Earn at Home - 5 Steps to Become an Influencer

Influencers are all the rage these days. A social media influencer is a job that requires a lot of work. But the hard work pays off with multiple perks such as working from home, access to great deals and discounts, and incredible pay. You can become an influencer and earn at home too! Read on to know how:

What is an Influencer?

An influencer is a person known for their knowledge in a particular field. Their expertise usually draws people to look at them for advice and opinions. They are trendsetters. Numerous people who believe in their knowledge follow the influencers choices.

Many brands and companies partner with influencers hoping to lure their followers into purchasing their products.

Social Media Influencers are majorly of two types:

1. Macro Influencers: Greater than 50,000 followers
2. Micro-Influencers: Lesser than 50,000 followers

How to become an influencer?

1. Figure out your niche: This is the most crucial step. An easy way to do so is by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses. Choose something that interests you and can create content on. Deciding on a particular content topic will help you gain a relevant audience and make your content while keeping their preferences in mind. The most popular categories are Travel, Fashion and Beauty, Lifestyle, Food and Drinks, Sports and Games, Health and Fitness, and Entertainment.
2. Choose and optimize your social media platform: Fashion may work well on Instagram, while Technology works best on Twitter. Similarly, You could use both Instagram and YouTube for Travel. Choose which platform serves your needs best and work on it. You can optimize the platform by

• Creating an engaging bio
• Updating your profile and cover photo
• Making use of the available tools (Eg: Highlights on Instagram)
• Switching to a business accountEventually, you can branch out to different platforms. But, remember, different platforms cater to different audiences and expect different content styles.

1. Develop your content strategy: Start by organizing what you want to talk about in the order you wish. Figure out the best way to present them - an informative static, a 15-sec reel or shorts, maybe a 1-minute post, or a 30-60 minute long video. If you're using multiple platforms, you could perhaps use the video format for one platform, blog/written form for another and short-info statics for another. Create fresh content, sometimes follow trends, but stay true to your niche. Revise your content strategy regularly based on what your audience engages most with.

2. **Engage with your audience:**Initially, you might start with only friends and family as followers, but eventually, your profile will gain more visibility. Reply to comments messages, reshare stories, and make your audience feel heard and valued. Create content using insights gained through conversation - this will encourage your audience to engage with your profile more. When you have considerable followers, it will not be possible to reply to everyone. Make sure to respond to a few of them or even leave a like to show your appreciation. You can even host AMA's, give shoutouts and occasionally giveaways.

3. Stay consistent: Post regularly on your social media platform. You can prepare the posts in advance, but don't leave your audience hanging.

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