Do you ever see people on social media who seem like they don’t have a job? They post these amazing photos, whether it be traveling the world or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. How do they afford the life they’re living without a job? Are they just not posting about their real job because it’s too boring? Some of these social media users may, in fact, have a very boring job they don’t talk about online. But, for many other, posting is their job. Their job is a social media influencer and blogging and content creation is what they do. And, hey, you can be one too.
What Is A Social Media Influencer?
A social media influencer is a social network user who, through the use of thought leadership and content marketing, has established credibility in a specific niche or industry. Social media influencers reach large, diverse and engaged audiences that value the influencers credibility, authenticity and passion and take action based on the social media influencer’s recommendations. Nowadays, micro influencers are some of the most sought-after social media influencers by brands. Micro influencers are social media influencers with modest follower counts but high engagement rates.
How Do You Monetize Content?
Making money on one’s content is ultimately the end-goal of many social media influencers but it isn’t so easy to monetize content. It all starts by creating visually striking, snakable and share-worthy content. Once a social media influencer becomes known for consistently producing good content and having a highly engaged audience, then the time is ripe to partner with brands to produce sponsored social content.
Pick a topic you’re passionate about.
If you try to force an interest in something, your followers will know. You need to pick something that comes from the heart. Pick a natural fit with your lifestyle. It needs to be a topic you’re truly passionate about because it will become your entire world. You will eat, sleep, and breathe this topic, so choose wisely. It can be narrow, about interior design, or broad, like health and fitness. What matters is that it meshes with who you are and what you like to do. Once you have a topic in mind, it’s time to hone in on it and become an expert.
Become an expert at your craft.
Once you’ve established your topic or field, learn it like the back of your hand. Consumers of social media follow accounts and blogs by influencers whose content is interesting, educational and draws readers into the conversation. In order to be a credible and engaging source of information, influencers must be knowledgeable thought-leaders that introduce followers to new and exciting products and information. You need be the go-to resource for your readers. Learn your craft and learn it well. Otherwise, your followers will know.
Post strong, quality content.
It’s not about how much you post, it’s about the quality. Take time to figure out exactly what your audience will respond to and craft relevant message and images. Don’t just post something because you think you have to. Make sure it’s well-thought-out and is relevant to your audience’s interests, wants and needs. Posting poor, weak content can actually hurt you more than help you and certainly won’t entice a majority of your followers to stick around.
Engage with your audience.
Brands won’t want to partner with you if you don’t have a loyal following. There’s a difference between a community of followers and ghost followers. If you use spamming methods to gain a quick following, you will hurt yourself in the long-run. It may seem like you have a big following but typically 80 percent of your followers are either robot accounts or unengaged users who don’t see your content.
If you post strong, relevant content that is tailored to your audience, you’re more likely to get engagement in the form of comments, likes, and shares. You want your content to spark conversations and get people talking about your account and content. Interact with them and let your followers know you are a real person and that you value each and every member your audience. After all, your followers are your life line and money makers, so treat them well. You can’t monetize your content without them.
Stand Out.
Sign up for accounts with programs such as IZEAx, a marketplace technology that facilitates sponsorships between brands and creators. This type of technology can help you get your name out and introduce you to brands who like your content and may not have known about you otherwise.
Once you’ve established yourself as a thought-leader in your industry and gained enough recognition from followers and brands, you can begin to monetize your content. If you’re lucky enough, you may even be able to turn it into a full-time job.
