a year ago, i launched my instagram page from scratch, & began my influencer journey. this decision was put off for far too long (i’m talking years people,) and i’m so glad that i took a leap of faith and decided to pursue it. reflecting back on this past year, there is so much that i have learned along the way. it hasn’t been easy all of the time, but it has always been worth it. today, i’ll be sharing four things that i’ve learned along my journey thus far that will be especially helpful to those looking to begin their own influencing journey.
comparison is the thief of joy
in a digital space where we are constantly being fed new information by the minute, it’s easy to compare your content and your journey to others. i’ve been there before, and it’s a tough space. it’s important to remember that no one is you, and that is your power. keep being your authentic self, & the rest will follow. take those negative feelings and turn it into action. if you see a post that has you thinking, “wow, i wish i could create something like that,” be inspired to do so! there is always something to learn, and always room for improvement in your journey. keep going!
get clear on your ‘why,’ + who you’re serving
repeat after me: direction is more important than speed. when you know exactly who your target audience is, and why you’re even on your journey in the first place, things like planning out your content and executing will be made so much easier. for the first few months of my journey, there was no clear direction of who i was serving, and why. i was more focused on being consistent, versus getting clear on who i was trying to reach. things pivoted for me around november, when i officially stepped my game up and defined exactly who i was serving and my why. chinezeslife focuses on finding the joy in daily life, & empowering others to do so through engaging lifestyle & fashion content. once you’re clear on these two items- it's much easier to show up as your authentic self. you’ll have a better understanding of what brands you’d like to work with, your community will form more naturally, & you’ll start to feel more purposeful knowing that you are staying true to your mission and your community.
planning ahead will be a life (& time,) saver
i cannot stress this enough! most people who consistently post are not creating in real time. what goes on behind the scenes, and how organized you are will truly have an impact on not only your content, but on your stress levels too. i’ve experienced burnout from trying to create in real time, and it's can be hard to get out of these ruts. when i'm planning in advance, i find that i have more fun and genuinely enjoy the process. plus, i'm always down for less stress. for those looking to create an aesthetic feed- it’s especially important to use feed planning apps such as unum or preview, as you’re able to get a real look into how your content will look once posted. from the picking out of outfits in advance, to selecting locations, to batch shooting content & having caption planning days, creating content will be so much easier. define how often you want to post, and create a calendar that you can follow. you’ll have more time to focus on other goals you may have, & life in general, and in return be at a place where you’re showing up clearly & consistently.
community is everything
and that’s on period. we are blessed to be able to interact with so many people on a daily basis. instead of thinking of your audience as just ‘followers,’ shift your perspective and start thinking of them as your community. no matter what your follower count is, it’s important to interact genuinely, and cultivate relationships with your current community. this can look like responding to your comments instead of just liking them, or going on live and giving your community an opportunity to interact with you in real time. one way that i’ve loved to interact with my community is through my stories. it’s a more relaxed form of sharing content, and i’m able to have various polls, or q&a’s that allow for a more free flowing space for conversation. it’s also important to interact and engage with other influencers, especially those who are within your niche. you’re able to learn from one another, encourage & motivate one another, and sometimes even become friends- it’s awesome! remember that no one is forced to follow you- and it’s up to you to define what type of relationship you have with your community.
i’m so excited for what the next year of my journey holds.
to anyone out there looking to get started- the best time to start is now! know that you are more than capable, and that you will always have room to evolve & grow. the best is yet to come!
thanks so much for reading- until next time!
with love,
chineze
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