How to Become a Digital Influencer: 10 Best Ways
How do you go about becoming that person whose every word is listened to? How do you build trust so that you become an influencer? Digital influencers have not been around that long. However, there’s already a science behind influencer marketing. It’s not easy, but there is a path.
Focus on Your Special Interest
Although it seems counter-intuitive, becoming more specialized makes you more likely to becoming an influencer. Pay attention to the small things.
“It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.”
~ Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
There is already talk of a skills gap in social media, due to the fast proliferation of new platforms, and the breakneck speed of digital change. With so much going on, developing a special interest doesn’t have to be difficult.
Follow Other Influencers
Read their books, read their blogs, and study them. Follow them on social media, and check in with them. Comment on their blog posts. Start conversations. Show up at their events. In my arena, that might be Mari Smith, or Gary Vanderchuk.
Find Your Social Media Voice
Write and rewrite your statements until they ring true to you. If you’ve ever written a journal, writing posts can be somewhat similar. Reading a post or tweet out loud can also help make it sound natural, and more like your voice.
Create Content
If you’ve followed some influencers, make yourself distinct from them. How does your opinion differ from theirs? There may be some areas where you have a strong opinion. Images and original artwork or video are becoming more and more important, so take advantage of images as well. Here’s an article about Secrets to Great Content You Forgot You Knew. It includes some tips about how to avoid procrastination.
Engage, Engage, Engage
Share others’ posts, and most of all talk to people online and offline. Engagement is probably the most important of the ten steps here. Why should you care about engagement? Because for your brand, you can speak to one possible client or many, you can drive people to a website to buy products, all while you work on your branding. Building relationships takes time; constant and steady engagement is the path to those relationships.
Sprout Social has a wonderful article about social media engagement: What is Social Media Engagement and Why Should I Care?
Be Useful
Overcome Failure
Think Long Term
Nothing is going to happen overnight, although you can speed up the process. Unless you’re a celebrity, nobody gets a free pass. But all the organic reach, the followers and added business are worth it. Social media is more of a tortoise than a hare.
Work Hard and Be Creative
Photo by Aidan Jones 
Be Approachable
Do You Want to Be More Influential?
Hey thanks for linking to my post. You do have to engage in order to have influence. There is no influence apart from relationships.
Hi Bridget,
Yes, it’s all about the engagement. I could say that until I’m blue in the face! You probably feel the same way.
Thanks for the comment!
Carol
Love this post! You have shared some great advice! I have always thought the most important part you can play online is helping.
Hi Justine,
I like to inspire without necessarily giving all the details. Thank you for all your support. I really appreciate it.
Carol
Hi Carol
Great advice Carol! My approach has always been to pick a topic my audience wants to know about, create the best content I can, and engage like crazy to promote it.
The thing with engagement is that not everyone will reciprocate. But the ones who do make it more than worthwhile.
Love the visuals as always. The black and white photo of the guy with the guitar is very cool!
Clement
Hello Clement,
I love your comment about engagement. You’re right that not everyone reciprocates, and I’m trying harder to reach outside my group of friends to comment and share.
Thank you for the compliment about the images. I have a pro helping me out there, and I’ll pass it on to him. I love the pic of the guy with the guitar, too! :D
Sincerely,
Carol
Love this list and all are soooo true! I’m doing my best to climb this mountain!
Hi Jody,
Some days it really does feel like a Mt. Everest! Best of luck with your climb.
Thank you for stopping by!
Carol