As an influencer in India, it’s important to be aware of potential pitfalls and things to avoid in order to build a successful and sustainable career in this rapidly-growing and competitive market. Here’s a list of 8 key mistakes to avoid:
1.Avoid violating the terms of service of social media platforms:
It is important for influencers to understand and adhere to the terms of service of the social media platforms they use. Violating these terms can lead to penalties such as account suspension or termination.
Examples of violating the terms of service include:
- Posting illegal or offensive content
- Using automated tools to artificially increase engagement (e.g. buying followers or likes)
- Plagiarizing content from other users
- Posting copyrighted material without permission
- Sharing personal information about others without their consent
- Spamming other users with unsolicited messages or comments.
It’s important for influencers to read and understand the terms of service of each platform they use and to ensure that their content and behavior align with these guidelines. They should also be aware of any changes to the terms of service and adjust their behavior accordingly.
2.Avoid over-promoting or spamming your followers:
It is important to strike a balance between promoting your brand and providing value to your followers. Over-promoting or spamming your followers can lead to a decrease in engagement and ultimately harm your brand.
Examples of over-promoting or spamming include:
- Posting too many sponsored or self-promotional posts in a short period of time
- Sending too many direct messages or emails promoting your brand or products
- Constantly asking followers to buy your products or services
- Not providing enough value or engaging content in between promotional posts
- Posting irrelevant or low-quality content that is only meant to promote your brand.
It’s important for influencers to have a content strategy in place that balances promotional content with valuable and engaging content. Influencers should also be mindful of the frequency of their promotional posts and the tone they use when promoting their brand. Additionally, they should be respectful of their followers’ time and not spam them with too many promotional messages.
3.Avoid using fake followers or engagement:
As an influencer, it’s important to have a genuine following and engagement. Using fake followers or engagement can damage your credibility and harm your brand.
Examples of using fake followers or engagement include:
- Buying followers or likes from third-party providers
- Using bots to artificially increase engagement on your posts (e.g. comments, likes, views)
- Creating multiple fake accounts to follow or interact with your own content
- Using click farms or other tactics to artificially inflate your engagement metrics
Using fake followers or engagement can make influencer’s engagement look artificially high, which can be misleading for the brands who are considering working with them. It can also lead to getting penalized by social media platforms and can harm the influencer’s reputation.
It’s important for influencers to build a genuine following and engagement through quality content and authentic interactions with their audience. They should avoid any tactics that artificially inflate their metrics and be transparent with their audience and brands about the nature of their engagement.
4.Avoid compromising your personal values:
Influencers have a platform and a voice, it’s important to remain true to their personal values and beliefs. Compromising your personal values can harm your credibility and integrity as an influencer.
Examples of compromising personal values include:
- Endorsing products or services that you do not believe in or use
- Participating in campaigns or promotions that go against your personal beliefs
- Being dishonest or untruthful with your audience
- Posting content that is not in line with your personal values or beliefs
- Agreeing to work with a brand or sponsor that has a reputation for engaging in unethical practices.
It’s important for influencers to be transparent with their audience about the nature of their partnerships and to avoid working with brands that go against their personal values. They should also be mindful of the content they post and ensure that it aligns with their personal values and beliefs. By staying true to their personal values, influencers can maintain their credibility and integrity, which will ultimately help to build trust with their audience.
5.Avoid over-committing or spreading yourself too thin:
As an influencer, it’s important to manage your time and resources effectively to avoid burnout and maintain the quality of your content. Over-committing or spreading yourself too thin can lead to decreased productivity, burnout, and ultimately harm your brand.
Examples of over-committing or spreading yourself too thin include:
- Taking on too many collaborations or sponsorships at once
- Agreeing to unrealistic deadlines or workloads
- Neglecting other aspects of your life, such as family, friends, or self-care
- Not setting boundaries and saying “yes” to everything
- Not having a clear and manageable schedule
It’s important for influencers to set realistic goals and manage their time and resources effectively. They should prioritize their commitments and focus on the most important tasks first. They should also set boundaries and communicate effectively with brands and collaborators to ensure that their workload is manageable.
