Career Social media star

Hit the big time online – at any age – with a little help from influencer hub Tribe’s GEORGIE CAVANAGH

You may think it’s a career reserved for the younger generation, but absolutely anyone can turn their social media into a paying job.

And while it’s not something that happens overnight, Georgie Cavanagh, head of creator and brand partnerships at influencer marketing hub Tribe, offers up practical ways to assist you in turning your social media hobby into a money-making career.

STEP 1: FINESSE YOUR FEED

“Right from the start, ensure every post on your feed is top quality and has a clear purpose – make every photo tell a story,” says Georgie. “Your content should be clean, fresh and blend in seamlessly with the rest of your pics. Keep your posting times regular and frequent to show your audience that you’re a social (media) butterfly with plenty of content to offer!”

STEP 2: FILTER FOCUS

While you don’t want to go too OTT on the filter front, Georgie advises to have a go with some photo-editing apps. “From basic filter edits to pocket photography studios, there’s a whole world of creative tools right at your fingertips – literally! Play around with some of the great free or super affordable apps to up your influencer game. A couple of faves are VSCO, Snapseed and Adobe Lightroom CC – these apps don’t only edit photos, but offer a variety of features to make your content stand out.”

STEP 3: HIT THAT FOLLOW BUTTON

Georgie says it’s important to be a follower as well as a leader when it comes to social media. “Following loads of successful accounts similar to your own can help you gain inspiration and give you ideas for your own feed,” she says. “Learning from successful influencers about how they’re nailing their socials will give you a better idea of what does and doesn’t work, and help you decide what kind of influencer you want to be. Plus, the more people you follow, the more might follow you back!”

STEP 4: CREATE A COMMUNITY

“Spend time engaging and giving back to your audience to let your followers know you appreciate them,” says Georgie. “Ask questions, reply to comments and even like their photos to show them you’re sharing the love. Using the right hashtags can also help further the reach of your posts, giving you a better chance of gaining new followers!”

STEP 5: ALWAYS DO ‘YOU’!

It might sound obvious, but it’s crucial to remain true to yourself on your social media channels. “People love genuine influencers they can relate to,” Georgie adds. “Be raw, be authentic and give your followers a glimpse into your real life. It’s important to show them your failures as well as your successes. Tell them what’s worked for you on your socials as well as the challenges you’ve faces. Give back to your tribe by giving them a piece of yourself. Just be real!”

STEP 6: GO OFFLINE, TOO

“It’s not all about what you do online, what you do offline can make a huge difference,” Georgie reveals. “Get involved in events, take up speaking opportunities and attend conferences and meet-ups to up your profile and show people what you’re trying to achieve. Everyone relates to realness, so put yourself out there to ensure people continue to follow your journey and engage with your content.”