An influencer is someone who is influential. We all know someone like this. They are the person who everyone listens to, the person who other people go to for advice. They are often leaders, but equally they may be in the background, doing their thing behind the scenes. To become an influencer takes time and skill, but if you want to be in a position of power, it’s a smart move to make.
If you want to become an influencer, here are some steps you need to take. Not everyone wants to be an influencer, but it can be useful if you have plans to build a successful career.
Influential people trade on their superior knowledge, so it pays to pursues a higher education in your chosen field. For example, if you want to enter the criminal justice sphere, consider enrolling on a masters criminal justice program. You don’t need to attend college, as an online criminal justice masters degree from Boston University carries just as much kudos as a campus-based degree from a different university.
With the right education, you can offer unique insights into topics other people may not be familiar with. The more professional you are, the more you will establish yourself as an influential person in your chosen niche.
It is impossible to become an influencer if you are not inherently likeable. People won’t trust you or seek you out if they don’t like you. Sad, but true. The more likeable you are, the more influence you will have. Being contentious is a good way to grab attention, a fact that Donald Trump is well aware of, but ultimately, the best way to become influential is to use your emotional intelligence and build positive relationships. People can spot a fake person a mile away, so don’t be false. It never works.
Have you noticed that that the most popular people on social media have huge numbers of followers? Popularity is very influential and one begets the others. It could be argued that without followers, you wouldn’t be popular, but the only way to gain followers is to be popular. However, this is not strictly true. You can build up a following by speaking with authority on topics you are knowledgeable on and by being a nice person. You also need to be active on social media.
The more effort you put into social media, the greater the reward. A busy social media profile offers social proof that the account holder is someone worth listening to, which in turn will attract more followers. You do need to be consistent, though.
A person in authority has influence. They are credible, powerful, and the go-to person when you need information. An authority figure is impressive. We trust them to do and say the right things, and to give us the right information. By behaving like an authoritative person, you are laying the groundwork to become an influential person.
Don’t forget to work hard at building connections with other influences in your niche. Reach out to them, build relationships and before long, you will be on an equal footing.
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