How to Become a Fashion and Lifestyle Influencer

Becoming infamous on social media is the dream of many, where what you wear and how you live is considered your profession, as brands pay you to review and blog their clothes, makeup, experiences, and even hotels. Becoming a fashion and lifestyle influencer is, though, not an easy task. There are many already out there, who were considered the first and so have made a name for themselves, and others who are trying to break into the market. Although it is no simple feat, it is, however, not impossible. Here’s how to become a fashion and lifestyle influencer.

Find your niche, but be different

You do not want to fall into the trope of being too similar to the content already out there. While the social media environment is quite saturated, there is still the chance to be different. Popular niches are grunge fashion bloggers, kawaii fashion bloggers, and even those who do tutorials on over-the-top makeup trends. However, to be diverse and stand-out from the rest, you may need to combine another of your passions with your love for fashion.

Are you, for instance, a fan of films? If so, you can create outfits based on the popular costumes of characters from well-loved films. Take Pulp Fiction’s Mia Wallace, and her recognizable white shirt and flared black trousers ensemble. Modernize the look and include a twist, so that people would want to shop the look while paying homage to a masterpiece of a film.

Pick your channels

By deciding to tackle all of the social media platforms available to you, you risk exhausting yourself and creating superficial content. Rather, you should decide on two channels, and be sure to utilize them accordingly. Instagram is great because of the visuals you need for fashion and lifestyle blogging, while Twitter is also a popular platform because you can share your Instagram posts while engaging with brands and followers more personally.

While you may want to tackle Facebook, think about how many lifestyle and fashion bloggers you see on this platform. Facebook is usually a platform for larger brands, such as fashion houses like Topshop and Dr. Martins. While your photo may be shared on Facebook (if so, be sure to have it crediting your Instagram profile), it isn’t a great platform choice for this type of market.

Invest beforehand

Create content before you start your profile, and be sure to create a social media strategy too. You may need to invest in a good quality camera, clothes, makeup, and even followers (although, be wary of the latter). Prepare your content for three months, and plan when you’re going to post it and how. Social media is incredibly fast-paced, so you need to stay ahead of the trends, move quickly and keep up with what is happening in the here and now. Investing in equipment and clothing can be a costly endeavor, though, so looking for installment loans for bad credit can help bridge the gap while you are waiting to turn a profit.

Be consistent and fluid

Your posts need to make sense and create an overall aesthetic. On the likes of Instagram, the grid-like layout means you may need to plan out where each photo will land. You do not want two similar images, possibly from the same shoot, to land too close to one another. A popular method on Instagram is that many bloggers will have a staple color scheme: they may have bright pink hair, which has become their trademark.

To gain a following, you need to post consistently. Post once a day, or twice a day and every other day – it’s up to you. Be sure to stick to whatever schedule you decide on, though, and avoid over posting. You do not want to come across as ‘spammy.’ What’s more, you need to decide the best times of the day to post. For instance, it is said that during lunchtime, from 11am to 1pm, is the best time to post on Instagram. Between the hours of 7-9pm is also effective. If you are likely to be busy, schedule your posts through apps such as Hootsuite, ScheduGram and Later.

Promote and collaborate

You could craft the best content possible, but what is the point if no one is going to see it? For your content to land on the feeds of others who may be interested, you need to invest in promotion. You can pay for ad placements, ask fellow bloggers to link to you or even pay for followers or likes in the beginning stages.

However, the biggest way to grow your profile is to work with bigger influencers. This can be a difficult task, as you need to make yourself known to the influencer you aspire to. You could contact a fellow influencer who lives nearby and pitch an amazing idea of a photo shoot that may be of interest to them. Then, the both of you can post the images, linking to one another. Another collaboration can be with clothing brands. While you may not get responses from designer labels, you may be able to work with smaller, independent clothing brands, such as Lazy Oaf in the UK.

Engage with your followers

If someone comments on your photo or post, respond to them. By striking up a conversation, you are not only creating a relationship with that follower, but you are also creating an image of a blogger who seems human, down-to-earth and cares about their audience. You should also follow a few people back, like comments, and comment on other people’s photos and posts.

Remember that even as your following grows, you should keep responding to as many comments as possible, especially if it is someone asking for details on your outfit. If brands see that you are generating legitimate business to their brand, then they may ask for you to be part of a paid partnership, send you free clothes to review and wear, and invite you to important events that will raise your profile.