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I almost quit the influencer life. I considered a lot of things and ultimately decided against doing it. Here’s more on my story including explaining the 4 types of influencers that exist, benefits and drawbacks of influencer life, and more.
Let’s go!
I almost quit the influencer life
Influencer life is a dream for many people. They envision freedom from a 9-to-5 job, traveling whenever you want, making gobs of money, getting free stuff, and working part-time towards a full-time income.
The truth is, it can be all those things and more but at a price.
Here are 7 reasons I almost quit being an influencer…
What are the 4 types of influencers?
The four types of influencers are:
- Nanoinfluencers: 1,000 to 10,000 followers
- Microinfluencers:: 10,000 to 50,000 followers
- Macroinfluencers: 50,000 to 100,000 followers
- Megainfluencers:100,000 to 1M followers
What is a nanoinfluencer?
A nanoinfluencer is a term used to describe an individual with a small but engaged following on social media, typically between 1,000 to 10,000 followers. They often have a specific niche or area of expertise, such as a particular lifestyle, hobby, or interest, and their followers tend to be highly engaged and trust their opinions.
Nanoinfluencers are considered to be a valuable resource for brands and marketers looking to reach a specific and targeted audience. They often have a higher engagement rate than larger influencers, and their followers tend to be more loyal and trust their recommendations.
Brands are turning to nanoinfluencers because they are more cost-effective and can be more easily integrated into a brand’s overall marketing strategy. They also have a more intimate relationship with their followers and can help a brand to reach a more specific and targeted audience.
While nanoinfluencers have a smaller following than micro or macro influencers, their followers tend to be more engaged and loyal. Brands can also work with multiple nanoinfluencers to reach a larger audience, rather than investing a large sum of money on a single influencer with a large following.
Nanoinfluencers are becoming increasingly popular as a way for brands to reach a specific and engaged audience at a lower cost. They can be a great addition to any marketing strategy, and can help to increase brand awareness and drive sales.
What is a microinfluencer?
A micro influencer is a term used to describe an individual with a moderate following on social media, typically between 10,000 to 100,000 followers. They often have a specific niche or area of expertise, such as a particular lifestyle, hobby, or interest, and their followers tend to be highly engaged and trust their opinions.
Micro influencers are considered to be a valuable resource for brands and marketers looking to reach a specific and targeted audience. They often have a higher engagement rate than larger influencers, and their followers tend to be more loyal and trust their recommendations. They can also be more cost-effective than macro influencers and can be more easily integrated into a brand’s overall marketing strategy.
Brands can work with micro influencers on sponsored content, product reviews, or brand ambassadorships. Micro influencers can help a brand to reach a more specific and targeted audience, for example, if a brand is focused on sustainable fashion, it can work with micro influencers who are focused on sustainable lifestyle, and post content around that subject.
Micro influencers often command lower fees than macro influencers, and their fees can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the influencer, the campaign, and the platform. They can be a great addition to any marketing
What is a macroinfluencer?
A macro influencer is a term used to describe an individual with a large following on social media, typically over 100,000 followers. They are well-known personalities, and their followers tend to be loyal and trust their opinions. They often have a broad reach and are able to influence a wide audience across multiple platforms.
Macro influencers are considered to be a valuable resource for brands and marketers looking to increase their visibility and reach a wide audience. They are often well-known personalities in a particular industry or niche and have built a large following over time. Brands can work with macro influencers to reach a large audience, increase brand awareness and drive sales.
Due to their large following, macro influencers often command a higher fee than other types of influencers, and their fees can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the influencer, the campaign, and the platform.
Macro influencers are often celebrities or well-known public figures, and they are typically seen as having a large reach and audience. They can be a great addition to any marketing strategy, and can help to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to a website, and generate leads. They are also often seen as having a certain level of credibility and trust that can help to increase the perceived value of a brand.
What is a megainfluencer?
A mega influencer is a term used to describe an individual with an extremely large following on social media, typically over one million followers. They are well-known personalities and tend to have a broad reach and influence a wide audience across multiple platforms. They are often celebrities or high-profile public figures and have built a significant following over time.
