How I Became a Social Influencer and Why You're One Too
Original Photo by CJ Dayrit on Unsplash
I first ventured onto social media courtesy of Facebook, just a little over a decade ago. At the time, the eventual juggernaut was still in its infancy stages, but even back then, I immediately recognized that a seismic shift had occurred in how the world would connect and communicate from that point forward. Being an immigrant to the U.S. thanks to the many sacrifices my parents made, I saw immediate value in the social network via my ability to reconnect—albeit virtually—with long-lost childhood friends from my native country of Cameroon who were still back home. The same was true for others who had themselves ventured to various new lands across the vast world. This newfound ability was incredible because suddenly, not only could we get confirmation that our family and friends in distant places were alive and well, but we could also routinely interact with one another.
As other social media platforms would be birthed in the years that followed the advent of Facebook such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and more, the range of our networks and influence over friends and strangers alike would expand beyond our wildest imagination, and thus a new phenomenon would be born—the concept of social influence. The truth is, long before social media, one way or another, we all influenced one another. Whether it was us telling our family and friends about experiences we thoroughly enjoyed; e.g., a professor whose course they should take because we took it ourselves, or our favorite restaurant they should try, an amazing vacation destination they should visit, or a clothing store with discount prices they should shop at, we all indulged in influencer marketing. Back then, we did so via word of mouth, the oldest and most effective form of marketing, whereas today, we do so via influencer marketing, which is simply the digitization of this age-old marketing tactic.
As for me, I didn’t necessarily make a conscious decision to become a social influencer; it sort of just happened as a result of the career choices I’ve made in recent years. I am a natural-born people person and enjoy listening to diverse stories. Being a published author, I also enjoy telling stories, and I acknowledge that everyone has a story worth mentioning and some value worth sharing, whether as an individual or a brand. Also, thanks to my profession as a content marketer and communications specialist, I can tap into what makes that story most compelling and help them present themselves to their target audience in the most authentic way possible.
What compels me to consider myself a social influencer is that over the years, I’ve truly taken the time to immerse myself in the experiences of my peers to discern what my target audience finds endearing. I understand the tastes of my fellow millennials and can speak to them in a language I know resonates. Moreover, I'm authentic in how I portray myself, consistent in character both online and off, and those who know me well can attest to this personality trait. In a social media-oriented world where perception is seldom reality, I believe that people whose online identity mirrors their offline character embody the spirit of the value of social media and lend further credence to the value of authenticity in social influence.
Ultimately, titles are less relevant than actions, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a ‘Public Figure’ or ‘Digital Creator’. Who you are is more about what you do than what you say you do and, more importantly, how you make people feel. In that sense, as aforementioned, we are all social media influencers, regardless of the size of our following or any actionable metrics to prove as much; i.e., number of impressions, reach, and engagement (likes, comments, shares, etc). The bottom line is, we all have an audience, and whether yours is comprised of millions, hundreds of thousands, thousands, hundreds, or just one, you can influence someone to make a choice, starting with yourself. So, I challenge you to use your social influence for good—to inspire positive and healthier choices so that we might all benefit from a more authentic, creative, loving, diverse and yet inclusive world.
Godspeed, my friends.