Influencer Marketing: How to Become an Influencer in the Arts

Have you ever discovered a new product or service from someone you follow on social media? Chances are, this was a result of influencer marketing. Similar to a celebrity endorsement, influencer marketing is a strategy used by brands to reach their audience through influencers on social media. These influencers are paid by brands to advertise their products on social media, which tells their audience they endorse the brand.

An example of this marketing technique comes from social media personality Brittany Broski. Over the years, Brittany gained a large audience from her comedy and beauty videos on YouTube and TikTok and currently has 1.2 million followers on Instagram. She recently partnered with the cosmetic company Smashbox, which was made possible due to her status on social media along with her content related to makeup.
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Now it’s your turn. We’ll walk you through the process of influencer marketing and how you – as an artist – can become an influencer yourself.

What is an Influencer?

When thinking of the word “influencer,” many people picture popular figures like the Kardashians or Emma Chamberlain. However, anyone can become an influencer with the right mentality! Essentially, influencers are people who have expertise on a certain subject with the power to sway their audience to make decisions – in other words, the power to influence.

How Do I Become an Influencer?

If you’re looking to start your journey as an influencer, it’s important to begin with a strategy. Ask yourself, what content do I want to produce? Many organizations describe this as “finding your niche,” or choosing a specific area within your industry to focus on. An example of this for artists could be deciding between uploading time-lapses or tutorials of your paintings. Once you find your niche, choose which social media platforms you’d like to use. Remember, each platform is unique in its own way, so we recommend doing research on which social media site would be most beneficial to your content!

Now that you have your profile up and running, it’s time to start posting! Keeping a consistent schedule for uploading while engaging with your audience will help you reach influencer status in no time. You may be wondering; how do I know if I’m on the path towards becoming an influencer? One way to determine this is by measuring data. Keep track of your follows as well as the engagement on your posts – this can be in the form of likes, comments, and shares. However, don’t stress too much about increasing for follower count. Influencers come in all different sizes, and smaller influencers offer many benefits to brands as well!

Brands Need You!

Once you begin to see your growth, take the plunge and reach out to brands! It may seem scary to contact them about potential partnerships, but brands need influencers. According to HubSpot, 1 in 4 marketers currently invest in this strategy, and in 2022, the influencer market in the U.S. was valued at $16.4 billion.

Influencing marketing is on the rise, and brands could use artists like you! Take this opportunity to learn more about social media sites and connect with other influencers and brands while you grow your business. It’s time to unleash your potential and get started on your influencer journey!

JULIA WOODCOCK

Writer
The Modern Artist Project