Mega influencers are considered to be a valuable resource for brands and marketers looking to increase visibility and reach a wide audience. They are often able to generate significant engagement and drive large amounts of traffic to a website, and their followers tend to be highly engaged and trust their opinions. Due to their large following, they are able to generate significant impact for brands.
Due to their high level of popularity, mega influencers command high fees for sponsored content and partnerships, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, but also millions of dollars for the most popular ones, depending on the influencer, the campaign, and the platform.
Mega influencers are often seen as having a high level of credibility and trust that can help to increase the perceived value of a brand, and they can be a great addition to any marketing strategy, helping to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to a website, and generate leads.
Why People Want to Become Influencers?
There are several reasons why people may want to become influencers. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Creativity and self-expression: Many people enjoy creating content and sharing their experiences, thoughts, and opinions with others. Influencer marketing allows them to express themselves creatively and share their unique perspectives with a large audience.
- Building a personal brand: Many people see influencer marketing as a way to build a personal brand and establish themselves as experts in a particular niche or industry.
- Financial gain: Influencer marketing can be a lucrative career, with many influencers earning significant income through sponsored posts, brand partnerships, and affiliate marketing.
- Social status: Being an influencer can also bring a certain level of social status and prestige. Many influencers have a large following and enjoy the attention and recognition that comes with it.
- Flexibility: Being an influencer allows people to work on their own schedule, and many influencers enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss.
- Impact and giving back: Some influencers see their platform as a way to make a positive impact in the world by using their reach and influence to raise awareness about social and environmental issues.
- Personal fulfillment: Many people find personal fulfillment in being able to inspire and help others by sharing their own experiences and tips.
Why Influencers are Quitting Every Month
If you’re getting all this, why quit?
The reasons can vary for everyone. These are 7 reasons I almost quit influencer life.
1. Working more than a 9-to-5 job
While making a full-time income on part-time hours is very possible, few influencers are doing that. And, it’s tough to notice when you’re not tracking your hours.
The truth is, you really have influencing and content creation on the brain 24/7.
So, some things I find myself doing are:
- Prepping and making Tik Tok videos while laying in bed at the end of the night
- Reading work emails while I’m waiting for the movie previews to start on a movie theater date I’m on with my husband
- Working on my tablet in front of a TV with friends when I’m supposed to be relaxing and having fun with them
Can you sit at a restaurant with your partner or friends and enjoy a beautiful meal without snapping a pic for Insta or filming it?
Are you able to enjoy a beautiful sunset at the beach without capturing the moment for a reel?
There are moments that can be captured every second and you don’t want to miss them.
You’re always on and in the end, most influencers do work more than a full-time 9-to-5 and it’s a shame.
2. Always hustling
When you’re influencer work fuels your lifestyle and your well-being, you always feel like you’re in hustle mode. I could never be happy with landing a four-figure or five-figure brand deal because I’m always thinking I want more.
It’s great I landed that deal but, I’ve got to keep going, keep hustling, to get that next deal.
You’re never resting on your laurels, which is a good thing however, you’re also never resting.
There’s always that hustle mentality going on beneath it all.
This is hustle culture.
When your career becomes your life and other things — hobbies, self-care, family time, other important things in life hit the back burner.
This article talks about how to make money with sponsorships on Tik Tok.
3. You always feel on
There’s no slumming it running to the corner store or grocery store in slides, sweats, and messy hair. You’ve got to be on because:
- ) There could be a content opportunity and if there is one, you want to look good
- ) You could run into someone you know or don’t know and you don’t want to risk looking disheveled and messy
Then, when you always feel on, there’s the added time you have to take to get ready, and put together your face, outfit, and accessories. And, the added stress of it all.
4. Burnout
You get burned out.
I feel this when I get stuck solely doing the dishes in my house. After a while, I’m totally over it. I can take a break and my husband will do dishes for a bit while I cool off.
When you feel burned out in your career, as an influencer or not, taking time off can impact your finances. It can throw you off track. It’s a scary feeling if you’re not prepared.
But, aside from the consequences of taking a break, not taking a break can be even direr.
