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HOW TO NETWORK AND SCORE BRAND DEALS AS AN INFLUENCER

GUEST-STARRING CHRISTINE TRAN

So you’ve been posting on Instagram for a while, gained a following, but haven’t gotten paid yet.

Christine from @tourdelust has been there, done that, and is here to share what she did to network herself into a successful career as a PAID full-time influencer. She’ll be covering the conflict when she realized she HAD to quit her job, the crazy realization she had once she quit, best tips for networking (even as an introvert) and more.

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The best thing about being an influencer is getting paid to do what you love - yet not many people understand how to monetize their account.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how you can establish your value on Instagram, then you’ll love today’s post and podcast. We’re talking to Christine Tran from @tourdelust about how she managed to turn her passion into a full-time career. Christine isn’t just one of the most business savvy influencers I know - but a master networker. Scroll on to get her tips for getting paid whether you’re starting a side hustle on Instagram or want to increase your earnings.

1. Focus on follower engagement

When brands work with influencers, engagement rate is the single most important factor as it typically translates into greater sales and stronger brand awareness. Keep this in mind as you work on growing your Instagram account.

Christine started off building a highly engaged audience by piggybacking off successful content ideas that already exist. She would research what people saved on Pinterest and study the top performing Instagram posts within her niche. She then leveraged that knowledge to create her own unique content. Within just one year, she amassed a following of 100,000.

2. Set up your influencer network as early as possible

There’s the saying that your network is your net worth - and it couldn't be truer as an influencer. The beauty of having a network of influencer friends is that it increases your chances of being seen by PR reps and campaign managers. Industry professionals are keeping a constant eye on their favorite influencers. They’re more likely to cast other influencers who are closely associated with those they already know and follow.

Being connected to a group of like-minded individuals also means that you get to learn from their mistakes. You can leverage your experience along with theirs to pitch brands, get insider information, and more. You may even get invited to events by other influencers that can lead to bigger campaigns.

3. Pitch brands strategically and over deliver

Pitching brands consistently is a guaranteed way to get paid - but it requires strategic planning. Christine started out by stalking influencers within her niche and scouting out the brands they partnered with. Whenever she was going on a trip, she would reach out to those same brands and position her trip as an opportunity to drive up a brand’s exposure.

Once she locked in a partnership, she would go above and beyond the requirements of the brief and provide extra deliverables. This could be adding a few extra story slides or throwing in a quick blog post. She also made sure to take extra photos of a brand’s product, which she later sold to them to earn more money.

4. Reach out to brands and show up consistently

Before Christine established her reputation as an influencer, she would google the top PR agencies in all the major cities and send them her media kit. She knew how important it was to get in front of brands and invite PR reps out for coffee. This led to countless invitations to events - and she made sure to always say “yes”. Though it felt awkward, Christine says showing up is crucial as it lets the brand know you support them.

She encourages all aspiring influencers to do the same - to show your face and let brands know you care. People are constantly moving around in this industry, oftentimes starting their own agencies. Reaching out and showing up are good gestures to make sure you’re at the highest top of mind awareness.

5. Pivot into different content verticals

If you’re in a niche that isn’t generating as much income as you had expected, it’s a good idea to pivot into different content verticals. Christine started her career as a travel blogger, and although she was traveling to beautiful destinations for free, she wasn’t making enough to cover her expenses. She had already been promoting clothing brands on her trips and used that experience to partner with beauty and lifestyle brands she loves. Today, she works with brands across all industries to make a full-time living.

When progressing into new content verticals, remember to tag the brands and products you’re using so the brand knows you’re a loyal customer and potential partner.

6. Outsource to get more time back

As you build your business, you’ll learn that there aren’t nearly enough hours in a day to do everything you need. That’s when you need to hire out. Assistants, whether virtual or local, can remove time-consuming, mundane tasks off your plate so that you can focus on profit-generating tasks. Over time, you’ll find that the return on your investment of outsourcing pays for itself and so much more.

To sum it all up, you need to focus on attracting brands if you want to make money as an influencer. The basic but essential steps above are key to gaining more credibility and landing better projects.