Every other person you meet is working to create a presence on the web and be an influencer.

Some people want money, some yearn for fame, and some just want to know how it feels to be important. However, not everyone’s going to find success since competition on the web is tough and there already are a huge number of influencers offering GBs of data to people.

One such person is micro-influencer Hope Perkins, a US-based fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogger who enjoys nearly 6K Instagram followers.

We sat down with Hope to talk about her journey, here are some excerpts from the interview:

Started Three Years Ago

Hope was only 21 years old when she started to work on her profile.

“I am 24 now and still trying to find the success I am striving for,” she says while talking about why it is important to stay motivated and not give up.

An interesting thing about being an influencer is that you cannot stop after you achieve your milestone. There’s no such thing as ‘enough followers’, influencers are always working to reach more people.

Some top influencers even have more followers than known film stars. In fact, some of the most subscribed YouTube channels belong to influencers such as PewDiePie and Logan Paul.

It’s All About Motivation

Hope believes that it is all about motivating people.

“I love getting inspo from others and I have had a kind of large following since I was young and thought what the heck let’s give it a try,” she says while talking about how she started her career as an influencer.

You will, however, find some popular influencers who do nothing to motivate others, yet have found immense success as luck is also an important factor here. Yet, it’s important to stay motivated at all times.

“I love the influencer world so much! It’s so motivating for me,” says Hope.

During your journey, there may be times when you feel like giving up due to a lack of success or trolling. The best advice if you’re looking to be successful as a micro-influencer is to stay strong and continue to put your best foot forward and not give up.

Look for The Right Partner

Influencers make money through collaborations. Companies pay them to advertise their products or services.

The amount someone pays depends on a lot of factors such as your niche, number of followers, location, etc. Yet, money isn’t what makes a campaign successful.

We have seen big names like Kendall Jenner fail due to poor planning and collaboration efforts.

It’s a lot about creative freedom. Some brands are very stringent and leave no scope for creativity, which can make influencers feel limited – regardless if they are micro-influencers or macro-influencers.

Hope agrees that, in addition to money, creative freedom is very important.

“I had the opportunity to work with a skincare brand and had full creative freedom for the videos and photos. Plus, I was compensated at the highest level I had ever been before. It was so special to me,” she remembers.

There Will Be Challenges

Influencers go through a lot of challenges and difficulties at every stage. You will need to learn how to deal with trolls, naysayers, and whatnot. Plus, there is always this pressure to do better as you are under constant observation and there are people keeping a tight eye on what you do.

“The worst thing is that you are under a tiny little microscope and everyone is watching your every move,” says Hope.

Every step will be scrutinized and this security increases as you gain popularity. If you want to be successful then you must know how to avoid such people and concentrate on your goal as not doing so can impact your mental health.

Of Course, There’s Good News Too

Let’s not just concentrate on ‘bad’ news as being a micro-influencer comes with many benefits.

“The best thing is being able to reach so many people in so many different ways,” says Hope while talking about the benefits of being an influencer.

You can use your reach or influence to educate people and make this world a better place. In addition to this, there are also monetary benefits; however, make sure to think twice before you decide to quit your job in order to be a full-time influencer.

Influencers can make decent money but it will be a while before you gain enough followers, so keep hustling.

Finding Success as an Influencer

Hope believes you need “grit, determination, creativity, humbleness, and authenticity” if you want to be a successful micro-influencer.

Almost all successful influencers have these qualities. Some of these are inborn, some you can learn, and some come with time.

Look at how other influencers connect with people and what kind of posts they make but don’t try to copy them. You should have your own style. Copying others will not take you anywhere. Also, consider using influencer marketing tools.

Canva, Google Calendar, and Aspire are some of Hope’s favorite tools that have helped her carve a niche. Check our 7 Free Instagram Tools Today’s Influencers Need post for some more tools that can help you create a niche.

Afluencer – The Place to Be

Afluencer, a platform designed to bridge the gap between brands and influencers, has helped creatives like Hope find more opportunities and grow their following.

Hope has been a part of the Afluencer family for quite some time and appreciates how inclusive our platform is. You only need a decent social media following to be a part of our platform. As you have learnt, even if you’re a micro-influencer, you are welcome.

Being a member will give you access to resources including tips on how to grow your following and access to hundreds of brand collaboration opportunities.

SIGN UP TODAY to enjoy all these perks and more!

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