What Does it Take to be an Influencer?

Posted January 06, 2025

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It seems that everyone wants to be an influencer these days, but how do you stand out in this crowded space and turn it into a successful career? According to recent survey data being a content creator or influencer is the most wanted job in America — particularly among Gen Z. CNBC reports that 57% of Gen Z see influencer as their prefered career. 

In today’s digital era, platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram dominate our online lives with content created by influencers and creators making a lot of money with the videos they make. It’s easy to see why this is such an attractive career. 

However, in order to be successful on these platforms, you need people to watch your videos. In order for people to watch your videos again and again, they need to be compelling. Creating compelling videos isn’t as simple as pointing a camera and pressing record. It requires creativity, planning, an understanding of your audience, but most importantly it requires an understanding of visual storytelling. 

Storytelling is the key to creating videos that keep people’s attention and is the reason the people will come back to your channel constantly for your content. 

All great storytelling starts with a great character. Think of any book, movie or TV show you have ever loved and it always centers around a great character. Social media is no different. Generally the character is the content creator themselves but if you want to be an influencer then you need to be the star of your videos. What people love about social media is its apparent authenticity. People want to feel that they know you are seeing your authentic self (even if that isn’t the case) so you will also need to craft a unique voice. The influencer market is saturated, and it’s your authenticity and perspective that will make you stand out. Choose something that you love and make it the focus of your channel. Whether you’re sharing life hacks, beauty tips, or gaming walkthroughs, pick something that you can be passionate about.

Once you have a character, then you need a story for that character. Take your viewers on a journey with each video with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Storytelling keeps your audience invested and ensures they stay until the very last second. People love stories and social media is no different. They want to see characters in ineresting situations. Take them on a trip — whether it is a real trip to a different place or a journey through an activity. Think of the examples above for possible niches. For life hacks people want to see the hack help from start to finish, see beauty tips and how they can transform a person, or a game seesion. A clear beginning, middle, and end for each video.

Above all, on social media, authenticity is the foundation of everything. Audiences can easily spot forced or insincere content. Be genuine in your interactions, transparent in your intentions, and true to your character. Ultimately, creating compelling videos as an influencer is both an art and a science. By understanding your audience, investing in quality, and staying true to yourself, you can craft videos that entertain, inspire, and resonate with your viewers. In the crowded influencer space, it’s your unique approach and passion that will set you apart.