There’s a big difference between becoming a social media influencer and succeeding as one. Anyone can start the journey, and millions are.

In fact, for every Jake Paul earning millions of dollars per year, there are thousands more with 10,000 followers or more earning $100,000 per year.

The ones that stand out do so because they employ the right tactics. In this article, we examine eight social media influencer strategies for finding success.

1. Create Engaging Content

Creating social media marketing content that is both engaging and valuable is essential for any social influencer. This means publishing high-quality social media content on a regular basis.

This can be challenging because you’re competing against so many other influencers. You have to do so in a way that’s unique, entertaining, informative, and respectful of the short amount of the audience’s time that you receive.

That said, it is well worth the effort. Producing great content means investing the time to understand your audience and what they want to see. You should also focus on developing unique angles and perspectives that will make your work stand out from the rest.

2. Network with Other Influencers

Networking with other influencers is one of the smartest things you can do to grow your influence marketing brand. By connecting with others in your field, you’ll not only learn from them but also expand your reach and get your name out there.

You can start networking by engaging with other influencers’ content and participating in online and offline events related to your industry. It might be worthwhile to put feelers out to the top influencers in your field.

However, don’t stop there. Look for people with similar followings. Establish relationships with them, so you can grow together. Going after influencers at your same level increases the likelihood of forging beneficial relationships.

3. Leverage User-Generated Content

Leverage user-generated content (UGC) to help establish and grow your social media presence. UGC is any kind of content that’s been created by someone who isn’t affiliated with your company or brand but features your products or services.

This could be anything from a customer review to a blog post about using your product. Not only is UGC incredibly valuable for building social proof, but it can also help save you time and money on content creation.

4. Run Contests and Giveaways

People love free stuff, which is why contests and giveaways are such effective social media influencer tactics. By running a contest or giveaway related to your brand, you can quickly increase engagement and grow your following.

This also is a great prompt for building UGC. That’s especially true when you encourage users to post photos or videos of them using your products.

Just be sure to promote it heavily and make the rules easy to follow so you don’t end up with a ton of unqualified entries. Lack of clarity can build frustrations and decrease the likelihood that anyone will participate with future promotions.

5. Partner with Brands

Teaming up with other brands, especially ones that complement your own, is a great way to reach new audiences and take your social media influencing career to the next level. For example, if you’re a fashion influencer, consider partnering with a jewelry brand or clothing retailer. You can also work with brands on sponsored posts or product reviews.

Authenticity is vital here. Resist the temptation of chasing dollars if the product or service is not the right fit for your company. The worst thing you can do is make your audience feel like you’re pushing a product you don’t believe in.

6. Use Social Media Platforms to their Fullest Extent

Not all social media websites are created equal, and each one offers unique opportunities for influencers. For example, Instagram is great for sharing photos and videos, while Twitter is perfect for microblogging and connecting with other users.

Be sure to use every social media platform to its fullest extent in order to reach the largest possible audience. That can mean hopping on popular trends or even targeting your advertising dollars to pick up more likes and follows when you’ve got a piece of content that’s performing well.

There are many services that specialize in helping you grow an Instagram brand, for example. You may want to view stormlikes.com for more information on how to go further with your ad-spend.

7. Engage with Your Audience

The best way to grow your following and become a successful social media influencer is by engaging with your audience. This means responding to comments and messages, addressing complaints, and doing everything you can to build relationships with your followers.

Doing this will make you seem more approachable. It also builds a sense of community that will keep people coming back for more. Most people get a jolt out of feeling like they discovered the next big thing.

By connecting to them and showing your accessibility, you will create more than an audience. You will create brand evangelists, who take a lot of the marketing legwork (and expenses) out of your hands by helping to spread the word about what you’re doing.

8. Be Consistent

Finally, one of the most important social media influencer tactics is to be consistent. This means posting regularly, engaging with your audience frequently, and being active on all of your social media platforms.

Yes, we know, that’s a lot of work. It can be tough to keep up with everything, but consistency is key if you want to find long-term success as an influencer. You have to treat it like a full-time job to do it well because that’s exactly what it is.

Becoming a Successful Social Media Influencer Takes Work

By following these eight social media influencer tactics, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful career in this growing industry. Just remember to focus on creating quality content.

That’s where it all starts. It’s what will lead to audience engagement as well. For more online marketing tips and information, check out some of our additional posts!