I have been blogging and “influencing” under the name Tired Mummy of Two for the last ten years and in that time things have definitely changed. When I started blogging was a strange thing to do and it took some explaining to friends and family. Obviously they enjoyed the perks that came with it and it has certainly made my families life more interesting. When I started there were only a handful of Mummy bloggers many of whom are still blogging now but being an influencer is now a recognised career and people are making millions.
Sadly, I am not making millions from my blog but it has enabled us to travel the world, work with some amazing brands and introduced me to some fabulous people. Interviewing Morgan Freeman in Florida to promote Dolphin Tale 2 was definitely a highlight for me as was working with Carnival Cruises as their fun-seeking family.
When I started out as a blogger there was no Instagram and no TikTok, we socialised on Twitter and camera phones were terrible. Things have changed a lot over the years and we have seen trends come and go. The successful influencers are those who put in a lot of time to really understand the new platforms and are leading the way to create content that appeals to their audience.
When I started the BlogOn conference back in 2013 it was to help bloggers to improve their skills and keep up to date with the rules and regulations, something that was not talked about very often back then. Now the newspapers are filled with stories of influencers falling foul of ASA guidelines. It is good that these conversations are being had and that influencers are being held accountable.
When I first started out it was unusual for brands to think about how they would work with bloggers and they rarely saw the value in what we were doing. Finding paid work was very passive whereas now there are lots of different networks that you can join to find work. Brands are building influencer strategies into their marketing plan, paying appropriately and understanding the power that we have over our audiences. The great thing is that if done well then influencer marketing can be a highly targeted tool. Each influencer has their own niche and their own audience, whether that is travel, food or parenting or one of the many other genres that are popular today. It isn’t all a numbers game either, those with the largest audience do not necessarily have the right audience for a brand. Finding a smaller Influencer whose niche is a better fit will mean that the audience they reach is a better fit as well as discussed in this Intellifluence Influencer spotlight.
Being an influencer isn’t easy but it is rewarding. If you are thinking about starting then there are a few things that you should think about.
Choose a niche
When deciding on your niche it is important to ensure that it is something that you are passionate about. A niche helps you reach a dedicated audience and helps you to create content. It also helps you to find fellow influencers who are also in your niche. This is a great way to build your own community which is one of the best things that I have found from being an influencer.
Choose a name
Choosing a name can be a minefield, you want something that hasn’t been used before but is descriptive and easy for people to remember. Whether you use your own name or one that is representative of the niche that you choose make sure that it fits with you. I have been introducing myself as Tired Mummy of Two instead of Laura for so many years that it is an extension of who I am
Decide on your platform
Trying to run a blog, create social media content and videos is too much for anyone to juggle. Choose your strongest platform and focus on that one but claiming your name across all of the social channels is a good idea. If you love creating video content then Tiktok, Instagram stories and even YouTube could be where you do best.
Understand the commitment
Being an influencer isn’t easy, it takes a lot of time and a lot of effort. Although it can look like it is easy there is a lot that goes on in the background.
Good luck, have fun and enjoy the ride.