We're in a new age of influencers. Influencers are the new celebrities.
They're like your internet best friend + most of the time, you'll believe anything they say.
It may not seem like it, but being an influencer is hard work.
Influencers get a bad rap. They are accused of being too "sales-y" and fake.
While this can be true, it's an art form to influence without being too "influencer-y."
Have you ever seen an ad you didn't even realize was an ad + before you know it you've swiped up and purchased the item? Or have you ever thought, "does this person actually use this product or is this a paid promotion?"
Marketing is an art. People will see right through your lies if you don't even like the product you're using.
Don't promote products you don't like
What's the point of lying to people? What are you trying to influence? If you're just trying to make a quick buck, you're not going to go very far. Make sure the brand or person you partner with aligns with your values and niche. People come to see you for a specific thing ~ don't throw them off track.
Build a trustworthy following
It's easier said than done but what we call "vanity metrics" aren't going to make you money.
"Vanity metrics tend to include data such as social media followers, page views, subscribers, and other metrics that are satisfying on paper but don't impact your business goals."
Don't fall for it. Don't buy into it. When we say, "Likes shouldn't be the only thing we live for. We are so much more than that," we mean it! Your number is a number. While it may look nice and flashy to have a high follower count, fake followers + unengaged people are NOT going to make you money. People that trust you and like you will PAY YOU.
Lead up to your ad
When you have a planned ad for the next day, lead up to it to make it seem more organic.
For example, you have an ad for a protein shake tomorrow. Plan to workout before you post it and share on your story about your workout and post workout tips. That way, no one will be randomly blindsided by you telling them about the product!
There are a lot of ways to make things feel very natural and organic. We're not tricking, we're just not making our followers feel like they're being sold to all the time.
Be honest
This is similar to "don't promote something you don't like." Your followers trust you. They're looking to you to tell them what is good, bad, worth it, not worth it, etc. When you share things you don't like, they trust you! Be honest when you LOVE something. Be honest when you don't. Transparency is so important. Treat your followers like you would your best friend.
At the end of the day, you want your followers to be engaged and trust you. Don't sell to them constantly. Give them fun + honest content that they'll love and you're influence will be easy!