How To Build Loyal Following As A Social Media Influencer?

Are you one of those influencers who puts the like count on top of everything else? We are here to break down the game for you

The race for numbers on social media is a never-ending one, but the actual question is, do they really matter?

Well, from a commercial point of view, they do matter a lot for social media influencer collaboration. But numbers are not everything. There is so much more to the digital space an influencer creates by putting in plenty of time, effort, and energy.  

Your followers are not just a number. They are real people. Imagine showcasing your talents to hundreds and thousands of people and touching their lives in one way or another. This is the impact social media has on our lives. 

Thinking Apart From Numbers  

When you enter the digital space as a content creator and you don’t have a huge audience, your first thoughts are full of doubts and uncertainties. You compare yourself with the ones who have made it big in the industry and wonder how they’ve made it this far.   

Remember, there’s always a first time for everything, and no one can begin without going through the initial steps. The ones you see successful today were once beginners in their field of expertise too. They also started off their journey with very few followers and gradually worked to build their following on TikTok and other platforms.  

The reason they have a high follower count is that they put in an ample amount of effort in crafting their content so that it resonates with their audience. Their main goal is to produce content that is high in quality rather than chasing more likes and views.    

When the content is good enough to hit the right spot, it definitely attracts more likes on Instagram as well as other social networking sites. However, building a loyal following on any digital platform is not just about increasing the number of followers, views, and likes on your content. It’s more about developing trust and fostering a sense of community among your audience. 

5 Practical Ways to Build A Loyal Fan Base

A loyal fan base, even if it’s small, is the one who trusts you, follows your recommendations, and is ready to be your advocate even behind your back. It takes time and effort to build one, but in the end, it’s all worth it. 

1. Using the KLT Approach

As an influencer, a major chunk of your income comes from promoting branded products to your audience. If they don’t trust you enough, how are you supposed to give them any recommendations?

KLT stands for know, like, and trust. This approach provides a basic pathway to developing trust in your followers. For them to put their faith in you, they have to like you to a certain extent. They can only develop a sense of liking for you if they know you well enough. All these elements go hand in hand with gaining your audience’s confidence. 

2. Engage With Your Followers

Building a loyal community on your digital platform is a two-way street. If you don’t interact with your followers, you can’t bond with them. It’s essential to connect with them beyond posting content on your profile. 

Reply to their comments and messages. Acknowledge their feedback and work on it. I appreciate them taking the time to engage with your content. Create interactive stories and go live often. Ask for their opinions on various matters. Keep them updated about what’s coming next for them. 

Doing all of the above will make it easy for your audience to communicate with you. This will also encourage them to keep coming back to your content as they feel valued in your space. 

3. Stimulate User-Generated Content Through Trends 

This is one of the most fantastic ways to build relationships with your network on social media. You can stimulate user-generated content by employing different strategies. Trends and challenges form a huge part of the content on Instagram and TikTok. You can either participate in them or create one yourself to encourage your audience to join it. 

Sharing user-generated content on your profile shows your audience that you appreciate and value their efforts. When this value is reciprocated, a deeper connection is formed. The one that transcends beyond likes, shares, and engagement. 70% of brands also believe that UGC helps them connect with their audience in a better way.  

4. Share Interactive Stories

Stories make up the foundation of human connection. They make us realize that we have way more in common than we expected. Sharing random stories with your network through your social media platform also establishes the fact that you are just as human as anybody else.  

Shared experiences are a really powerful means to develop deeper connections with your followers. When they discover elements of commonality with you, a sense of empathy as well as mutual appreciation begins to foster.  

The extent of being vulnerable on social media is, however, debatable. It can be variable for every individual depending on their level of comfort on a particular social networking site. Vulnerability is somewhat necessary to form lasting relationships with your audience. 

Running a public platform on social media does make you prone to trolls and hate speech anyway. No matter what you do, there will always be people who appreciate you and those who despise you. But that shouldn’t stop you from becoming the best version of yourself.  

5. Maintain Authenticity

In a world full of pretense, where authenticity is highly underrated, being honest is a true act of courage. Social media has become a place where people mostly show the bright side of their lives, even if it’s not so good in real life. They make the grass at their ends look greener through filters and effects. 

In such a space, being your authentic self is the real deal. Each of us is made up of a combination of strengths and shortcomings. There is no shame in embracing our flaws and working to improve them. 

When you stay authentic on social media, albeit a hard thing to do, you gradually attract the right people to your space. They are the ones who appreciate you for who you are. There will still be people who bash you for no reason, but your authenticity will help you build a loyal community eventually. 

Final Notes 

Numbers are a significant milestone to achieve in your journey to becoming a social media influencer. It is important to keep reminding yourself that numbers are not everything, and you don’t have to keep chasing them. 

Yes, you will doubt yourself for not getting enough likes and views on your content. All you need to do is focus on creating great content consistently, and the numbers will eventually follow. Building a loyal fanbase is even harder than getting a higher like count, but in the end, it’s all worth it. 

People who are ready to advocate for you are far more valuable than the ones who are only increasing your engagement rates.