Lots of people – especially young people – dream of becoming social media influencers. They imagine that it’s an easy, luxurious life that involves a few clicks of a camera and a couple of hours on their smartphone every day. In reality, this isn’t the case. To curate that perfect influencer appearance, influencers have to put in a lot of time and effort. It takes a certain kind of person to succeed at it.
If you think you have what it takes to make it as a social media influencer, consider whether you have these five key traits first.
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Tech-savvy
Social media influencers must be comfortable with technology. After all, that’s how they connect with their audience. It’s not just about knowing your way around an iPhone – it’s knowing how to use the right software, which cameras are best for videos, and how to edit. It takes a lot of work! Luckily, there are plenty of great options out there for influencers that make dealing with technology easier. For example, you can find free streaming software to instantly connect with your audience.
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Trustworthy
The best influencers are those that gain the trust of their audience. That is done through actions, words, and body language. A person who makes false promises to their audience and comes across as untrustworthy in the way they speak won’t keep a large audience for very long. Instead, you must be authentic in your posts. If you’re the type of person that people seem to trust easily, then that trait will help you make it as an influencer.
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Knowledgeable
In the past, people could become famous online just by posting stupid or funny videos. Now, though, it takes a lot more effort. Apart from the rare few, you have to be knowledgeable about a subject to build an audience. If your niche is fashion, for example, then you will need to know all about the fashion industry and clothing. If you’re influencing route is fitness, then you’ll need to be knowledgeable in the human body, nutrition, and exercise.
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Thick Skin
Influencers don’t always have an easy ride. It’s an unfortunate truth that many people are cruel online – and in reality, there’s no way to fully stop that. For this reason, influencers must learn to look past the mean responses and focus on the kinder ones. Not everyone can do it. Those who are extremely sensitive would probably not work well as an influencer. If you have thick skin, though, you are more likely to stay positive through an influencing career.
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Confident
Lastly, social media influencers must be confident in everything they do and put out into the world. After all, if you don’t have confidence in yourself, why should your audience? Even in the early days when you only get a couple of likes or views, you must maintain a good level of confidence to push through and grow your brand. It’s hard work, and often only the most determined people make it.
