How To STAND OUT As An Online Influencer

In today's' digital world, how to stand out as an online influencer is on the top of everyone's list.

Thanks to the world wide web and the emergence of social media, anybody can share their knowledge with the world and make an impact.

Social networks have become the hub where consumers make the majority of their buying decisions. This has provided a platform for influencers to establish themselves as authority figures in this digital space.

The question is, “What is a social media influencer?” In actuality, it means different things to different people. However, a simple influencer definition is that “Influence is the ability to cause desirable and measurable actions and outcomes.”

Companies have caught on to how important influencer marketing is to their bottom line. Research shows that 75% of marketers claim to have allocated money for influencer marketing. These statistics prove that the ability to influence may be one of the most powerful qualities that a person can possess.

Kenneth H. Blanchard said it best – “The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.” Are you ready to learn 7 ways for how to stand out as an online influencer?

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Knowing how to stand out as an online influencer gives you a competitive edge.

The burning question is, “How does an influencer gain respect and recognition in the online world?”

An influencer has the ability to shape how people think about a topic by producing high-quality content that brings awareness to issues that matter. This may sound easier said than done, but the ability to influence is an art. According to Traackr, less than 3% of influencers yield 90% of the impact online.

If you want to be in the 3% of the top social media influencers, you need to exercise influence in such a way that it allows you stand out from the millions of other people online.

So…how do you stand out amidst the crowd?

It starts with developing an influencer mindset. Influencers think and act differently with regards to how they go about achieving their goals. What is the story that you tell yourself about who you are?

If you say, “I'm not unique” or “This is not possible for me.” Guess what? That's what you will create.

These are limiting beliefs. The #1 quality that you need in order to succeed in business is to be resourceful. If you can't find a way, make a way! When the dabbler hits a wall, they give up.

However, when a master hits a wall, they find a way over the wall, under the wall, or even better, they break through the wall. This is the secret sauce for how to stand out as an online influencer.

We all have the ability to be persons of influence if we BELIEVE that we can.

You may not know it yet, but influence is something that you already possess. We live influence on a daily basis. We impact people every day with the actions and decisions that we make. Before you start learning how to stand out as an online influencer, focus on working with the influence that you already possess.

In the words of Scott Adams, “You don't have to be a person of influence in order to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things that they've taught me.”

Let's explore 7 ways that you can stand out as an online influencer in the digital world.

1. Know What Your Audience Wants

If you don't know who your audience is, then knowing how to stand out will be impossible.

Do your research and define your target market. Engage with your readers and find out what it is that they need help with. A great way to do this is to publish a weekly Q&A blog post.

Don't create content based on what you want. It's not about you. Knowing how to stand out in the online world requires that you tap into the needs of your readers.

If you can understand what makes your audience tick, then you will know the type of content that you need to create. It's all about mastering the psychology behind consumer behavior. When you can tap into the emotions and thought processes behind buyer decisions, you will know how to stand out as an online influencer.

2. Publish High-Quality Content On A Consistent Basis

Once you know who your audience is and what they want, now you need to start creating high-quality content that aligns with their needs.

A lot of people ask me, “As a content writer, how do you stand out?” I always say that one of the best ways to stand out is to just be yourself.

Oftentimes the reason that people follow someone online isn't just because of the content that they publish. Rather, there is something about a person's character and his/her story that they are attracted to and intrigued by.

All of us have an incredible amount of value that we can provide to the world. At the onset, you don't have to be an expert in a specific area. Rather, you can document your life by sharing your journey with others. That is one of the most authentic ways for how to stand out and become a person of influence.

If you commit to creating high-quality content on a consistent basis, you will eventually become an influencer in your industry.

3. Be Everywhere

The reason why some of the top influencers are so successful is that they are in-sync with the topic that they have mastered. They are avid learners and visionary thinkers who are constantly seeking ways to grow and evolve themselves.

They don't drink beer on the weekends and watch a football game. Rather, they eat, sleep and breathe their work because their passion trumps everything. Because they operate in this way, they are always up-to-date with the latest trends in their industry.

They are the first to know what is happening and are always thinking two steps ahead of everyone else. How? They follow new data, trends, and developments. They know that, in this ever-changing digital landscape, if you aren't growing, you're dying.

