There are many ways to become an influencer. Some people get lucky and establish an audience quickly but for most influencers this process takes time. We’ll cover a few paths here, as you may be able to leverage your day-job to get into the position.
Volunteer: You might not realize it but most influencers start by volunteering. Few of us get paid for our time in the beginning. Most of the time volunteering is literally starting your channel from scratch. This way you can build a portfolio that you can then use to show what you can do. All the while building the following that you can leverage later.
Networking: The saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is really important in any industry, and this is no different. If you can get noticed by other influencers, they can promote your channel as you promote theirs. If you get to know those in the industry, they can suggest marketing on your channel. Attend events, reach out, and get to know others as this is essential to getting ahead.
Brand Outreach: Brands won’t always make the first move, many traditional brands might not even consider using influencer marketing. You sometimes have to reach out first and make an offer, especially if you’re just starting out. Smaller brands might see your value early on if you can tell them exactly how many people you reach and how influential your channel is.
Utilize Your Day-Job: You can technically get into influencing a few other ways, like getting a TV or radio position and cross-promoting your channel that way. After all, many actors and athletes are becoming influencers thanks to their already lucrative day-jobs. If you’re an artist, a writer, a musician, and so-on, you can also leverage your day-job to give your social media presence a boost.
Academy members, which direction are you going to go to become an influencer? Many will be volunteering your time to build that following, but let us know when you enroll in our capstone project and our weekly mentor will work within your resources to build your following. Go from tens of followers to ten thousands of followers by the end of the program!