I make money as an influencer. Basically, that means I have an online brand and following and get hired for influencer work. “Influencer” is really just a 21st century word for a spokesperson.
Influencer marketing is also taking over the internet. Brands are getting ready to create their 2018 marketing campaigns and they want to find influencers they can align with. The reason is because consumers likely trust the influencers more than they trust the actual brand.
This means that earning money as an influencer is possible. Not only is it possible, it’s what’s hot right now. The problem is many would-be influencers have several money blocks that keep them from getting a piece of the pie.
Here are some of the money blocks that keep you from earning money as an influencer. This is based on several conversations I’ve had recently with aspiring bloggers and influencers.
Your own hang-ups about money.
I had a fascinating conversation with a friend recently. She is a fashion blogger who is amazing at what she does. She has all the ingredients – a unique angle and a great eye. If she really wanted to, she could be earning money as an influencer. A lot of it.
She admitted to me how she identifies with the struggling artist archetype. She doesn’t want to get paid for her art because she would feel like a sellout. Additionally, she’s realizing that she picked up some lessons about money while growing up that are affecting her in the present day.
All of this is to say that our psychology matters – especially when it comes to earning money as an influencer. It’s our job to find out why we are sabotaging ourselves and then change our behaviors along the way.
You don’t value your work enough.
Another reason you may not be earning money as an influencer is because you don’t value your work enough. Most people who are influencers did not wake up one morning and say, “I want to be an influencer as my career.” I know I certainly didn’t.
Instead, we started blogging or sharing things on social media because we loved it. Because we love it and it comes so easy to us, we mistakenly assume it must be easy for everyone. Or, we assume that because we love it then we can’t make money from it.
This is why people will take on influencer work in exchange for free products or very low rates – because they don’t value their work enough. I’m here to tell you that companies are allotting money in their marketing budgets to work with people like you, so ask for what you are really worth.
You can’t stay consistent.
The reason people are able to build followings and get hired as influencers is because they are consistent. Period. Gary Vaynerchuk talks about this all the time. He has noted how it’s not necessarily the most skilled people who make the money, it’s the ones who are out there the most.
This applies to just about anything, but it is especially true if you want to earn money as an influencer. After all, the point is to get paid because of your level of influence. How can you do that if you aren’t putting yourself out there?
Final Thoughts
With influencer marketing being so trendy right now, you can certainly earn money as an influencer. There is a lot of money out there for the taking. You just have to make sure you aren’t getting in your own way.