Not breaking when your body needs it could lead to a lot of frustration, unhappiness, and a break in your mental health. When your body tells you to stop, you’ve got to listen.
It’s great to have a million followers on IG but, what if IG disappears tomorrow? So does your income.
Starting by building an audience on social media is great but funneling to your own program, website, etc. is what a lot of influencers fail to do.
A YouTube channel, Tik Tok account, Snapchat profile, even a Medium blog, those are all things that are not truly yours. If the platform is gone, so are your followers and your influence on that network.
It can be hard to steer your fans to your own website, email list, etc. It feels like you’ll always be connected to your social networks and I don’t like that.
6. Not being yourself
Maybe you put on a persona for online or you act a way that’s not really you in real life.
A big fear of mine is if I be too “real” I won’t get likes or followers.
When I first started on my main Tik Tok account, I’d experiment with posting authentic, real videos of myself and the dressed-up faceless videos that have pretty backgrounds and professional-looking text.
The faceless videos did better!
How to start a faceless Tik Tok business ebook version 2.0 is out
I published my ebook on how to build a faceless Tik Tok.
It makes part of me feel that I can’t be my true self online.
A lot of influencers also hate all the rules and regulations that social networks and communities have. You’re limited on what you can post, how much you can post, the type of content, etc.
If the network doesn’t like it, it’ll ban your content and/or ban you.
Some of my favorite creators on Tik Tok, some with up to millions of followers, disappeared overnight because of being banned.
I used to follow this creator who had 700K followers who’d talk about Tik Tok strategy, growth and tips.
It was his whole business! He quit his job with Gary Vee to pursue it.
Now, how does it look giving advice on Tik Tok when your own Tik Tok account got banned?
It’s scary out there.
I, myself have had multiple videos flagged on Tik Tok. Many got reinstated, some haven’t, which is why I’m scared to post any more than a few times a month on the app. I have nearly 100K followers on Tik Tok.
And, my Pinterest account got suspended twice in the last month. Both times were reinstated with an apology but, a suspension that sticks can wipe out years of work and growth on the platform. I have 14K+ followers on Pinterest
All this can put a sense of fear in influencers. It can also stifle creativity.
7. Once you get to your dream life, what next?
I’m hardly there, let’s be honest but, I can’t help but wonder, what happens when I hit my dream number in annual income.
When I hit X number of social media followers on my social channels or when I make it on TV or get stopped on the street because I’m recognized.
When all that happens, what next?
Do you stop being fulfilled with work?
It’s like when celebrities have it all, do they have anything to look forward to anymore? Can you imagine not having anything to look forward to?
Trips and travel don’t matter because you have the time and money to go anywhere, anytime.
Fancy meals have no meaning.
There’s no limit on spending, you can buy all the fancy designer bags, suits, shoes, etc. you want.
Nothing feels special anymore.
This study links job authority to depression.
I think it can happen in any career, including being an influencer.
When you’re at the top, is there nowhere to go but down?
What do you think?
I haven’t quit yet and I don’t know if I ever will. For me, the benefits are still very fruitful.
May will be my biggest month ever in revenue and for 2022 I’m on target to have my highest year ever, in part from my growing influencer accounts on social media.
- I’m finally getting 7–8 hours of sleep a night and it feels great
- I can vacation when I want
- I can afford to take my family on long outings and take random trips throughout the year
- Making a steady five figures per month is very nice
- Buying my #1 car choice recently was a dream
There are downsides to any career.
These 7 I shared with you exist in the influencer world but for me, the benefits still far outweigh these drawbacks.
Click here (my course) if you want to learn more about being a paid influencer.
Click here if you want to read more about my adventures in content creation, being an influencer, running a business, freelance writing and more, in my Substack.
Would all these reasons be enough for you to quit?
These are some really interesting thoughts, thanks for sharing!
A lot of people want to be influencers, but it’s definitely not right for everyone (like many things).
I have no doubt it’s a ton of work if you want to be truly successful, and content creation is an ongoing need! Good for you for recognizing how much effort it can be, and for sharing your experiences with the world.