How to Become a Social Media Influencer

If your Instagram feed is constantly filled with photos of gorgeous clothes and makeup, exotic travel destinations, and mouthwatering food, then you’ve probably daydreamed at least once about quitting your job to become a social media influencer.

The life of an influencer is not as easy as it looks though, and building a valuable following can take years of hard work. If you’re starting from scratch, here are some tips for how to become an influencer. We’ll also answer common questions, like “how do influencers make money?”

What Is a Social Media Influencer?

You might follow influencers on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, but do you know what truly defines a social media influencer? In short, an influencer is someone who has built a loyal audience and uses their voice to influence the opinions or behaviors of others.

You don’t necessarily need millions of followers or celebrity status to be a successful social media influencer. What you do need is the ability to connect with your audience in a meaningful way. As an influencer, you’ll create content that resonates with your followers, whether it’s lifestyle tips, product reviews, or entertainment.

What Makes a Successful Influencer?

If you’re serious about becoming an influencer, there are a few things you need to focus on to make it work:

Authenticity

If you want to build a genuine connection with your audience, you need to show up as your real self. Share your honest opinions and let your personality shine through. You’ve probably seen plenty of Instagram influencers or TikTok influencers who became successful by sharing their real-life experiences. If you’re wondering how to become an influencer, keep in mind that it’s all about being true to who you are and sharing that with your community.

Consistency

You won’t become a social media influencer overnight, but by consistently showing up for your audience, you’ll build a loyal following. Whether you post once a day or three times a week, stick to a schedule. Consistency also applies to your content—make sure it aligns with your niche and values.

Engagement

The secret sauce to being a successful social media influencer is building relationships with your followers. Respond to comments, reply to DMs, and engage in meaningful conversations. This interaction makes your audience feel valued and strengthens your influence.

Value

Don’t just post for the sake of posting. Think about what your audience wants to see—whether it’s educational, inspirational, or entertaining. When you offer value, your followers will stick around and even share your content with others.

Adaptability 

Social media is constantly evolving. To be a successful influencer, you need to stay on top of trends and be open to trying new content formats or platforms. Whether it’s jumping on a viral TikTok challenge or experimenting with new Instagram features, adapting to changes can help you stay relevant and keep your audience engaged.

What’s the Difference Between a Content Creator and an Influencer?

You might be asking yourself, “Isn’t being an influencer the same as being a content creator?” While the two roles overlap, they aren’t exactly the same. Here’s how they differ:

• As a content creator, your focus is on producing high-quality, engaging content. You might make videos, blog posts, or art purely for the joy of creating and sharing. Your main goal is to entertain or inspire through your work.
• As an influencer, you’re not only creating content but also using your platform to guide others. Your content influences people’s opinions, purchases, or actions. You often work with brands to promote products or services because you’ve built trust with your audience.

So, while you’ll definitely create content as an influencer, you’ll also be thinking about how to inspire and persuade your audience. If your goal is to influence people and partner with brands, you’re stepping into influencer territory.

Do You Need a Lot of Followers to Be an Influencer?

When thinking about how to become an influencer, your first question might be, “Do I need a ton of followers to be successful?” Not necessarily. In fact, there are different types of influencers based on follower count, and you can start influencing even with a smaller but dedicated audience. Let’s break it down:

Nano Influencers: You fall into this category if you have fewer than 10,000 followers. Nano influencers are known for their close-knit, highly engaged communities. Brands love working with nano influencers because your audience is loyal and trusts you deeply.

Micro Influencers: If you’ve got between 10,000 and 100,000 followers, you’re a micro influencer. You’ll be seen as a niche expert, and brands love the balance of reach and engagement you offer. You’re big enough to influence, but small enough to feel relatable.

Macro Influencers: When you hit the 100,000 to 1 million follower mark, you’re considered a macro influencer. While you have a large audience, keeping that personal connection can be trickier. You’ll work with bigger brands, but you’ll need to put in extra effort to maintain engagement (or hire an expert to help).

Mega Influencers: Mega influencers, like celebrities, have more than a million followers. While your reach is massive, your engagement rate might drop compared to nano or micro influencers. You’ll likely work with major brands and have polished content, but maintaining personal connections can be more challenging.

So, you don’t need a ton of followers to start becoming an influencer. What really matters is your relationship with your audience and how engaged they are. Brands are increasingly looking for smaller influencers with loyal communities, so you can succeed at any level.

How Do Influencers Make Money?

Now, let’s get to the part you’re probably most curious about: How do influencers make money? There are multiple ways you can monetize your influence, including:

• Sponsored Posts: As an influencer, brands will pay you to promote their products or services in your posts or stories. The amount you earn depends on your follower count, engagement rate, and niche. You can start landing sponsorships even with a smaller audience.
• Affiliate Marketing: By promoting products through unique links, you can earn a commission for each sale made through your referral. This is a great way to earn passive income, especially if you don’t want to rely solely on sponsorships.
• Selling Your Own Products: Once you’ve built a dedicated following, you can create and sell your own products or services. Whether it’s merchandise, eBooks, or online courses, this is a powerful way to monetize your influence on your own terms.
• Brand Ambassadorships: Some brands will want to work with you long-term, making you a brand ambassador. This means you’ll regularly promote their products and services in exchange for a steady income.

• Paid Appearances and Events: As your influence grows, you might get paid to attend events or make appearances. While this is more common for larger influencers, it’s something to aim for as your audience grows. 

Tips for Becoming an Influencer

Looking for practical advice on how to become an influencer? Here are some tips to get started.

Focus on quality, not quantity.

The first rule when beginning to build your online presence is to focus on posting engaging content. For platforms, such as Instagram and Pinterest that are extremely visual, it is crucial that your imagery is high-quality. As you start to build a following, make sure that you don’t turn people off by posting constantly.

Build online relationships.

A powerful tool for getting your social media accounts out there for the world to see is to collaborate with other brands and influencers. In the beginning, you can offer to create content for brands in exchange for them posting your photos on their accounts and providing credit. Get to know other influencers as well who might include you in future collaborations.

Pay attention to what is trending.

You can’t be an influencer if you aren’t posting about what’s hot right now! Keep up to date by checking out trending hashtags, following the news and pop culture, constantly looking to see what other influencers are up to on their own accounts, and then try to incorporate these ideas into your own work.

Develop your own brand.

Successful influencers realize that you are your own brand. This may mean you only want to use certain colors or filters in your Instagram feed, communicate in a certain tone, or post about specific topics. Keep it authentic and stick to it! 

Run your accounts like a business.

As your internet fame begins to rise, you will undoubtedly begin to hear from brands that want to hire you to market their products. Remember that brands are paying close attention to how you handle a campaign. Your responsiveness and level of professionalism will all play into your ability to make it as a social media influencer.

Do you have what it takes to be the next Socialfly influencer? Apply today!