How to become a successful digital influencer in 2022
Social media influencers are like marmite – you either love them or hate them. Some of us have our favorite influencers we quite literally feel connected to. Most influencers originate from YouTube, Instagram, or after they decide to start a blog (and although TikTok is an emerging platform that many influencers are thriving on, it is not that easy to monetize content on the platform just yet).
But is it possible to be an influencer in 2022? It’s no secret that there are tons of influencers out there, but it’s very much possible to still emerge into the market and find success. Keep reading to find out more.
Find Your Platforms
The key there is in platforms, plural, rather than a platform, singular – the 2022 influencer has to be 360º, meaning they’re diverse and have content on multiple platforms. This is one of the most essential contributions towards a successful influencer – and it makes sense. The more content you have spread across multiple platforms, the more visible you’ll be and the more potential you have to connect with new viewers.
Some 82% of influencers believe that while Instagram is the most powerful platform for influencers, it is still worth it using other platforms. Blogging is the perfect example of a stepping stone platform that can help you build an online presence and find a niche before diving headfirst into the influencer world. By using a free website builder like Wix, you can have a personal blog live in no time.
Post content to that regularly and find a brand image you want to maintain – because essentially, you will become your own brand as an influencer – and you’re on your way to internet fame. In terms of social media, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are the best platforms for influencers.
Find Your Niche
Once you have your platform, it’s time to find your niche. Most influencers fall naturally into this from a passion they already have. Travel influencers find influencer fame by posting candid travel shots to Instagram. Fitness fanatics who film their workouts find YouTube by posting regular workout videos. To find your niche, you have to find your passion – and that passion doesn’t have to be related to anything, necessarily.
By that, we mean you could become a TikTok or Instagram influencer by simply ranting. Take NOHUN on Instagram and TikTok, who has found fame and will soon go on his comedy tour. He became famous by ranting – in a particularly unique and funny manner – and people loved it. Thus, your niche doesn’t have to be a category like fitness, beauty, or travel – it can be as simple as being funny or silly on social media.
Following Trends Is Trendy
Following trends is very much trendy if you want to be a successful influencer in 2022. There’s no such thing as a saturated trend – by that, we mean too many people are doing it and it loses its appeal.
Markets can become saturated with products, but in the context of Instagram and YouTube influencers, for example, following trends such as popular styles of YouTube vlogs or Instagram challenges that combine the use of hashtags can really increase your following. Take the food challenges on YouTube – a challenge that is making many people popular influencers across multiple platforms. Youtubers go around seeing how many calories they can eat in a day or how much of a specific food type, and viewers lap it up, leading to sometimes millions of views.
The same goes for TikTok. TikTok challenges are the trend of the app, and regular TikTok scrollers will see various people doing the same thing – but those hashtag challenges are a great way of gaining followers. To find a trend, spend some time on social media and search for the trending hashtags.
Don’t Be THAT Influencer!
“That influencer” is very easy to explain. It’s an influencer that posts videos multiple times a week without considering the value of the content. Value-driven content is key to being a successful influencer in 2022.
People will watch your videos or scroll through your Instagram, but unless they find value in your content and a reason to keep watching, they’ll move on to the next. That means you need to build a persona that people like. Do you fight for women’s rights? Are you a vegan? Do you promote and support charities? That added touch alongside content that’s valuable and interesting to viewers will help you find success.
The other type of influencer you want to avoid is the one that collaborates with any random brand. It’s so tedious to see when an influencer does this because – circling back to value and meaning – if the collaboration goes against your niche, value, or the message you’re trying to promote, it’s obvious it’s just for the money. Be particular about why you collaborate and who you collaborate with.
Becoming an influencer will take months, if not years, of work. It’s not something that happens overnight – it takes commitment, sacrifice, a lot of hours to happen. Still, it’s the reward when you come out the other side that makes it all worth it. Influencers have career freedom to an extent and the pleasure of being their own boss. What type of influencer do you want to be?
Feature photo by Mateus Campos Felipe
