Brands often seek out micro-influencers for the authenticity and industry expertise they bring. This article talks about who a micro-influencer is and how to become one, followed by some great networking tips.
Micro-influencers are gaining more and more traction these days. Whether you are already a micro-influencer or are looking to become one, here are 5 ways to network as a micro-influencer.
The influencer industry has several myths floating around it. But one of the most common ones is that an influencer has to have hundreds of thousands of followers to be successful.
This is.. misleading, to say the least. Micro-influencers who don’t have a ton of followers but bring a lot of authenticity and passion to the table tend to be more successful. Brands have understood this, making them some of the most sought-after influencers.
But being a micro-influencer means knowing how to network smartly and effectively. Before we look into that…
Influencers who have between 1,000 to 100,000 followers are known as micro-influencers. They tend to focus on a specific niche – something they are actually passionate about. For example: fitness.
Micro-influencers build their brand based on the tenets of loyalty and trustworthiness, as opposed to macro-influencers and celebrities who use their public image to promote products.
Micro-influencers post authentic and personal content and build relationships with their followers. This earns them a lot of points with their audience, which is what brands tend to capitalize on. Moreover, since these influencers focus on a single niche, by working with them, brands get a way to promote their products to their exact target audience.
How To Become a Micro-Influencer?
All you need in order to become a micro-influencer is a pocket full of passion and.. networking. Lots of it. But we’ll get to that in the next section. Here are the steps to become a micro-influencer:
Find your niche. Easier said than done, right? Ask yourself what you are really passionate about. Make sure you will be able to produce enough authentic content in that niche. For example, if you love makeup, that could be your niche.
The next step is to focus on a specific aspect of that niche. This is what will truly make you stand out. Example: vegan beauty and makeup.
Start creating and posting content. Use relevant hashtags, engage with others in your niche, and focus on building a loyal following and gaining more engagement.
The final step is networking and finding brands to work with. Keep reading to learn how to do that!
5 Ways To Network As a Micro-Influencer
Networking is an important part of being an influencer. It increases your visibility, helps you create a micro-influencer network, and helps you find brand deals as well as more followers. Here are 5 easy ways to network as a micro-influencer:
No matter how hyper-specific your niche is, there are bound to be other content creators who post about the same topics. You can find them easily through keywords or hashtags. This will help you create a micro-influencer network.
If you create and post makeup looks with vegan beauty products, look for others who do the same and engage with them. Leave genuine comments and do weekly shoutouts on your stories where you highlight a favorite content creator each week.
This will help you strike up genuine friendships with them, which will result in more followers and increased visibility.
#2 Tag brands when you use their products
Since you are already passionate about this niche, there must be a few brands whose products you like. Use them to create unique makeup looks and tag them in your posts/ videos! Use their branded hashtags as well.
At least a few brands are bound to see this and may reciprocate with a comment or even a share. This is a free promotion for you.
If you want higher chances of landing a brand deal, try creating makeup looks that make people go, “wow!” You can center this around popular themes, such as scary halloween makeup, or a look inspired by popular celebrities.
#3 Collaborate with other influencers
After following step #1, you must already have created your own micro-influencer network. Find a few who complement your content creation style and collaborate with them. Come up with something really unique.
This will help you (and the other influencers) reach each other’s audience and any brands that may be following either of you. Also follow step #2 with this for better results!
#4 Follow your favorite brands and reach out to them
The best way to really put yourself out there is by contacting brands directly. But, before you do this, make sure you have a good amount of content on your feed and at least 1000 followers. Since your feed will act as your portfolio, put your best foot forward.
Follow your favorite brands but also target smaller brands in your niche. You are most likely to get a follow back from the latter. Reach out to them and let them know you are up for a collaboration. In the beginning stages, be open to receiving free products instead of actual cash.
Pro Tip: Don’t get disheartened if you don’t hear back from brands. Keep creating and the deals will come to you.
#5 Join influencer support/ networking groups and attend influencer events
There are several influencer groups that act as support as well as networking groups. There, you can ask questions, clear your doubts, and get some much-needed advice from veterans in the industry.
Some of them are even used by brands to find influencers to work with. So grab this opportunity!
You will find several of these groups on Facebook. Try searching online or on Facebook directly with keywords from your niche.
Another great way to network is by doing it face-to-face at influencer parties or product launches. This way, you get to talk to big names in the industry directly. You can look for specific conferences/ parties conducted by individual brands or you can search for industry-specific events. For example, there is Beautycon for makeup artists.
Finally, I have a bonus for you..
Apps And Platforms For Influencers To Connect With Brands
There are several influencer marketing platforms that help brands and influencers connect with each other. You just have to enter your details and the platform will do the work of connecting you to possible brands. Sounds easy, right? It really is!
Here are 5 of the best influencer marketing platforms for you to try out:
One great but subtle tactic is using the brand’s products and then tagging them (refer to step #2 above). You can follow this up by sending the brand a message via Instagram or cold-emailing them. Keep it short. Explain why you would love working with them. If you have any unique strategies or content creation ideas, share a brief of it with them.
Another way is by approaching people in top positions – such as the CEO or PR person – directly through LinkedIn. Get their information and send them a brief message that is to the point.
The third way is by using influencer marketing platforms. No matter which method you use, have a readymade email template and an influencer media kit ready. Make sure to include your micro-influencer rates on it.
Being a micro-influencer means you get to earn money by doing what you love! Ready to get started? Follow the 5 steps above, create your own micro-influencer network, and start making bank, slowly but steadily! But before you go, share this article with others.
Karina Gandola was born and raised outside the city of Charleston, in the beautiful mountain state of West Virginia. Karina loves writing about the influencer marketing space and an area she is passionate about. She considers her faith and family to be most important to her. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can almost always find her around her sweet yellow Labrador retriever, Poshna.
