Are you trying to become an influencer? It seems like the coolest thing to be these days, right? But it’s really what you should be trying to shoot for if you want to sell your programs, products, and services. Why? An influencer is someone who has:
the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience, and
a following in a distinct niche, with whom he or she actively engages. The size of the following depends on the size of his/her topic of the niche.
Influence is synomomous with entrepreneurship. It’s what we do every single day when we use our skills to compel people to buy from us; whether it’s our programs, products, or services or someone else’s programs, products, or services.
Even if you are not quite where you need to be to be considered an “influencer”, you can at least start selling like one….right?
Here’s how to determine if you are working towards the title of influencer.
You are different and unique (you don’t follow the crowd).
You’ve thought of ideas and used those ideas to try to help make people’s lives better.
You try to be intentional and strategic and you strive to build a life based on freedom and independence.
You like to make your own rules.
You don’t take no for an answer, and you don’t like to be told you can or can’t do something.
Does this sound like you? If so, you’re ready. Now let’s steal some influencer strategies so you can make some money.
If it does, you are in a great position to be someone that others can look up to. But to be an influencer, people have to know, like, and trust you. If they don’t, when you pitch your products and services to them, they won’t buy. Here’s how to change that.
Here are five strategies influencers use to sell their programs, products, and services or those they endorse.
1. They are Consistent
Influencers show up ever day. Whether they are posting on the social media platform or giving us insight via their stories, you can tell that they are present. To influence, you have to be consistent too. Your audience needs to see you, hear you, and believe you are who you say you are. Develop a simple visibility plan. That plan can include showing up regularly on your top social media platform, sending a weekly email to your list, or creating a private Facebook group so you can connect to a specific group of people. Which ever you decide, decide to do it everyday. To make it more fun and enjoyable, show up on a platform that you actually like. I love Instagram, so if you haven’t had a chance go check me out there and take a peek at my stories.
CLICK HERE TO NAVIGATE TO MY INSTAGRAM PAGE.
And I get it, it’s not easy balancing being a mom with a full-time job, or a stay-at-home mom caring for your kids but there are tools that can help you become more consistent. Facebook has an internal scheduler that you can use to schedule any Facebook posts. You can also schedule content inside your private group. For Instagram I use Planoly to schedule my Instagram posts. This tool even suggests what times you should post each day. It’s great!. And Tailwind will help you to schedule your pins on Pinterest. The point is, there are MANY schedulers that will help you maintain your consistency so that when it’s time to sell, your audience is not giving you a side eye, LOL!
2. The Have a Brand Voice
Influencers have a brand voice that is unique to them. Whether it’s colors they like to use, or a certain way they like to dress, or a specific way they like to talk, they have a brand. You have to find your brand. Finding your brand voice just means understanding your messaging and how your messaging (direct and indirectly) comes across. A lot of your messaging comes from knowing who you are trying to connect with. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I know my audience?
Do I know their dreams and fears?
Do I know what a typical day looks like for them.
Do I know what products, programs, and services could make their lives easier?
What you choose to say and present should speak to these questions. For example, I know my audience are moms. These moms have a drive to create businesses that gives them freedom to spend more time with their families. They want to generate money so they don’t have to work so hard because they have small children and a spouse that needs their attention. They want to start a business selling online products or they want to scale their current businesses with online courses and other digital products because their time is valuable. Because I know this about them, I speak to their lives and their struggles.
You don’t need a gimmicky tagline. You just need to know your audience and speak to their hopes and dreams.
3. They Create Good Content
Do you find yourself going back again and again to your favorite influencer? You can’t help yourself, right? Because their content is always good! You love it! You need content too. You need your audience to feel the same way about your.
Your content strategy is one of the top ways you can influence your target audience to buy from you. Your content also includes your brand messaging. Consistent (there’s that word again), great content will attract your target audience to you like bees to honey girl!
The know, like, and trust factor is the secret to selling out your products and services and it’s been used in sales strategies time and time again. Your content is the way you get closer to your audience and build true connection.
Here’s the formula for creating great content:
Inform - Show your audience that you are the expert. Give them useful tips to help them solve a task or to get from point a to z.
Engage - Get to know your audience by asking them questions to compel them to talk. This will get your audience accustomed to asking them questions and they won’t feel too shy to talk.
Connect - Tell stories and share your why with your audience. This will allow you and your audience to share a quicker bond.
Entertain - Let your personality shine through. Do you like to laugh? I would bet money that your audience does too. Do you enjoy gadgets or gossip? Share those things with your audience.
4. They Get Social Proof
Followers of influencers share their love for them ALL day. You see it in their comments, or when they post a new product or service. You also see all the hearts and love when they go live. People are always singing their praises.
Whether you are just starting out, or you are a seasoned entrepreneur, when you launch a new online course, program, or service you need social proof as well. Before people are even open to buying, they want to know that what you are offering worked for someone else.
Getting testimonials is one of the best ways to show social proof. Videos of your customers or clients saying how great your program is, or that you gave them excellent customer service is going to stand out big time in a market of people selling everything but the kitchen sink. You can display testimonials on your website, email them to your email list, or display them on your social media pages. If you are just starting out, leverage free services or products in exchange for testimonials.
5. They Consistently Go Live
Another influencer strategy is going live. Don’t you love when your favorite influencer goes live and you can ask questions and speak directly to them? That’s what going live does. It provides your audience with an instant, real-time source of content where your audience can learn from you and get to know you. Consistency is key (again) here!
When do you go live? Your live content is just like your static content. You can go live when you want to educate your audience, when you want to engage with your audience, when you want to connect with your audience, and when you just want to entertain with your audience. To get started, pick a weekly topic, decide the day and time you plan on showing up, and go for it! Use your lives to really get to know your audience so they become your friends and not just random people who follow you.
Need help getting started curating a specific influencer strategy? Hop on a call with me to assess where you are and to diagnose some ways to get you unstuck.