Here's how you can navigate the dos and don'ts of networking in the influencer marketing industry.

Building trust as an influencer is essential for cultivating a loyal and engaged audience. Transparency is key; be honest about sponsored content and partnerships to maintain credibility. Consistently deliver high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your audience’s interests and needs. Engage authentically with your followers by responding to comments and messages, showing that you value their input and connection. Additionally, you can share personal stories and experiences to create a deeper bond and relatability. Stay true to your values and avoid promoting products or services that you don't genuinely support. Trust is the foundation of a strong influencer-audience relationship, driving long-term success.

Networking é uma construção de relacionamento e, na minha opinião, parte de você na entrega de valor sem esperar nada em troca do outro. A partir disso, você consegue construir confiança genuína e tornar recíproco a entrega de valor.

Being authentic as an influencer is crucial for building a genuine connection with your audience. Authenticity fosters trust, loyalty, and a strong community around your brand. Share your true self, including your successes, challenges, and personal stories. This transparency makes you relatable and trustworthy. Avoid promoting products or services you don't believe in, as your followers can sense insincerity. As an influencer in the education sphere, I've tried my hardest to stay true to my values and shared my real experiences (e.g. opening my alevel results on a live stream!) My journey has taught me that authenticity not only strengthens your brand but also attracts like-minded followers who appreciate and trust your honest approach.

Como o networking é pautado na base de construção de relacionamento e confiança, você precisa ser autêntico. Não adianta criar um personagem, seja você e crie identificação com as pessoas a partir disso. As pessoas que realmente farão sentido irão se identificar de forma genuína.

Engaging online is crucial to successful influence. Being an influencer for the last 4 years, taught me that active engagement is key to building a strong community and fostering loyalty. Regularly interacting with your audience through comments, messages, and live sessions shows you value their input and presence. Asking questions, creating polls, and encouraging user-generated content to promote participation builds a sense of community and mutual support. Consistent and meaningful engagement not only strengthens your relationship with your audience but also boosts your visibility and reach. From my experience, I’ve seen how genuine interaction turns followers into a passionate and loyal community, driving sustained success and influence.

Before the event: Do your research: Identify events relevant to your industry and professional goals. Check agendas, speaker lists and event descriptions to make sure they match your interests. Set clear goals: What do you want to accomplish by attending the event? Are you looking to meet potential customers, build relationships with influencers, or learn from thought leaders? Having clear goals will help you focus your efforts and maximize your time. Prepare your pitch: Have a clear idea of who you are, what you do and what you offer. Be prepared to present your pitch concisely and engagingly to other participants.

Identify the needs of others: Take the time to understand what others are looking for and how you can help them. Personalize your approach: Adapt your value offering to each individual and their situation. Be consistent: Deliver value regularly and sincerely. Don't expect an immediate return: Building relationships takes time and patience. Have fun ! Networking should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Be concise and clear: When contacting an influencer, get to the point and clearly explain what you want. Don't waste their time with long introductions or unnecessary details. Respect their time: Don’t bombard influencers with messages or requests. Be patient and wait for them to respond before following up with them. Be flexible and open-minded: Influencers may have their own ideas and preferences for collaborations. Be open to their suggestions and willing to adapt your approach accordingly. Don't push for collaborations that aren't a good fit: If an influencer doesn't seem interested in your collaboration, respect their decision and move on. There are many other potential influencers you can work with.