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Micro-influencers are gaining more and more traction these days. Whether you are already a micro-influencer or are looking to become one, here are 5 ways to network as a micro-influencer.
The influencer industry has several myths floating around it. But one of the most common ones is that an influencer has to have hundreds of thousands of followers to be successful.
This is.. misleading, to say the least. Micro-influencers who don’t have a ton of followers but bring a lot of authenticity and passion to the table tend to be more successful. Brands have understood this, making them some of the most sought-after influencers.
But being a micro-influencer means knowing how to network smartly and effectively. Before we look into that…
[Unsplash]
What Is a Micro-Influencer?
Influencers who have between 1,000 to 100,000 followers are known as micro-influencers. They tend to focus on a specific niche – something they are actually passionate about. For example: fitness.
Micro-influencers build their brand based on the tenets of loyalty and trustworthiness, as opposed to macro-influencers and celebrities who use their public image to promote products.
Micro-influencers post authentic and personal content and build relationships with their followers. This earns them a lot of points with their audience, which is what brands tend to capitalize on. Moreover, since these influencers focus on a single niche, by working with them, brands get a way to promote their products to their exact target audience.
How To Become a Micro-Influencer?
All you need in order to become a micro-influencer is a pocket full of passion and.. networking. Lots of it. But we’ll get to that in the next section. Here are the steps to become a micro-influencer:
Find your niche. Easier said than done, right? Ask yourself what you are really passionate about. Make sure you will be able to produce enough authentic content in that niche. For example, if you love makeup, that could be your niche.
The next step is to focus on a specific aspect of that niche. This is what will truly make you stand out. Example: vegan beauty and makeup.
Start creating and posting content. Use relevant hashtags, engage with others in your niche, and focus on building a loyal following and gaining more engagement.
The final step is networking and finding brands to work with. Keep reading to learn how to do that!
5 Ways To Network As a Micro-Influencer
Networking is an important part of being an influencer. It increases your visibility, helps you create a micro-influencer network, and helps you find brand deals as well as more followers. Here are 5 easy ways to network as a micro-influencer:
[Unsplash]
#1 Engage with other people in your niche
No matter how hyper-specific your niche is, there are bound to be other content creators who post about the same topics. You can find them easily through keywords or hashtags. This will help you create a micro-influencer network.
If you create and post makeup looks with vegan beauty products, look for others who do the same and engage with them. Leave genuine comments and do weekly shoutouts on your stories where you highlight a favorite content creator each week.
This will help you strike up genuine friendships with them, which will result in more followers and increased visibility.
#2 Tag brands when you use their products
Since you are already passionate about this niche, there must be a few brands whose products you like. Use them to create unique makeup looks and tag them in your posts/ videos! Use their branded hashtags as well.
At least a few brands are bound to see this and may reciprocate with a comment or even a share. This is a free promotion for you.
If you want higher chances of landing a brand deal, try creating makeup looks that make people go, “wow!” You can center this around popular themes, such as scary halloween makeup, or a look inspired by popular celebrities.
#3 Collaborate with other influencers
After following step #1, you must already have created your own micro-influencer network. Find a few who complement your content creation style and collaborate with them. Come up with something really unique.
This will help you (and the other influencers) reach each other’s audience and any brands that may be following either of you. Also follow step #2 with this for better results!
[Unsplash]
#4 Follow your favorite brands and reach out to them
The best way to really put yourself out there is by contacting brands directly. But, before you do this, make sure you have a good amount of content on your feed and at least 1000 followers. Since your feed will act as your portfolio, put your best foot forward.
Follow your favorite brands but also target smaller brands in your niche. You are most likely to get a follow back from the latter. Reach out to them and let them know you are up for a collaboration. In the beginning stages, be open to receiving free products instead of actual cash.
Pro Tip: Don’t get disheartened if you don’t hear back from brands. Keep creating and the deals will come to you.
#5 Join influencer support/ networking groups and attend influencer events
There are several influencer groups that act as support as well as networking groups. There, you can ask questions, clear your doubts, and get some much-needed advice from veterans in the industry.
Some of them are even used by brands to find influencers to work with. So grab this opportunity!
You will find several of these groups on Facebook. Try searching online or on Facebook directly with keywords from your niche.
Another great way to network is by doing it face-to-face at influencer parties or product launches. This way, you get to talk to big names in the industry directly. You can look for specific conferences/ parties conducted by individual brands or you can search for industry-specific events. For example, there is Beautycon for makeup artists.
Finally, I have a bonus for you..
Apps And Platforms For Influencers To Connect With Brands
There are several influencer marketing platforms that help brands and influencers connect with each other. You just have to enter your details and the platform will do the work of connecting you to possible brands. Sounds easy, right? It really is!
Here are 5 of the best influencer marketing platforms for you to try out:
How Do Influencers Connect With Brands?
One great but subtle tactic is using the brand’s products and then tagging them (refer to step #2 above). You can follow this up by sending the brand a message via Instagram or cold-emailing them. Keep it short. Explain why you would love working with them. If you have any unique strategies or content creation ideas, share a brief of it with them.
Another way is by approaching people in top positions – such as the CEO or PR person – directly through LinkedIn. Get their information and send them a brief message that is to the point.
[Unsplash]
The third way is by using influencer marketing platforms. No matter which method you use, have a readymade email template and an influencer media kit ready. Make sure to include your micro-influencer rates on it.
Being a micro-influencer means you get to earn money by doing what you love! Ready to get started? Follow the 5 steps above, create your own micro-influencer network, and start making bank, slowly but steadily! But before you go, share this article with others.