Gary Vaynerchuk is a perfect example of an influencer who knows how to stand out. He is anywhere and everywhere. He hustles because he is passionate about what he does and loves to serve people.

Do whatever you can to make sure that you are everywhere. Write blog posts, be a guest blogger, do video interviews, start a podcast, create a YouTube channel, host a workshop, or attend mastermind events and seminars. Just be everywhere.

Go where the action is, absorb all the knowledge that you can, and make sure that people know who you are and why you are there.

4. Over-Deliver On The Value You Provide

The #1 reason why influencers have a strong following is that they add massive value on a consistent basis. Never forget that the purpose of content marketing is to create value. If you aren't doing this, you are wasting your time. Henry Ford said it best – “If it doesn't add value, it's a waste.”

Every time that I create a piece of content I am always focusing on adding value. Before I publish something, I think to myself, “Can this blog post help and add value to someone?” If I get a strong “yes”, then I hit publish.

Influencers always over-deliver on the value that they provide. How do they do this? By going above and beyond to help their readers find answers to their problems. In doing so, they prove that their knowledge and wisdom is worth paying attention to.

When you focus on being a value creator and shift your mindset from “we” to “us”, your influence expands. The fact of the matters is that the more value that you create for others, the more value they will give back to you.

Don't get me wrong. The money that I make from my business is an awesome reward, but I am more proud of the impact that I make in the lives of others. Never stop asking yourself, “How can I create raving fans so that people will continue to follow me for years to come?”

5. Be Transparent

An influencer is someone who openly and honestly shares who they are and what they believe in. They don't sugar coat anything. Being an online entrepreneur doesn't only involve posting blogs and video content. You need to be fully transparent with your readers.

How do you do this?

By being honest and showing your readers what has worked for you in your life and in your business. People appreciate realness and will respect you more for it. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable with others. Share your failures, as well as your successes.

Making genuine connections with people is the secret to becoming a true influencer. People remain loyal to business owners that are transparent. Consumers are smarter than you think and can smell deception from a mile away, so be careful of the kind of image that you are portraying online.

6. Engage and Build Relationships

Dr. Robert Cialdini, who is a global researcher and influencer on the topic of influence, has been studying the 6 principles of persuasion since the 80's. One of his principles that are most definitely used amongst social media influencers is that of likability. People do business with people that they like and trust. End of story.

The question is, “How do you foster likability?”

You make the effort to engage and build long-lasting relationships with people. A great way to do this is by building an email list on your blog. Your readers subscribe to your blog for one reason – they want to learn from you and be inspired by what you have to say.

In exchange for their loyalty, they expect reciprocity. This is not an option in today's digital world. If you don't show people that you care, they won't continue to follow you.

Every top influencer understands how important it is to win the hearts of their readers. The more value that you add, the easier it will be to become an influencer.

7. Drop The Ego

As an influencer, people admire and look up to you. They may want to be like you, live like you, and work like you, which can feed your ego. Sure, it feels good to be adored, but don't let it get to your head.

If you find yourself boasting about how many Instagram followers you have or likes that you get on a post, you need to check your ego at the door.

The moment that you become an influencer and think that you are better than everybody else is the moment at which you need to step back and ask yourself, “What is my intention behind why I'm doing this?”

Don't get caught up in theof “influencer.” Instead, just focus on helping people and creating human-to-human connections. The truth is that true intelligence is not determined by the amount of influence that someone has. Rather, it's all about doing what you love and sharing your gift with the world.

These are 7 ways that you can become a sought-after online influencer.

Now that you know how to stand out as an online influencer, are you ready to take action?

In the grand scheme of things, being an influencer isn't only about how many subscribers or followers you have on social media. Rather, it's about being authentically yourself and owning it. People love story-tellers, so find your unique voice and be transparent.

Your success as an influencer comes down, in large part, to your ability to share your message in a way that connects with people on a deeper level. If you don't believe me, take it from the Dalai Lama himself who said – “Real power has to do with one's ability to influence the hearts and minds of others.”

Are you ready to stand out from the competition, master influence, and become a pro influencer? Keep in mind that learning how to stand out as an online influencer doesn’t happen overnight. It can take years to establish credibility and authority, but if you are passionate and put in the hard work, you will become an influencer one day.