#TikTokGotMeFired: Viral Videos Gone Bad.

Welcome to the world of influencer marketing: Food for thought from your Big Sis, the MarketHer.

Image from: https://www.pinterest.com/ajanae_t/

Disclaimer: This blog wasn't written to make you think twice about being an influencer. But just to offer you something to think about before diving in.

My family always said, “I’d rather you hear it from me first than in the streets.”

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For the last decade, influencers have become a dime a dozen and are no longer limited to only a small number of devoted bloggers and famous people. Influencers on social media have emerged and flooded the market. Don’t let that discourage you though, even though the size of their fan bases may vary, influencers are powerful influencing can open a lot of doors. With their closely knit communities, influencers can encourage sincere connections, and increase trust and participation with brands (Hello, brand deals!).

So, you want to be an influencer? Here’s a little story time...

TikTok, a social media app, a modern-day search engine if you may, amongst millennials and Gen-Zers. (You might have heard of the phrase “TikTok taught me”) This app is a platform for creating, sharing, and discovering through short videos. Users of the app say they feel such a sense of community, unlike any other app. Social media influencers and content creators have migrated to TikTok and developed and evolved their niche.

Lately, with the massive growth in the tech and corporate world, young professionals have begun building on that and creating content outside of their 9 to 5.

They are creating content that shares things such as their daily lives in their career, their day-to-day at work, tips, and industry “secrets” on how everyday young professionals can also jump into the tech/ corporate world and bump up not only their title but their salary too.

You’d think this can be harmless fun and good mentoring, right? WRONG. Big Companies like Meta and Citibank would disagree.

Naturally, with the good comes the bad. Three creators specifically, Lexi Larson, DeAndre “The Corporate Baddie” Brown, and Maddie Macho have gone viral for their helpful industry tips, creating young professional relatable content, and overall being extremely transparent with the tech/corporate world lives. These three, out of many more, have been fired or had their hand forced by their big-time employers to resign from their positions due to the content they were posting.

The companies used reasons such as calling them risky employees, telling them they were violating social media policies, and nonetheless breaching the security of the company.

While you have a right to discuss certain things such as salaries, benefits packages, work conditions, and so on, one should always be extremely mindful of the documents signed during onboarding and their employer’s social media policies. Thankfully, these corporate and tech vigilantes (if I may), have landed on their feet.

Things to Consider:

Before deciding to become an influencer, it's important to consider several factors to ensure it aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

• Be Mindful. If you are considering becoming an influencer, always be mindful and careful about what you post and how you post it. Certain niches for content creators/ influencers can lead them to become the unofficial face of a brand due to their content type, and with posting (even when it’s your personal account) there can be a lot of gray areas.

• Select a niche that matches your interests and areas of expertise. You must appreciate the subject matter if you want to be an influencer because you must regularly produce material in that field. Your enthusiasm will keep you motivated and involved with your audience, regardless of the topic you choose—fashion, travel, fitness, or any other.

• Time and dedication: Influencing others takes real dedication and is not just a hobby. It might take a lot of time to create content, interact with followers, reply to comments, and manage collaborations. Examine your ability to consistently create high-quality material, interact with your audience, and dedicate the necessary time and effort.

Tip: Dedicate at least one to two days a month and a couple of hours a week to focus on your content and accounts.

• Consider your target audience and the types of content they might find appealing as you consider authenticity. It needs sincerity and relatability to develop a genuine and engaged audience. Think about how you can develop a personal connection with your audience and produce material that speaks to them.

• Consistency & Patience: It takes time and work to gain a following and establish oneself as an influencer. (Rome wasn’t built in a day.) Expecting sudden stardom or quick success is unrealistic. Being consistent is crucial, so be ready to invest in your online presence for the long run and have patience while your following steadily grows.

• Being in the spotlight can expose you to both praise and criticism. Online platforms can be harsh, and negative comments or online harassment may take a toll on your mental health. It's essential to develop resilience and coping mechanisms to handle the pressures that come with being an influencer.

Bonus: Monetization. If you want to use influencer marketing as a career, you should think about your monetization approach. Learn about the several revenue options that influencers can use, including sponsored content, brand collaborations, affiliate marketing, product sales, and crowdfunding. Maintaining your internet presence will depend on your ability to make money from your influence.

Keep in mind that the road to “influencer-Dom" is a personal one, and everyone will have a different experience. Spend some time thinking, self-reflecting, making specific goals, and being realistic about the potential and obstacles associated with this professional path. And finally, HAVE FUN, social media is a tool for just that, being social, try not to overthink it. Don’t be afraid to dust yourself off and try it again.