Additionally, they should make sure to set aside time for themselves, their family, and friends, and also ensure that they’re taking care of their physical and mental well-being. By avoiding over-committing and spreading themselves too thin, influencers can maintain a healthy work-life balance, which will ultimately help to sustain their success in the long term.
6.Be mindful of cultural sensitivities:
Influencers should be aware of and sensitive to the cultural backgrounds and beliefs of their audience and the communities they are reaching out. Being culturally insensitive can harm your reputation, and cause offense to your followers.
Examples of being culturally insensitive include:
- Posting content that is culturally insensitive or offensive
- Using stereotypes or derogatory language in your content
- Ignoring or belittling cultural customs and traditions
- Not being sensitive to different cultures and backgrounds when promoting products or services
- Not providing enough context when discussing sensitive cultural issues.
It’s important for influencers to be mindful of the cultural backgrounds and beliefs of their audience, and to be respectful and sensitive to those cultures in their content. They should also be aware of cultural customs and traditions, and avoid using stereotypes or derogatory language.
They should also be mindful of the context when discussing sensitive cultural issues, providing enough context and information. If influencers are not sure about something, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from experts or individuals from the culture in question. By being mindful of cultural sensitivities, influencers can avoid causing offense, and instead foster a positive and inclusive environment.
7.Avoid plagiarism or copyright infringement:
As an influencer, it’s important to create original content and respect the rights of others. Plagiarism or copyright infringement can damage your reputation and lead to legal issues.
Examples of plagiarism or copyright infringement include:
- Copying and pasting content from other sources without giving credit
- Using copyrighted images or videos without permission
- Reproducing someone else’s content without their consent
- Using quotes or lyrics without proper attribution
- Using copyrighted music or sound effects in your videos without a license
It’s important for influencers to create original content and respect the rights of others. They should always give credit where credit is due and obtain permission before using any copyrighted material.
If you’re unsure about whether something is copyrighted or not, it’s always a good idea to do your research or consult with legal experts. If you’re using quotes, lyrics, or other copyrighted materials, you should give proper attribution and follow the guidelines for fair use. By avoiding plagiarism or copyright infringement, influencers can maintain their credibility and avoid legal issues.
8.Avoid over-editing or using filters excessively:
As an influencer, it’s important to present a genuine and authentic image to your followers. Over-editing or using filters excessively can make your content appear inauthentic, and can harm your reputation.
Examples of over-editing or using filters excessively include:
- Using heavy filters to alter the appearance of a photo or video
- Exaggerating features or body parts using editing tools
- Over-editing to the point where the image or video is no longer realistic
- Using editing tools to change the context or meaning of a photo or video
- Using editing tools to create unrealistic beauty standards
It’s important for influencers to present a genuine and authentic image to their followers. While editing tools and filters can be used to enhance the quality of your content, it’s important to use them in moderation. They should avoid exaggerating features or body parts, and should not over-edit or use filters excessively to the point where the image or video is no longer realistic.
They should also be mindful of the context and meaning of the content and avoid using editing tools in ways that can change it. By avoiding over-editing or using filters excessively, influencers can maintain their credibility and authenticity.
In conclusion, as an influencer in India, it’s important to be aware of the potential mistakes that can harm your reputation and credibility.
By avoiding violating the terms of service of social media platforms, over-promoting or spamming your followers, using fake followers or engagement, compromising your personal values, over-committing or spreading yourself too thin, being culturally insensitive, plagiarism or copyright infringement and over-editing or using filters excessively, you can maintain a positive reputation and build a strong and authentic connection with your followers.
Keep in mind these mistakes to avoid if you want to build a successful and sustainable career as an influencer in the Indian market