☰
☰
Becoming a successful influencer or content creator doesn’t happen overnight. In our case, it’s taken us over 4 years to get to where we are now, and we still feel like there’s so much room to grow and improve. Over the past 4 years, we’ve managed to grow an audience of over 600,000 followers across platforms, which has allowed us to both leave our full-time jobs and build a 7-figure business together.
Looking back, if we had to start over now, we know we’d get there so much faster with the knowledge and experience we have today. So, if you’re thinking of pursuing this path, here are 5 things we believe are super important for getting your page off to a flying start and ultimately saving you from a lot of challenges as you grow.
The first step in any journey is knowing where you’re headed. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever get there? Stephen Covey puts it best in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Begin with the end in mind.”
That’s where SMART goals come in Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Ask yourself:
What do I want my page to look like in one, three, or five years?
Do I want this to remain a passion project, or do I want it to become my full-time job?
Your answers will guide how you build your brand and the steps you need to take to get there. For example, if your long-term goal is to monetise, you’ll need to structure your content and partnerships differently than if you’re just posting for fun. SMART goals give you a roadmap and keep you accountable.
Your brand is more than just your username, profile pic or even your logo - it’s the experience people have when they land on your page. And the foundation of that brand is your niche.
A niche is the specific area or topic you focus on. Maybe that’s travel, beauty, fitness, food, lifestyle, or something unique to you. Your niche tells people what they can expect when they follow you, and it helps brands identify whether you’re a good fit for them.
Within your niche, you’ll also want to create content pillars - the main themes or topics you post about regularly. For example, a fitness influencer might have pillars like workouts, nutrition tips, and motivation. These pillars keep your content organised, focused, and valuable and help you know what to post about.
Beyond topics, think about your brand’s emotional and visual tone. How do you want people to feel when they see your content? Inspired? Relaxed? Motivated? You can find inspiration by browsing Pinterest, studying creators on Instagram or TikTok you admire, and brainstorming what kind of content you’d love to make and what sort of content you could create forever without getting tired of it.
First impressions matter. Before you start posting, make sure your Instagram (or TikTok) account is set up professionally. Switch to a creator account so you can access insights and tools designed for influencers.
Here’s what to focus on:
Bio: Write a clear bio that explains who you are, what value you offer, and includes a strong call-to-action (CTA). It needs to say who you are and why they should follow you.
Link: Use the link in your bio to direct people to your website, products, or other resources.
Profile Picture: Choose a professional, recognisable photo of you.
Story Highlights: Set up highlights as a “welcome” section where new followers can quickly learn who you are and what you’re about.
Pinned Posts: Pin your best-performing, most valuable posts at the top of your feed so people see your strongest content first.
Your profile is your shop window-make sure it clearly communicates your brand and value. The better this is set up to align with who you are and your brand the more likely you will be able to grow your community.
Content is at the heart of influencing, so investing time into learning how to create great content is essential. A huge part of this is mastering the art of how to create reels and short-form video.
Here are some things to focus on:
Hooks: Capture attention within the first 3 seconds a hook can be a combination of music video and a text title.
Trending Audio: Use popular sounds to increase reach.
Quality Shots: Learn to use your phone properly-experiment with focal lengths, shoot in good lighting, and keep horizons straight.
Rule of Thirds: Turn on the grid on your phone and use it to compose balanced, professional-looking shots.
Storytelling: Every video should tell a story or deliver clear value.
And remember-your content should align with your brand strategy. Post with the intention of what content pillar each content piece is for. The more you refine your skills in shooting, editing, and storytelling, the more your content will stand out. Use Apps like VN for videos and Lightroom for photos to help you edit.
You don't just want followers but rather a community this is what truly builds influence. Your focus should be maintaining a high engagement rate as when you grow this will become your secret super power. If people feel connected to you, they’ll stick around, share your content, and support your journey.
Make it a priority to:
Reply to DMs.
Respond to comments.
Support other creators by engaging with their content.
Think of your page as a two-way conversation, not just a broadcast. The stronger your community, the easier it will be to attract brands, grow your audience, and eventually monetise your platform.
If you're serious about growing your social media we have a 4 Ebook Creator Course along with lots of extra resources like media templates and content planner and much more. Use our discount code “creatorcourse” when you buy all four books and you will get one for free. Happy Creating! Creator Course 