as your own.
3. Be Original
We’ve lost count of the number of fashion, style, and travel bloggers that exist nowadays. If you want to be a part of their world, you must set yourself apart somehow. Find your edge, and grow with it. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, followers will respect your fresh perspective. Before you try to dive right in to the social media world, stop and think, “what makes me different?”
4. Be Engaging
Enough about me, how about you?! If you want your followers to be engaged in your posts, then you must be engaged in theirs… it’s that simple! A great way to do this is by searching through trending topics or locations of things you are interested in, or similar to your own posts. For example, if you recently have visited a new city, insta-search a restaurant you have visited, and spark up some conversations about how delicious that plate of penne a la vodka looks!
5. Be Careful
With great influence comes great power. If you are going to start promoting for others, try the product for yourself. Think about the Fyre Festival and the influencers who were responsible for its hype. As quickly as social media can build you up, it can also break you down. What you say on social media, stays on social media. What you post online is a digital extension of yourself, so choose your words wisely!