What It Really Takes to Build Influence in 2025 (Beyond Likes and Aesthetic Feeds) So, you want to be an influencer. Amazing. But before you start planning your feed theme or brainstorming brand collabs, here’s the truth: becoming a successful influencer isn’t about chasing trends or curating perfection. It’s about building trust, delivering value, and showing up consistently in a way that feels real .
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to grow your current platform, this guide covers the core steps and strategies to build your influence - sustainably .
Find Your Niche (Yes, You Need One) One of the biggest mistakes aspiring influencers make? Trying to appeal to everyone.
The fastest path to no engagement is a feed that’s trying to do too much. Your niche is your lane and it helps your audience know what to expect and helps brands know how to work with you.
Ask yourself:
What do I genuinely love talking about or sharing? What do people come to me for already (style tips, fitness routines, home hacks)? What can I show up for consistently? You don’t have to lock yourself into one box, but clarity breeds connection. You can always evolve - but start with something specific. Want to branch out? Make sure that your focuses compliment each other, not contradict!
Build and Understand Your Audience Follower count is easy to obsess over - but it’s your connection to those followers that matters most.
Are they engaging? DMing? Saving your content?That’s the gold.
Speak to them, not at them. Ask questions in captions. Respond to comments. Use polls and questions in Stories.
People follow creators they feel connected to, not just impressed by.
Pro tip: creators with under 10k followers often have higher engagement than larger accounts. That means influence isn’t just about scale—it’s about relationships .
At gifted, we want to see a minimum of 3000 followers on Instagram or 10,000 on TikTok, but we look at your engagement rate, and content quality, before we get to your followers
Deliver Consistently Good Content (Without Burning Out) You don’t need to post every day. But you do need to be consistent.
Plan ahead with a content calendar or simple post rhythm. (e.g. one reel a week, a static post, and Stories most days). Focus on value and authenticity over polish. Remember: when you collaborate with a brand, your personal brand becomes an extension of theirs. As a quick sense check, scroll through your feed and ask - does my content reflect the kind of brands I want to attract?
Here’s what good content often includes:
And yes - you can batch content ahead of time. The pros do.
Watch Your Metrics (But Don’t Be Ruled by Them) Metrics are your feedback loop. They help you learn what your audience loves and what to tweak.
The ones to keep an eye on:
Engagement rate : Likes, comments, shares, savesReach vs impressions : Who’s seeing you and how oftenFollower growth : Quality > quantity, but growth shows tractionLink clicks & sticker taps : How often people are taking action from your postsDon’t get discouraged by dips. Learn from the data, experiment, and stay focused on progress, not perfection.
Leverage Contra Collabs to Grow Your Brand You don’t need to wait for paid partnerships to start collaborating. Contra (or “gifted”) collabs are a powerful way to build your portfolio, create content, and gain exposure.
Here’s why they matter:yet
Platforms like #gifted are designed to help creators discover contra opportunities with brands who are actively looking for content creators like you . No awkward DMs. No guessing games. Just clear briefs and collab clarity.
Stay in Your Lane (and Stay Kind) Comparison will creep in. It’s inevitable.
There’s space for everyone, and the creators who stand out are the ones who focus on value over vanity .
Stay grounded, support other creators, and remember: the real flex is creating community - not chasing clout.
This applies not just to how you engage with your community, but also with your collaborators. Being professional, personable, and clear in your communication helps build trust - and it reflects well on your personal brand every time.
Final Thoughts Becoming a successful influencer isn’t about instant virality or overnight growth - it’s about building something meaningful, over time.
Know your niche. Nurture your audience. Deliver value. Stay curious. And don’t sleep on the power of a gifted collab to kickstart your momentum.
📦 Consistency builds trust.
Your journey starts now. One post at a time.
