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. Understanding influencer marketing is crucial for building genuine engagement and long-term success

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

Well, from a commercial perspective, they 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 somehow. 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; no one can begin without going through the initial steps. The ones you see successful today were once beginners in their expertise, too. They also started their journey with very few followers and gradually worked to build their following on TikTok and other platforms.  

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

When the content is good enough to hit the right spot, it attracts more likes on Instagram and 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 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 it’s all worth it in the end. If you have a website, make sure to use website localization tools, to make sure your content resonate with diverse audiences across different regions.

1. Using the KLT Approach

Most of your income as an influencer 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 knowing, like, and trust. This approach provides a basic pathway to developing trust in your followers. To put their faith in you, they must 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, especially for the best IT companies. 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 encourage them to return 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 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 better. 

A great way to engage with the audience is using product demo video production tactics, which will not only help them engage with their audience but also provide them useful content.

4. Share Interactive Stories

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

Shared experiences are a powerful means of developing deeper connections with your followers. When they discover elements of commonality with you, a sense of empathy and mutual appreciation begins to be fostered.  

The extent of being vulnerable on social media is, however, debatable. It can be variable for every individual depending on their comfort level on a particular social networking site. Vulnerability is somewhat necessary to form lasting relationships with your audience, which is why many TikTok creators, as well as influencers and social media personas, are starting to show more vulnerable sides online.

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, honesty 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 has 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 hard to do, you gradually attract the right people to your space. They appreciate you for who you are. People will still bash you for no reason, but your authenticity will eventually help you build a loyal community. 

Final Notes 

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

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 those who are only increasing your engagement rates.