Over the past decade, the amount of micro-influencers on social media platforms has skyrocketed. Some might even say they have become more influential than the big-name celebrities on the face of social media platforms. These micro-influencers are most prominent on the video-based social media program TikTok which claims to “Make Your Day.” TikTok’s unique algorithm allows small content creators to have a high chance of going viral.
Starting a TikTok account in hopes of being an influencer can be intimidating and scary. Although it has paid off for thousands, so, for many, it is worth a try. The key to creating a platform is picking your “niche.” This is the topic that you will produce content about, and what will try a targeted audience to your content. This niche is often topics like travel, sports, beauty, etc. From there you have to attract and engage an audience and begin strengthening your platform.
The rise of micro-influencers stems from the authenticity of their content. In today’s world, it can be hard to trust influencers who only promote and influence things based on the revenue they produce. Micro-influencers must establish credibility with the audience and do this by promoting affordable and high-quality products to their localized audiences. They strive to create a balance between good marketing, and genuine content. Some successful businesses that have gone through this process on TikTok include Glossier, Bloom, and Chamberlain Coffee.
These influencers do not have to only promote products though. A recent trend on TikTok is posts about “Hopecore” which are videos celebrating the joy and positivity in the little things in life. Freshman Addie Kulik has over 2 Million views on her TikTok platform. She explains that she started her account for fun, as a competition with her friends to see who could get the most views. She says, “Originally, my friends and I just wanted to make fake accounts for fun, and we all were just trying to see who could get the most views.” When her account started reaching many users, she realized she would have to keep up her content for her followers. She explains that in the future it could be a fun experience to be an influencer, but for now the main goal is to “make people happy through my posts.”
While waiting to “go viral” and build a following on your platform can be tedious, it has many benefits. Once you hit 10,000 followers and are of age you can join the Creator Fund. This allows you to get paid for the content you produce. This can be a quick way to make some extra money as a side job. As you continue to build your platform and obtain more followers and money, being a TikTok influencer can be a full-time job.
Many micro-influencers have grown very large platforms which are now their sole focus. Charli D’Amelio, the most followed person on TikTok, started as a nobody who created dances for fun. Now, she is one of the most famous young adults in the world and just had her debut on Broadway. She proves that posting content on TikTok can change your life, whether it means becoming a micro-influencer or one of the most famous people on the app. Regardless, micro-influencers seem to be replacing the claim to fame celebrities typically see on social media.
