Grow your following while growing yourself.
– KEYS SOULCARE
As innocent as it might feel to swipe across your screen, social media has a huge impact on our mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, comparison, sleep disruption, and depression can stem from too much time online. Still, a report showed that 72% of Gen Z and millennials are following some type of influencer, and in 2022, the influencer market was valued at a record 16.4 billion U.S. dollars.
Yes, those statistics can be scary (and we fully support a digital detox), but social media isn’t all bad. As lives get busier and more virtual, many turn to our screens to feel seen, inspired, and informed. Building and maintaining connections is one of the greatest gifts of social media. If you plan to become an influencer or content creator online, you have to take your influence seriously to bring more good than harm. And while perfection is never a requirement, here are five ways to show up more intentionally and up your influencer game.
How to be a soul-full influencer
There are five key ways to be more soulful online:
1. Do you.
We hate to say it (actually, we kinda love to say it), but if you want to become a social media influencer in 2023 and beyond, you must be you. Feel free to roll your eyes and sigh deeply, but authenticity is a flex. Gone are the days of copy-and-paste aesthetics. Billions of people online have seen it all, so to start being a soulful influencer, you have to show the people who you are. Tell perfection to f-ck off. It’s ok to have your messy bun or low-energy posts. (You’re human above all else; showing people your humanity will make them feel more tied to your story and growth over time.)
2. Know your limits.
Don’t get authenticity twisted: Boundaries are still important. You don’t need to share every last detail of your life to be vulnerable, but you do need to show up in honest and sustainable ways for the long term. Understanding what does and doesn’t work for you online keeps you from posting at ridiculous rates or curating content that isn’t aligned with your values, budget, or rituals. As an influencer, your daily life is inspirational enough for the people most aligned with you, so if you have to force it, you shouldn’t do it.
3. Think before you post.
We’ve all seen it: The influencer who said the quiet part out loud or didn’t give credit where it was due. These mistakes can have devastating results for you and your audience. Once again, you’re human, but it’s important to remember you’re an influencer, and with great power comes great responsibility. (Cue your social spidey senses.) Don’t let how other people might judge you keep you from being real, but always be mindful of the consequences of your actions, especially on minors or people with marginalized identities. Do your research, communicate clearly, and be open to feedback if you start to receive it.
4. Define your values and stick to them.
That being said, be sure to be clear about who you are. Aside from niching to clarify what kind of content people can expect from you, clarify your values. Know what you stand for and what message(s) you want to promote on social media. Most importantly, be consistent with your values and ensure your content aligns with them. Trust is a major component of success online, and the more you uphold your values, the more people can respect, identify with, and advocate for them if they choose.
5. Use your influence for good.
Lightworker Jordan-Risa Santos says you have power, no matter how big or small your viewership is. “If you have one follower, ten followers, or 100,000 followers, you have someone you can reach,” Jordan shared with Team Soulcare. “Social media should be used beyond material or social gain and leave a positive impact in one’s own communities.”
Use your platform to promote social causes and raise awareness about important issues. This can be actively responding to comments from your community to engage them in deeper conversations or affirmations, or sharing a petition for a growing cause. Boosting smaller influencers, mutual aid attempts, and spreading important news are all ways to level up your platform to uplift and guide your supporters.
How will you use your influence for good this week? Let us know in the comments!
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