How to become an influencer in 2024 | get PAID brand deals as a small creator (tips no one shares!)

Summary

In this video, Jesse, a nano influencer with under 2,000 followers, shares practical strategies for building a successful influencer career without gatekeeping. Drawing from experience as a PR manager, Jesse covers optimizing Instagram profiles, creating aesthetic content, leveraging influencer platforms for brand partnerships, and getting noticed by brands. Key lessons include knowing your worth, focusing on engagement over follower count, staying authentic, and maintaining a day job until paid deals are substantial. Jesse emphasizes consistent content creation, smart outreach, and humility, providing actionable advice for aspiring influencers to grow their brand and monetize effectively while staying true to their why.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start by making your social media public and switch to a Creator or Business account to unlock tools like analytics and contact features.
• 😀 Clearly define and display your niches in your bio to attract both brands and a targeted audience.
• 😀 Include your email in your bio to make it easy for brands and agencies to contact you directly.
• 😀 Create aesthetic and branded content using items you already own to showcase your style and attract brand collaborations.
• 😀 Use influencer platforms like Skers and Buttermilk to streamline outreach and receive gifted products in exchange for content deliverables.
• 😀 Tag brands and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility and get noticed without constant outreach.
• 😀 Know your worth: pricing should reflect content quality and engagement rate, not just follower count.
• 😀 Focus on building an authentic and engaged audience rather than buying followers or chasing superficial metrics.
• 😀 Stay humble and remember your 'why' in the influencer world; avoid getting caught up in entitlement or the superficial side of the industry.
• 😀 Keep your day job until your influencer income is substantial; do not risk financial security chasing early opportunities.
• 😀 Consistency is key: regularly posting content within your niche increases the chances of getting noticed by brands and landing PR opportunities.
• 😀 Nano influencers (1,000–10,000 followers) are highly valuable to brands for authentic engagement and cost-effective promotion.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video and what is their background?

The speaker is Jesse, a full-time content creator, influencer, and freelance social media marketer. They also work as a PR manager, giving them insights into influencer contracts, rates, and audience engagement.

What is a nano influencer and what follower range does it include?

A nano influencer is someone with a small, highly engaged following, typically ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 followers.

Why does Jesse recommend changing your Instagram account to a Creator or Business account?

Changing to a Creator or Business account unlocks tools like Instagram analytics, trending audio, and contact buttons, which help in growing your account and attracting brands.

What are some strategies Jesse suggests to attract brands to your social media profile?

Jesse recommends clearly defining your niches in your bio, including your email address directly in the bio, consistently posting content relevant to your niche, tagging brands, and using specific hashtags.

What is the importance of engagement rate over follower count for influencers?

Engagement rate measures how actively your audience interacts with your content. Brands prioritize high engagement over large follower counts because authentic, engaged audiences are more valuable for promotions.

What are deliverables in influencer marketing, according to Jesse?

Deliverables are the specific content that brands expect from influencers in exchange for free products or payment. This can include Instagram stories, reels, TikTok videos, or YouTube integrations.

What influencer platforms does Jesse recommend for nano influencers?

Jesse recommends Skers (formerly Octal) and Buttermilk. These platforms allow influencers to connect with brands, pitch themselves, and receive products in exchange for deliverables.

Why does Jesse advise against quitting your day job as a nano influencer?

Jesse advises not quitting your day job unless you are consistently earning significant income (20K to 60K deals) because maintaining financial security is important while building your influencing career.

How does Jesse recommend creating content using existing resources?

Jesse suggests using products you already own, filming outfit reels, taking flatlays, or creating 'get ready with me' makeup content. This approach minimizes editing effort while building a portfolio for brands.

What advice does Jesse give about buying followers?

Jesse cautions against buying followers as it undermines authentic engagement. While they bought a small number in college to reach a milestone, they emphasize that genuine audience interaction is far more valuable.

What mindset does Jesse encourage influencers to maintain?

Jesse encourages staying humble, focusing on your 'why,' creating for a reason beyond free products or events, and not getting carried away by superficial aspects of the influencing world.

How can influencers use their Instagram bio effectively as a 'digital resume'?

By including niches, email, and clear contact information, your Instagram bio becomes an easy reference for brands to understand your focus and reach out for collaborations.