I am so excited to update this post! I am not an expert in the influencer space at all, but I want to open up the conversation. I wish I could impart more advice but there are so many aspects of this online world I have not yet experienced… so here is just a bit of advice for you to take with a grain of sale š
*I use the term influencer and content creator interchangeably, choose your fighter hehe*
Is being an influencer a ‘real job’?
Kicking things off with a BANG. Oh my, you lot did not hold back haha. Of course it is! However, is that why you want to do it? To pay the bills? Personally, I started blogging as a hobby. I have a lot of feelings about monetising your hobby. So it probably won’t be my full time gig anytime soon (never say never!). Social media can also complement your day job nicely. Teachers sharing their outfits and lunches are one of my fave kind of accounts to follow. At the end of the day we are just particles of matter floating around on a giant rock, so yes I think an influencer’s work is real š The question is, is it real to YOU?
Do I need a media kit?
It certainly can’t hurt! I gave mine a refresh on Canva recently and it was free, easy to use and looks profesh. You can keep it short and sweet! I use my media kit to explain what ROLLY Mag is in terms of vibes. It often looks nicer on a graphic than in a paragraph slab on an email.
How do you disclose when a product is received for free?
The language I use is *PR with obligation to post* if I received the prodcut on the condition I posted content about it.
Or *PR with no obligation to post* to disclose that the product was free but this content I am making because I want to!
How do I negotiate with brands?
As an influencer, you are doing the work of the photographer, the copywriter, the assistant, the model etc so time is precious. My conditions are always that my post with be honest (so that I don’t get stuck posting about a product I didn’t like) and that there is no time frame to deliver the content.
Be clear and concise in what you want. Especially if you are pitching yourself to a brand, make it known from the get go what the terms of working with you will be. I am still learning this one to be honest.
What is a posting schedule and should I have one?
A posting schedule is having a set routine for when you post your content. This could be everyday at 7am for example. Instagram’s algorithm is a tricky one (lol, that’s an understatement) and there is so much speculation about whether or not having a posting schedule works from a system POV. My suggestion would be to figure out what your audience likes. Play around with posting times and days and see when you get the most engagement. Consider that you might be located in a different timezone to where majority of your audience lives. I have two side notes here however: 1) it might be well and good for your audience to like a 7am post, but this may not be well suited to your own schedule outside of Instagram… and 2) there isn’t much method to the madness. There’s no trick to posting, sometimes you just get lucky with good engagement. Don’t be hard on yourself!
I am happy for my blogger friends but i’m also jealous they get so much PR! How do I fight the green monster?
Ah, sweet friend. I feel you!!! I feel like I experience jelaousy in this space in waves. Sometimes, I don’t post content for weeks/months and so I can’t expect to receive PR. Or, like right now tbh, I’m working my butt off to refresh ROLLY Mag with little pay off (ie. the brands I want to work with leave me on read) and others in the space are going to epic events. Here’s the secret… do not take it personally. A brand did not look at your profile and actively choose to not invite you/not send you PR. And if they did, their loss. There are so many people in this space and there is room for all of us. But not all of the time. Keep your eye on your ‘why’. My why, is because I am a beauty enthusiast and I want to have fun with beauty. You must check your privilege and realise the freebies are a just a bonus. (I know easier said than done, and I also know that I am not perfect… but it’s food for thought, yeah?)
How do I grow my audience?
I am leaving this one in the hands of @lucymneville – because she knows her shit! And I could not agree more! This also links back to your ‘why’… (In life in general I’m trying to do things for the fun of it, and so why shouldn’t that apply to the blog too ya know!)
How much do you charge for your sponsored content?
Ah, the million dollar question! I’ll answer in two parts:
- I do not currently charge for content. Realistically, I should. Applying a price tag will continue to show brands that mirco-influencers like me should be taken seriously. However, I do not have the mental capacity for the logistics of it right now. Therefore…
- This section of the answer will probably leave you with more questions, but given I have no direct experience I’m going to link this resource that might be helpful! Danni Duncan’s highlight, aptly titled ‘don’t work for free’. It’s such a tricky space and one that is not very openly talked about. I think a general rule of thumb is to charge more than you think you should, do not undersell yourself!
I would love to hear your thought in the comments below!
Take care, friends xx
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