Let’s talk about achieving goals! We’re on the tail end of the most go-getter time of the year – January. New Year’s Resolutions have been the topic of every morning news segment, gyms are wayyy crowded and grocery stores have had to double up stock of kale and granola bars. Many of these resolutions die out before the Valentine’s Day decorations even go up (about 80%!), and sometimes that’s ok. However, if you’re making career goals, don’t lump them in with your quest to start oil pulling. Working on your brand and your work takes time and the fire to achieve should last throughout the year. As an influencer and entrepreneur, you’re never ‘finished.’ You have to work hard everyday to keep followers intrigued, create awesome content and grab the attention of those who will help you pay your bills. We work with many successful influencers and have pulled from our experience the top 3 goals influencers strive to accomplish and some inside advice as to how to achieve them. So, read on and go get ‘em!
1. Get. More. Followers.
This is an obvious one. Whether you’re a recipe blogger from Milwaukee or a hip content creator in Colorado, everyone wants to reach a bigger audience. However, simply increasing your follower number is not always a good thing (Yep, there’s always a catch). If your large following doesn’t constantly click that like button or comment heart emojis on all of your #OOTDs, you’re in a pickle. Engagement is the name of the game and your success as a social media influencer is directly linked to getting those double taps. It can be tempting to ‘buy’ followers to get your foot in the door and gain some credibility in the social world, but trust us. Don’t do it! Brands and agencies are wise to those ways, and a large following that doesn’t engage is much less appealing than an active, small following. Your true goal should be Get. More. Engagement. The followers will come as a result..we promise!
Our advice: Engage your current followers and attract others with quality content. Cute emojis and simple, witty captions are always great, but weave in valuable information like your opinions and knowledge on certain topics. Ask open-ended questions and include a call to action like ‘tag a friend.’ Remember that engagement is a two-way street, too. If a follower asks a question, answer it! Give love back and build relationships. Before you know it… boom! Another one hits the follow button.
2. Be the Buzz
You want to be the go-to influencer for your niche, whether that be NYC brunch spots or Kundalini yoga, and you dream of the day your Instagram handle is featured in articles by Refinery29 or Business Insider. All influencers want to be the best at what they do, but how do you get recognized? A large, engaged following is only the beginning to becoming #instafamous. Renowned publications, other influencers, and industry experts should be pointing to your blog or social accounts as the ultimate resource for all things your field of expertise.
Our advice: Constant content and interaction! You could be the most knowledgeable person in the world on Jiu Jitsu martial arts, but the Today Show certainly isn’t going to know that to feature you next Monday unless they are aware of you. To get your name out there, you need to constantly be creating useful, quality content. The more content, the more you’re going to pop up in searches. Have your area of expertise and a way to contact you in the bio and description of all of your platforms, too – there are many influencer search platforms that rely on that information to find you! Use your content to interact with others, too. Tag other influencers or experts and brands when you mention them. Reach out to interview an expert for your blog. Syndicate your work to publishing platforms and continually pitch your work to media like Huffpost and Mashable, or relevant sites in your field. Interact with as many brands, sites, fellow influencers and even your followers as much as you can. The more your name is out there, the more people will see it and truly think of you as influential.
3. Get that Money
All the work you’re doing to meet the other two goals can start to feel like a full-time job, and for some of you, it is! (Learn about making the jump to career influencer here). Just like any job, you’d like to get paid for your work. As an entrepreneur (and that’s what you are!), getting paid doesn’t come as easy as turning in your direct deposit information to HR. Payment is another part of the hustle. Once you’ve got a footing in the social media world and have a solid, engaged following, monetization is just around the corner.
Our advice: Be prepared and know your worth! Before you start pitching yourself for sponsored work, make sure you’re ready to present yourself. Have a media kit prepared (watch for our next blog for tips on creating one!), get your platforms in tip-top shape, and evaluate yourself against other influencers to learn reasonable pricing. Don’t be shy – reach out and ask others. Experience will be your best friend. Trial and error will give you insight into what brands are looking for from you and how you can best work with them. Be careful not to get too big for your boots and shut some early doors – flexibility in rates and forms of payment are key to getting started on this path! Once established, hold your ground and know your worth!
Any goal, whether career, personal, or relationship, is achievable with dedication, motivation, and a whole lot of hard work. We love to see influencers grow and flourish and we hope these pointers will help you reach your influencer goals.
Got questions? Interested partnering with brands that fit your expertise? Or, need help getting your brand’s story out to consumers and influencers? LMS can help. Contact us at imgame@wearelms.com and check out our blog for more helpful tips.