So, you want to be an influencer.
Admitting that’s the easy part. But are you ready to work hard, like really really hard?
“I mean, how hard can it be to snap a selfie or hop in front of a ring light and hit record?”
Fact is, it takes a lot of effort to make something look effortless.
‘Overnight success’ doesn't happen overnight, it happens over months and years, over sleepless nights and way more than your recommended daily allowance of caffeine.
The BIG influencers, the content creators getting PAID the big bucks, the social media A-listers getting more press drops than their unboxing posts can keep up with, they were all unpaid interns before they were CEOs of their income-generating personal brands.
“I did my trench work, lots of it. I over-delivered, I said ‘no’ to the wrong brands when my bank account was begging me to say “Yes”. I posted like I was getting paid, like I had a following, like I was a brand’s ambassador long before any of those brands knew my name or my handle. I focused on consistency, not numbers, on the content not the likes. Sure, anyone can be an influencer but not everyone’s willing to put the work in to make it happen. ”
— Mrs Winderley
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Influence is nothing without integrity. And, you can't buy it.
When it comes to this topic I’m not gonna pull any punches, social media is a superpower and, like some comic-turned-Marvel-franchise once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” If we’re going to work together, if I’m going to coach you to a social media ‘Super Bowl’ win, I need to know why you want to be an influencer and, when we get you that influence, what you want to use it for. I’m not looking for “world peace”, I mean, that’d be great, but “I want to be my own boss and pay my own bills” is plenty inspiring and influential in its own right. I want an honest answer because I can’t get you where you want to go without a map. And, if we’re going to build something that can weather the inevitable social media storms, we need a foundation as strong as J.Lo’s abs before an activewear shoot.
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Facebook is dead. Instagram is dying. Tik Tok is LIFE.
Okay, in the tone of Cher Horowitz, “that was way harsh, Mrs Winderley.” Of course every platform has its purpose, and there is obviously still a place for Facebook and Instagram but if we’re going to work together I need to know that you’re brave, Tik Tok brave. No one’s saying put all your #contentcreator eggs is one basket but I am saying that you’re going to need to try new things. People way smarter than me predict that there’s only about 12 months left of organic growth (the kind you don’t have to pay for) left on the youngsters’ favourite scrolling spot. Simply put, the train has left the station, it’s nearing its destination so best we hop on it before your personal brand goes the way of the Dodo or mini disc players. Don’t know what a mini disc player is? Exactly.
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Get comfortable with seeing your own face. Like, really comfortable.
No matter what you’re selling or who you’re selling it for. People buy from people and there’s a big move from curated static, photographic content to real, spontaneous video content. A personal brand is just that, personal. And social media is just that, social. Showing up confidently on-camera is as important a skill in an influencer’s arsenal as a ring light and a quality wi-fi connection. If we work together I’m going to push you to show up as you are, filter-free and fabulously YOU. I’m going to demand consistency, both in producing and posting content, and of you, personally. I’m going to push you out of comfort zones because growth doesn’t happen there. Your personal growth and your social media growth are as joined at the hip as Kourtney and Travis.