5 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started as an Influencer

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5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW WHEN I FIRST STARTED AS AN INFLUENCER

When you try something new, you’re bound to make mistakes, and content creation is no different.

Today we’re discussing the top 5 things I wish I knew when I first started building my personal brand on Instagram, including how important networking really is, why you should be reaching out to brands ASAP, the SECRET to growing a small account, and more! If you’re just starting your Instagram journey, you NEED to hear this to make the most out of your time and effort!

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I started my journey to becoming an influencer about 4-5 years ago, and at the time, I didn’t have the slightest clue about how social media, algorithms, and networking worked.

Seeing where I am now, it might be hard to believe that I knew nothing about photography - but I have to admit that I was clueless. So, for those of you aspiring to do the same, I thought I’d share 5 essential things everyone needs to know before becoming an influencer.

Your Network is Everything
As I reflect back on where I started, I realize that I wasted a lot of time trying to figure everything out on my own - and it was so unnecessary. I should have used that time to proactively look up influencer events, show up and introduce myself to other players in the industry - because your success is all about who you know. The sooner you can build that network, the better off you’ll be as a profitable business and reputable influencer.

This is part of the reason why I decided to start my Full-Time Influencer program. It helps you connect with like-minded people who have a similar follower count and are at a similar stage in their journey, which makes the networking process seamless. You can always shoot someone a DM too. When doing so, try to think about how you can support them without expecting much in return. This ensures that you can build a mutually beneficial relationship.
Outreach is Key to Landing Brand Deals (especially in the beginning)
One of my biggest mistakes was assuming that brand collaborations would start pouring in once I hit a certain threshold of followers and content quality. The reality is that PR and Influencer Relations Managers are constantly building up a roster of influencers they can work with. This means that you won’t get any sponsorships if no one knows who you are.

To make yourself known, you need to find the key contacts in the industry early on and let them know you exist. It wasn’t until I started actively emailing reps and attending industry events that the tables really turned. Showing my face and staying in touch via email meant staying top of mind for future campaigns. Since the number of brand deals you land is dependent on the volume of pitches you send, it’s truly in your best interest to put your best foot forward via pitching.
Being an Early Adopter of Trends and Doubling Down on What Works is the Best Way to Grow
I’ve tested just about every single growth hack for getting followers fast on Instagram. However, there are only two proven methods that truly convert viewers into loyal followers.

First, you have to be an early adopter of the hottest trends as this guarantees that you’ll get the reach and visibility needed for growth. Just remember to put your own spin on these trends in a way that makes sense for your audience and niche. Note that timeliness is incredibly important when it comes to trendy content because trends can quickly lose their steam and ultimately die out as more influencers pick up on them.

The second method to achieving massive growth is doubling down on content that works. When you create content that gets you more reach than normal, it’s essential that you maximize that momentum and create similar types of content to ride out the extra exposure. In my latest podcast, I share the story of @angelagiakas who grew from 20k to almost 400k in just two months. Be sure to listen for more on that.

I cover these two points in-depth with real-life examples that you can build upon inside Full-Time Influencer. If you’re serious about attracting a massive following, then you definitely want to check it out here.
Authenticity and Value are Ultimately What Keeps People Around
If you want to become a successful influencer, having a beautiful, curated feed is not enough. You need to show up as your authentic self and engage in real conversations that forge a deeper connection with your followers. For the longest time, my growth was stagnant because I thought I had to show a perfect, luxurious lifestyle full of travel and femininity. However, I was taken by surprise by how much my engagement and follower count grew once I started sharing BTS footage and educating my followers on the content creation process.

The beauty of having a dedicated audience is that they will follow you to other platforms and become paying customers of future offerings you may have whether it’s merchandise, digital products, or services.
There’s Always Room for Negotiation
Finally, the last thing I wish I knew is to always negotiate. When a brand comes to you with a budget, that dollar amount is never set in stone. This comes as no surprise since it’s not the PR manager’s job to get you paid as much as possible - but to get the most reach for a particular brand while sticking to a budget. That said, you can always negotiate the price of the project or change the terms of the deliverables.

If you’re struggling to land brand deals or negotiate your value, Full-Time Influencer will teach you the dynamic skills needed to take your side hustle to the next level.

No matter where you are in your influencer journey, I hope you found these lessons helpful. They were all life-changing for me and changed the trajectory of my career once I started taking action. Drop a comment or shoot me a message and let me know which lesson you found most useful.