Here’s how to get social media influencer status
MANY people want to be social media influencers these days.
Let’s face it, it’s easy money.
Well, that’s what many people seem to think.
For those who think getting free stuff and posting a few pictures is all that influencers do, think again.
While for many it’s a side hustle, to the professionals it’s business and a full-time job.
And for those who think it’s impossible to make a career out of it, a brief look at a few of our local influencers will give you an idea of why it’s become a lucrative business.
Mihlali Ndamase, who was recently joined the Malfy (Italian gin brand), “La Famiglia”, as its newest South African ambassador, has a social media award to her name.
In 2020, she won the Social Media Personality Of The Year award at the South Africa Social Media Awards and she ranked 17 on the international Instagram Rich List for beauty.
According to Savanna News, Ndamase charges a minimum fee of R35 000 for every Instagram post and R64 000 for every Instagram Video.
You can’t be serious about fashion if you haven’t seen Sarah Langa’s well-curated posts pop up on your Instagram feed.
In 2020, she signed a two-year deal with Dior, valued at R1.9 million.
Plus-size model Lesego Legobane, most popularly known as Thickleeyonce, is a photographer and body-positive activist who owns her own clothing store, Leebex.
The talented influencer charges up to R20 000 to post a fashion campaign on her social media handles. She scored a R250 000 deal with fashion company Calvin Klein in 2020.
The influencer market is projected to grow to an astonishing R240 billion industry this year and everybody wants a piece of that pie.
But where does one start?
How do you become part of the industry and start reaping the rewards?
Simz Ngema, South African singer, actress and Gold Series ambassador, says the journey of building an online profile and becoming a respected influencer on social media is not simple.
Many content creators on social media platforms like Instagram and Tiktok will tell you that it’s tough to find your authentic voice, and motivate people to respond, encourage and support you.
In fact, many content creators ultimately give up early on because of the negativity they attract.
There are few people more qualified in this arena than Ngema.
With more than two million followers on Instagram alone, she has succeeded in an area where many others have failed.
She has secured significant brand partnerships, like that with perfume brand Gold Series, and she’s managed to maintain a healthy personal life, despite her burgeoning profile online. She offers five tips for gaining influence in social media:
1. Post often to grow your following: The more you’re showing people, the more likely that you’ll make an impact and create anticipation.
2. Decide what kind of brand you want to be and what brands you would like to attract to do collaborations with. Think about how your own signature style works with certain brands and create a “wish” list for future collaborations.
3. Make sure that your profile is authentic and it represents who you are. It is very clear when someone is not being real on their platforms, and it’s certainly not something you can do forever.
Start as you wish to continue, and be yourself. Your followers will love you for it.
4. Social media can be addictive, so make sure that you take some time off from it: It’s easy to let your device creep into every facet of your life, so you’ll need to set boundaries for yourself early on in order to keep the balance healthy.
5. Understand that whatever you put out on social media will be out there for the rest of your life, so protect yourself. It goes without saying that nothing should ever be posted from a place of anger, resentment, competitiveness or jealousy.
Simz says it all comes down to whether you’re having fun.
“The online world can be tough, but 90% of the time you should be enjoying yourself and growing from the process.
“There are lots of hoops to jump and many dos and don’ts, so take it slow and listen to the feedback you get from your followers.
“If you’re not learning and growing, then it’s time to reassess.”