Have you been thinking about diving into the world of content creation and/or being an influencer? Maybe you’ve been following a few creators for a while and you want to dip your toes in to see if it would be a good fit for you. Or you’ve been posting content on your socials for a while and you’re wanting to level up and really make this your bread and butter? No matter where you are on your content creator/influencer journey, I’m here to help!
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Where My Journey Began
I started posting sponsored content on my instagram in 2019 and I was having a blast doing it! I still remember the first time a company agreed to pay me to share about their new store opening in my town. It felt surreal! I just kept thinking, “is this real?”. They really believe in me that much that they’re willing to pay me to promote them? It also just felt really cool. I thought, I could see myself doing this for a living. My payment was in the form of a gift card, and even though the dollar value was not that high, that gift card had me feeling on top of the world! It seems silly thinking back on all of that now, but it really did set everything in motion for me moving forward with working with brands and creating content for a living!
Fast forward to a few years later, I was still working full time as a Registered Nurse. I was pitching to brands and creating content in my spare time (when I wasn’t recovering from 3 or 4 twelve hour shifts in a row). I was growing my socials at a slow and steady pace, but I still wasn’t breaking out of that “beginners tier” I felt I was in. It wasn’t until I found out I was pregnant with my son and quit my “day job” that I really started to delve deeper into being a content creator and influencer (but this doesn’t have to be the case for you!).
How You Can Get Started
Before we get into the details, I wanted to address a small nuance. While the terms content creator and influencer are often used synonymously, they are not technically the same. A content creator is someone who does just that – creates content. There are different types of content creators, some are also influencers and market themselves as both, and some are what we call UGC creators. UGC stands for User Generated Content and it can be sold to brands for them to use without the original creator having to share them anywhere on their socials.
In contrast, an influencer is someone who promotes products on their social channels with their online personalities. Any time I mention building up your social channels, it’s mainly for the influencer side of things. It can also be beneficial to have an online presence as a content creator in order to showcase your skillsets to brands and make it easier to reach out, (and maybe one day market yourself as an influencer too) but this isn’t completely necessary. Before you start pitching to brands, I would suggest you think about what you would like to focus on and in what capacity.
With that said, let’s get into building up your socials for success! Whether you’re passionate about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, or any niche, this guide is your key to unlocking the secrets of building a successful presence on social media platforms. Let’s dive into the essential steps to kickstart your journey and showcase your potential as a content creator/Influencer for brands.
Discover Your Niche
Before you start creating content, identify your niche. What are you genuinely passionate about? Your enthusiasm will resonate with your audience, making your content more authentic and engaging. It will also make it easier to continue to create content on a consistent basis and to really be an expert in your niche.
Create a Unique Brand Persona
Define your brand persona by establishing a consistent theme, color scheme, and tone across all your platforms. Your audience should recognize and connect with your brand effortlessly. I highly suggest using Canva for this. I have the Pro version which I also recommend, but it’s not necessary when you’re first getting started. Try to also have the same username across all platforms so that you’re easy to find.
Optimize Your Social Media Profiles
Choose the Right Platforms
Select platforms that align with your content and target audience. Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook are popular choices, but your niche might dictate a specific platform’s relevance. It also depends on the kind of content you want to create. If vertical short-form video is your preference, for example, then Instagram and Tik Tok might be your best bet. If you prefer horizontal long-form video, YouTube may be better suited. It all depends on the type of content you’re wanting to create and the audience you’re wanting to reach.
Craft a Compelling Bio
Your bio is your first impression. Clearly state who you are, what you do, and why people should follow you. Include relevant keywords to enhance discoverability. Keep it short, sweet, and concise! My suggestion is that you have no more than 4 lines of text in your bio so that users don’t have to click ‘more’ to see the entire thing. It just keeps your profile looking clean and forces you to really be intentional about what you’re deciding to include there.
Create Eye-Catching Visuals
Invest time in creating high-quality visuals for your profile picture, cover photo, and posts. Consistency in aesthetics is key! Again, I recommend Canva for this. I also highly recommend the Lightroom app (free to download on iOS and Android). I use this app every single day to brighten and tweak the lighting in my photos and it helps to create a cohesive and consistent theme throughout my posts.
Content Creation Tips
Quality Over Quantity
Focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience. Invest in good equipment, practice your skills, and stay updated with trends. This doesn’t mean you have to take an expensive course or buy the fanciest camera in order to do this. There are tons of tutorials on YouTube that you can watch for free and Facebook Groups you can join for tips. By reading this blog post, you’ve already started!
Engage With Your Audience
Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage interaction. Building a community around your content is crucial for long-term success. Your followers will become your tribe, and you absolutely need them. Not only to convert to paying customers, but also to support your socials by liking, commenting, and sharing your content, which helps you grow.
Monetization Strategies
Okay, so you’ve set up your socials. You’ve written a killer bio and you’ve started creating content. Now what? How can you actually make money doing this? Keep reading to find out how to monetize your pages and earn income by being a content creator or influencer!
Affiliate Marketing
Partner with brands related to your niche and earn a commission for every sale through your unique affiliate link. Read more about this in my Affiliate Marketing Basics for Beginners Post.
Brand Collaborations
Reach out to brands for collaboration opportunities. Showcase your value and how your content aligns with their brand. You can send brands a quick DM on their social media profiles or go to their website and find a contact form or email.
Join Influencer Programs
Explore programs like the Amazon Influencer Program and LTK, which connect influencers with brands for potential collaborations. There are also a slew of other benefits to joining these two programs, which I will outline in a separate blog post. It would be way too much to list here!
Optimize for Search Engines
Use relevant keywords in your content, captions, and bio to improve search engine visibility. This will increase your chances of being discovered by both brands and followers. Do you share fashion, for example? I suggest including the word Fashion in your “Name” and Bio on each platform. Write descriptive captions filled with keywords that are relevant to what you’re posting about. This helps the algorithm push your content out to viewers who are interested in that content!
Consistent Posting Schedule
Develop a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged. Consistency is key in building a loyal following. This doesn’t mean you have to post every single day! But do create some sort of schedule for yourself. This not only helps you to stay consistent but it also allows your followers to know when to expect a new piece of content from you. With that being said, don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or two. We are all human, and that’s okay! Having a loose schedule will still benefit both you and your followers.
Educate Yourself
Stay updated with industry trends, algorithm changes, and new features on social media platforms. Continuous learning is crucial for adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape. Two things I would say you need to have to be successful in this industry are tough skin and the ability to adapt! Sometimes it feels like things are always changing, so be sure to stay flexible and pivot when necessary.
Conclusion
Becoming a successful content creator and/or influencer is a journey that requires dedication, creativity, and adaptability. By following these steps and staying true to your passion, you can build a powerful online presence and open doors to exciting opportunities with brands. Remember, authenticity is your greatest asset in the world of content creation. Good luck on your journey!
Great info.
Great tips for anyone starting out as a blogger.