There are a lot of reasons we choose to follow someone online, and allow ourselves to be influenced by them. Because let’s be honest: there are times you’ve purchased something because a person you follow talked about the product.
Here’s why many people follow online:
Aspiration: People are often drawn to influencers who embody a lifestyle chinese overseas america database or image that they aspire to. They may follow fashion influencers for style inspiration or travel influencers for wanderlust. They have something we want. Therefore, we follow them to live vicariously through them.
Trust: Followers trust influencers to provide honest and authentic recommendations. Influencers who maintain transparency and authenticity tend to have a more loyal following.
Entertainment: Many people follow influencers simply for entertainment. They enjoy following their day-to-day life, adventures, and experiences.
Expertise: In niche markets, influencers are valued for their expertise and knowledge. Many have a coaching business where you pay more for personalized guidance. Whether following from afar or paying for coaching, their followers trust their recommendations and advice in specific areas such as beauty, fitness, or finance.
The term “influencer” inherently implies the ability to influence others. Without a following, an individual cannot effectively influence others’ opinions or decisions. Building a following is a crucial step for an influencer, as it allows them to reach a larger audience and amplify their message. However, it’s important to note that the size of the following is not the only measure of influence. Engagement, authenticity, and relevance to the audience are also key factors in being a successful influencer.
There’s a lot of people who think influencers don’t do much. When positioned with the question of what does an influencer do, they usually talk about how they take pictures and post them online.
But that’s a gross underrepresentation of all that goes into influencing. And as much as accounts like InfluencersInTheWild poke fun at certain types of influencers, it’s a legitimate job that often pays well if you know how to monetize it effectively.
1. Content planning
Most influencers don’t just randomly shoot whatever pops into their minds that day. They certainly can, and that’s often what makes up their story content (on Instagram specifically). But most of them have a content planning process.
Because if they’re relying on content to earn an income—whether through affiliate links or brand deals—they have to plan, prep, and create it.
The planning process can take a good amount of time. They’re often have a place where they brainstorm ideas, determine what the caption would be, and even have a routine of which products to include where. Plus, some brand partnerships require a certain number of posts per month promoting their products, along with certain posts that align with company product releases or special sales.
