Take a few selfies, show a few products to the camera – and you’re already famous and rich as an influencer? Far from it! Becoming an influencer and earning money is hard work and requires a lot of perseverance. But once you’ve made a name for yourself, found a suitable topic, and built a corresponding fan base, becoming an influencer can be both very fulfilling and profitable.
Influencers then regularly work with various advertising partners to promote their products and services as brand ambassadors. They do this primarily on their own channels, where they present their content to their own followers. Once influencers have achieved a certain level of recognition, brands are happy to use them as advertising faces on their own marketing channels and as part of their influencer marketing strategy.
Want to become an influencer quickly? Here are some things you should keep in mind!
If you want to become a successful influencer, you should first be aware that, according to a survey, only 4% of global influencers can make a living from their work.[1] The vast majority of influencers run their channels on the side and earn a nice income in addition to other sources of income. This is also due to the fact that it takes a very long time to reach a high enough number of followers for brands to pay sufficient sums for an influencer collaboration. Becoming an influencer quickly is therefore difficult – you’ll need a lot of perseverance until you get there!
Once you’ve built a loyal fan base and achieved the highest possible interaction rate, brands will be happy to include you in their influencer marketing efforts. Not only will you receive products or be invited to great events and exciting press trips, but you’ll also be paid for your services. But don’t forget that the work involved as an influencer doesn’t end with posting photos and videos! Besides all the positive aspects, there’s also a lot of organizational, bureaucratic, and creative work behind what we see as followers on influencers’ channels.
Every influencer collaboration requires good organization. Influencers typically maintain a strict editorial schedule and must ensure that engaging content is posted online on their channels, ideally every day. They not only have to plan this content, but often also produce it with great effort. And once the content is posted, influencers typically spend several hours a day interacting with their followers and engaging in community management and community building. They also write invoices, negotiate new collaborations, and research topics and trends on social media.
In addition to a great deal of time and effort, influencers also invest a lot of money in their equipment: cameras, drones, laptops, tripods, light sources, and, of course, the latest smartphone are part of an influencer’s basic equipment. Depending on the subject matter, the equipment goes far beyond that.
It’s also important to adhere to legal requirements as an influencer! If you want to advertise other companies on your channels, you’re subject to a labeling requirement as an influencer. This means that you must label all posts you publish as part of a brand collaboration and for which you receive either financial compensation or other compensation as advertising. As soon as you earn money as an influencer, you must also register a business and declare your income as part of your income tax return. In some cases, the small business regulation applies, but above a certain income, you must also charge sales tax—and forward it to your tax office. It’s best to seek detailed advice on this!
That’s a lot to keep track of, isn’t it? Of course, there are also many tools and apps that influencers use to make their work easier. Tools like Trello, Asana, and Canva can help with editorial planning, as well as organizing and creating content. Apps like Unfold or Storyluxe make creating story slides particularly easy, and VSCO and Snapseed simplify image editing. Influencer networks like medialabel help connect advertising partners with influencers. Feel free to contact us if you’d like to learn more!
Requirements to become a successful influencer: From creative ideas to a lot of perseverance
In principle, anyone can become an influencer in Germany. So many people with diverse interests now use social media that every niche and every topic can be served by multiple influencers, while still building their own large following. However, in addition to the right idea for a channel, you need certain character traits to be successful as an influencer in the long term:
- Creativity : To assert yourself against other influencers and generate a unique selling point that ensures high recognition value, you need a lot of creativity – and it needs to be consistent!
- Perseverance : As mentioned above, it takes time to start working with companies as an influencer, let alone earn a living from your social media work. If you get frustrated easily, you won’t have much fun and success as an influencer.
- Authenticity : Social media users now have a keen sense for whether an influencer is authentic or just pretending to make money. Therefore, make sure you only present products you truly stand behind, live your values, and become your own, unique brand!
- The joy of communication : Social media thrives on interaction. It is not without reason that the success of influencers is no longer measured solely in the number of followers, but more frequently in the form of the interaction rate.
Those who possess these qualities will have a much easier time as an influencer. And then there’s another very important point: the ability to present themselves ! Because only those who enjoy presenting themselves in front of the camera and showing themselves as individuals can be successful as influencers.
As for your career, you can certainly accelerate the process of becoming an influencer or content creator by being as active as possible on your own channels and others, interacting frequently with your target audience, and proactively suggesting particularly creative collaborations to companies. If you need support, we at medialabel are happy to help.
Become an influencer and earn money – this is how much you can earn as an influencer
There is a small fraction of influencers that can actually make a living from this job. Nevertheless, you can earn money as an influencer – and with the necessary commitment and a bit of luck, you too could eventually become part of that 4 percent!
