What is an influencer?
Influencers are content creators with communities of followers on social networks like YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. Some have large audiences, even millions of subscribers. To monetize their social networks, these professions choose to promote brands, products or services. These brands can be in the fashion, IT or automotive sectors, for example. The product promoted is generally related to the channel's content.
Influencers become directly involved in the marketing process . They influence the choices made by subscribers. Since they are highly professional and closely follow fashion, subscribers are more inclined to follow their recommendations when it comes to acquiring items.
Influencers therefore demonstrate an ethical commitment to their followers, based on the brands they recommend. This is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. The media regularly report abuses by influencers towards the influencer community.
The features
Beyond content creation, how do you characterize an influencer?
First of all, influencers use their name or nickname to designate their media space. This means that the appeal of your channel and your social networks will revolve around you, so it's important not to be too mannered and to keep it real. As for the content and publications you create, they can vary as long as you know how to make them attractive to your target audience.
Secondly, influencers prefer the video format. In many cases, oral communication is more effective than written. An excellent influencer can play on the intonation and rhythm of speech to make the message more attractive. Conversely, reproducing an engaging and persuasive mood in text is more difficult.
An influencer is above all a video creator. However, they can also create written content or photos. Take web training courses to diversify the artistic scope of your posts.
Evaluate your skills
Influencer jobs are often presented as saturated, but it's perfectly possible to stand out from the crowd. To get started in content creation, you need to identify your strengths and qualities.
Choose a trendy niche field that you're passionate about, but also one in which you stand out from the crowd! If necessary, take a training course to strengthen your artistic potential.
Finally, you'll need to assess your knowledge ofsocial networking , communications, marketing and storytelling. You don't need to have attended a specialized school. You can follow a web-based training course.
Choose a web platform to become an influencer. You'll use this online platform or network to publish your creations, and build your community of followers around the world by making regular hashtagged posts. Popular online platforms include :
Be present on at least one network. The advantage of social networks is that you can quickly make yourself known to a large audience while surfing the latest trends. This way, your community of followers can grow rapidly around the world. Use hashtags under photos on Instagram to reinforce your marketing strategy, organize games and attract new followers.
Building your style and brand
Adopt a niche style that will set you apart from other influencers. Pay attention to your clothing style, your thumbnail on YouTube, your profile photo on platforms like Instagram or TikTok... Communication is also important and forms part of the artistic and marketing strategy: the tone used should be the same in all your creations. However, avoid being too mannered.
You'll also need to choose a niche setting for your studio. This way, your followers will associate it directly with your content. Post photos of this setting on Instagram before posting videos. A high-quality logo will also be a great asset in reinforcing your brand identity.
Don't hesitate to research what other influencers are doing on your chosen topic, and consider ways of standing out from existing content. This doesn't mean you shouldn't surf current trends: developing a unique personality while living with the times is the subtle balance you need to strike in the influencer business!
Regular, high-quality content
In the influencer business, regular content production is important for marketing your content to your target audience. To stay close to your community of subscribers, make posts on platforms at fixed intervals. If necessary, set up a schedule for distributing your content.
The quality of your content is paramount. It's better to choose a more sparse publication rhythm, but one that meets the expectations of your target audience.
Regularly monitor your statistics on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Change your content format when it starts to run out of steam or no longer appeals to your followers.
Finally, organize polls on your social networks with your target audience: show proximity to your audience and interact with them to increase your influence on the platforms. You can also organize competitions in partnership with a brand. Juggle between your social networks: use your Instagram account to advertise a video you're about to publish on YouTube.
Making money as an influencer
Once your influence and community are large enough on your platform, you can monetize your influence. Earn a salary by monetizing and partnering with brands on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Check that these brands are trustworthy, or risk legal and media consequences. Always ask for samples. You can also follow web-based training courses on the subject. Always select items that match your personal commitment!
Finally, being an influencer means setting up your own company and registering it in order to stay within the law. In fact, the salary generated by your online content creation and partnerships requires a head office located in France.
Written by our expert Véra V.
November 7, 2023
