Do you want to become an Interior Design Influencer? If so, you’re not alone.
Social media first came on the scene in 1997. As of 2022, over 4.7 billion people were using social media sites regularly. Traditional celebrities as well as savvy internet users have managed to capture segments of this audience and influence their lifestyle and buying habits – we call these people influencers!
Becoming an influencer today is much more challenging than in the early years of social media. Many of the top influencers in the interior design industry have spent years building their platform which includes social media sites, product lines, speaking, books and other media. In many cases, they’ve built their reputation through great design work as well as the celebrity or ultra-affluent clientele they serve.
What are the different levels of influencer?
Mega-influencers
Mega-influencers typically have 1M+ followers on at least one social media platform. These influencers are considered celebrities in their respective fields and command as much as $1 per follower for their posts. They typically work through agents, and only large brands can afford their fees. What Mega-influencers say can impact purchasing decisions. Just think of the Oprah effect. Her endorsement can easily explode a brand in a good way. Bobby Berk has $2.8M+ followers on Instagram and earns as much as $7,500 per post. That is approximately three times what other designers charge according to Richard Augustin of AugustMan.
Macro-influencers
Macro-influencers have between 100,000 and 1M followers. Experts and lesser-known experts fall into this category. These influencers can raise awareness for brands and help increase sales for those brands.
Micro-influencers
Micro-influencers claim between 10,000 to 100,000 followers. Several interior designers fall into this category and can earn fees for their posts. According to Influencer MarketingHub, this level of influencer can earn up to $50,000 per year as a brand ambassador.
Nano-influencers
Nano-influencers have between 1,000 to 10,000 followers. Most interior designers fall into this category. If you’re in this stage, you may still be in the growth process. And despite the lower numbers compared to other influencers, you may have a very dedicated and passionate audience.
Don’t be discouraged by these statistics. If your goal is to have a successful business that attracts A-list clients, then first focus on building a strong brand with an outstanding reputation.
What will being an influencer do for you?
What are you willing to invest in time and money to achieve one of these influencer levels? Know that it will take you years to accomplish these levels unless you’re already working with highly visible clients and getting lots of press.
Many designers just want to build a great business in their market that supports their lifestyle, and that’s an achievable goal.
How to succeed on social media
The key to achieving influencer status and social media success is to focus first on one platform, such as Instagram. Here are a few rules of thumb to having a successful social media presence:
- Decide on the point of view you want to display.
- Create a visual brand standard for your posts.
- Include posts about you as your own brand ambassador. If you enjoy traveling, show visits to artisans and job sites – show yourself doing the work you do!
- Post consistently and on a schedule.
- Respond to engagement. If someone comments on your work, acknowledge it.
- Follow brands you love. Post comments. Link to its content.
- Connect with key brands in your community including architects and builders.
- Use video as much as possible. Don’t worry about being perfect. Be relatable.
- Show your personality.
- Build relationships with your followers. One of the most powerful social media darlings is Taylor Swift. Her Swifties are loyal followers because she presents herself as friendly and caring – not just because of her music.
Focus first on building your platform, and when you reach at least 10,000 engaged followers, you’ll be ready to monetize your personal brand!