Do you want to make more money as an influencer in 2020? Grow your Instagram followers and become more popular on Facebook? Would you like to get paid campaigns with prestige brands and create awesome content this year?
Many of us have lists of things we’re going to do this year to achieve these goals. But a recent piece in Medium points out that we could be better off by making a list of things we aren’t going to do. 10 Bad Habits of Unsuccessful People by @DariusForoux lists things that can sabotage success, including not listening to others, procrastinating, getting distracted and only talking the talk instead of walking the walk.
At BritMums we’ve been thinking about how we innovate and grow, and we’ve been answering questions from influencers about what they can do. Here, our tips for the things to AVOID if you want to succeed as an influencer in 2020.
1. Get personal with your debates & criticism
Spirited debate is a hallmark of social media and a great way to engage a wider audience with your insights and viewpoint. But everybody is just a bit weary of the attempted self-aggrandizement through tearing down others. Especially if the comments are mainly emotional and all about how terrible they are and how right and righteous you are. Back up assertions with a cool head and cold hard facts and you’ll make more of an impact and impress with your professionalism.
2. Complain if you don’t get chosen for a campaign
Yeah, it’s a bummer if you feel you are absolutely perfect for a campaign or activity – either with a brand or an editorial project – and then it doesn’t come to pass.
The thing not to do at that moment is dwell on the injustice of the decision or take to social media to complain that you haven’t been included. Perhaps the company only needed parents of twins based in villages starting with S. Perhaps they loved your blog and social feeds but felt the fit wasn’t quite right this time. Or maybe it’s down to stats and engagement. By stomping your feet and criticising their commercial choices (the motivations about which you know little), you ensure that you won’t be picked next time.
A better option if you’re passed over for something you really want. Politely ask for feedback, get a fellow creator to provide constructive criticism of your work or draft a proposal and directly target brands you’d like to work with.
3. Curse online
For some creators, salty language is part of their brand, usually accompanied by name-checking their favourite alcoholic drinks and ‘edgy’ insights into life. If this is the case, go for it! But dropping four-letter words into a public social feed or blog post isn’t much different from doing the same thing in a business meeting. You may find it’s incompatible with your larger body of work and will stand out in the wrong way not only for readers but for brands you want to partner with.
4. Bounce from social platform to social platform
It’s easy to get distracted and vanish down the rabbit hole whilst on social media. The same goes for our own social media strategies and efforts to make our social feeds essential viewing. Avoid being pulled this way and that and wasting your hours and days. Make a plan, set aside time for browsing and stick to it.
5. Focus only online
There’s a whole world out there that does not revolve around stories that disappear after 24 hours. As Foroux says in his piece, people ‘…who read books, who ask questions, who follow their curiosity — have more power to envision, and shape, their futures. It’s hard to dream about what you don’t know.’ What better inspiration to put down our phones and experience the world and others?
What are the bad habits you’re avoiding this year?
About
BritMums is the UK’s original collective of lifestyle bloggers and digital influencers, fueling the country’s most influential social content. We lead the online conversation with members who are parent social influencers creating content on topics ranging from food, parenting, travel, politics, style and more.