There’s no general answer to how much money you can earn as an influencer. According to the survey mentioned above, the average earnings of an influencer are around €2,500 per month. Micro influencers with up to 10,000 followers are sometimes ridiculed, but they still earn around €1,200 per month. Mega influencers with more than 1 million followers can easily earn €15,000 per month.
How influencers earn money also varies. Some influencers prefer to work as affiliates: In affiliate marketing, they receive a percentage of the sales they generate, i.e., a commission. However, payment based on a fixed fee set for a specific type of influencer collaboration is equally common . Pay per click or pay per lead are also common pricing models in influencer marketing—as the name suggests, you get paid per click on a link you share or per lead, i.e., per contact generated through your content.
The specific prices are always determined individually and vary depending on the number of followers, reach, and interaction rate – as well as the company’s marketing budget! Most influencers are willing to negotiate, for example, if they particularly like a company and its message, and it seems to be a striking fit for them and their target audience. Consider which brands you’d particularly like to promote – sometimes it’s worth contacting them proactively instead of waiting for the right brands to approach you!
Becoming an influencer: How to start?
Does this all sound plausible, and you’d love to get started right away? Well, go for it! Basically, anyone can become an influencer if they have the above-mentioned qualities, time, and motivation. We’ll tell you the individual steps on the path to becoming an influencer:
- Find your topic area! Of course, you could also simply try to become successful as a personal brand. However, given the sheer number of influencers that exist today, it’s advisable to first find a specific niche in which you are particularly well-versed and make a name for yourself there. If you start this way, you can gradually expand your topics and expand your fan base beyond your own horizons.
- Decide what content you want to publish! People on social media are looking for entertainment and information. Ideally, you’ll be able to create a good mix of added value and engaging content that will keep your followers engaged for as long as possible and with which they enjoy interacting.
- Decide on your name! Choosing a name should be well thought out. Of course, it can make sense to choose your real name, especially if you want to present yourself as a personal brand. However, it might be more sensible to choose a name related to your specific topic. This way, users will know immediately what content to expect when they come into contact with your profile. Of course, you should also choose a name that isn’t already being used by another influencer – even if it only sounds similar!
- Choosing the right platforms! Now it’s time to decide which social media networks you want to be active on as an influencer. But how do you find out which platform is right for you and your content?
Pinterest, LinkedIn or Instagram: Influencers are represented on a wide variety of platforms
There are influencers on basically every social media platform – you can become a Pinterest influencer, a LinkedIn influencer, or an Instagram influencer. You should analyze which platform is right for your topic through in-depth research. Also, look into which platforms the influencers you emulate are active on, and which platforms are interesting for companies with whom you could collaborate in the future.
But be careful: Only choose as many different platforms as you can actually use! It’s better to limit yourself to one or two platforms at first—you can always grow, but “dead” channels don’t make a good impression.
Become an influencer: tips for your start!
Based on these questions, you’ll then begin to develop your individual influencer strategy. In addition to the platform, name, and content, this also includes a posting strategy: When and how often do you want to publish content? For most social networks, the rule of thumb is: more is better. However, you should never post irrelevant content just for the sake of being active – adding value is key to avoid alienating your fan base and attracting new followers!
Also, always ensure your content is of high quality! This applies to photos, videos, and graphics, as well as your text. Avoid typos and spelling mistakes – they come across as unprofessional and uncaring. Consistent visual language and tone ensure increased recognition, which is important for standing out from the diverse content your followers are exposed to on social media.
Especially on social media, it’s important to keep up to date with new developments, platforms, and trends. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Not every Reel will be well-received and go viral—but if you don’t try, you’re not going to have a chance!
And finally, our most important tip for influencers: Always dedicate enough time to your community management! Nurturing your following is one of your most important tasks, alongside content creation and developing collaborations – because without active followers and a good relationship with them, you can’t be successful as an influencer.
Do you have any questions about becoming an influencer or how to get started? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
FAQ
1. How can I become an influencer?
To become an influencer, you should first consider what topic you’re particularly passionate about or what you’re particularly knowledgeable about. Then, consider which channels you can best reach your target audience on—and with what content. Then, create social media profiles with a suitable profile name and get started!
2. What qualities do I need if I want to become an influencer?
The most important qualities of an influencer are creativity, perseverance, authenticity, and a passion for communication. Thoroughness and diligence are also essential qualities for influencers—as is, of course, a passion for self-promotion, since influencers, as personal brands, are always at the center of their content.
3. How can I earn money as an influencer?
As an influencer, you can earn money through collaborations with companies. You serve as a brand ambassador, recommending products or services, and are either paid a pre-agreed amount – or, as an affiliate, receive a commission-based share of the sales you generate.
[1] Source: https://www.businessinsider.de/wirtschaft/umfrage-zeigt-wie-viel-influencer-verdienen-nur-4-prozent-koennen-von-ihren-accounts-leben , last accessed on 14.11.2023