Diary,
What is an Influencer?
It started back in 2016 - a thought
followed by various
actions. One thought that maybe I can use the internet to express
myself, to be seen and heard. Back then, content creators may it be in the form
of writing or videos were just a handful. The industry was still on the rise,
not yet widely known as it is now but grows day by day. I had seen the OG's in
the industry - watched and got inspired by what they were doing.
So I told my shy ass self to just start. I
only had my phone with me and nothing else - no laptop, no camera and most
importantly no confidence.
But I began my journey with a signup to Blogger and finally with
a makeup tutorial article - it was harder to narrate a makeup tutorial with
words and pictures rather than just uploading the video itself but I was so
shy. I didn't know how to speak to the camera and let's just admit that I was
awkward as hell.
A series of product reviews came and went.
On the contrary to what people may believe, we don't receive "free"
products in the beginning of the journey. To be honest, we make content, grow
big enough for a company to notice us before we are given the opportunity to
review something for free. I still remember the first ever company who emailed
me for a feature on my blog - it was exhilarating, finally getting noticed.
After that, I started my Youtube account.
My first video was very awkward - it gained a lot of dislikes, but on the
positive note, it also gained a ton of likes and views. It was very motivating,
to be noticed yet again.
A couple more articles and videos came and
went. It was fun. But like everything else, it became tiring. And I constantly
asked myself why. Fast forward to this year, I still ask myself on why I left
my eager 2016 self behind. If I was still that girl who constantly posts
reviews and videos, I could probably, maybe, have a lot of brand deals on the
way.
But I stopped.
The articles were less. The videos stopped.
And this time I really asked myself, what
does it really take to be an influencer?
And then I knew why I stopped. Because I
got tired of trying to be noticed. I realized that influencing people doesn't
only come in brand deals, product articles, likes and views. What it takes to
be an influencer is affecting people around you, embracing them with your
ideals, views, and opinions. It isn't all glam and glitter, it's learning from
one another. I learned slowly through the years that the best way to influence
people is not by
trying to influence them but by being your most genuine self. In that way
people will gravitate towards you naturally and will also learn from you.
Come to think of it, we are all influencers
- curated IG feed or not.
0 comments:
Hey love! Thank you for sharing your idea. Everyone is welcome to comment and share their thoughts. Although, please be mindful if you're going to be saying anything negative, as this blog purely focuses on sharing joy and love. Cheers!