Tell us a bit about your background?
Influencer My name is Ghazal and I work as a full-time registered nurse. I have a huge passion for fashion, finding one’s own unique style, as well as veganism and animal rights.
How did You get your start as influencer and how you decide industry focus?
I was inspired by watching other influencers on social media. About a year ago, I was so inspired by all of the fashion content that I was seeing on Instagram that I decided to start my own platform. I knew pretty quickly that my focus would be on fashion and beauty.
Where do you get the ideas for your content?
I get a lot of my inspiration from current trends on Instagram. However, I will say that a lot of my inspiration also comes from my own creative mind. Sometimes, ideas will just occur to me and I write them down quickly so I can revisit them later and bring them to life through the content I create.
How do you choose which brands to work with?
The brands I choose to work with have to align with my values and credibility. As a vegan, I choose to work with brands that are cruelty-free.
How has Your life changed since becoming an influencer?
As a full-time nurse and content creator, I have learned a lot about time management. I have also met so many amazing people through this platform and built relationships that I would not have built otherwise.
What’s been Your biggest challenge as an influencer?
I will say that sometimes I spend a lot of time creating content that I am proud of and think will perform really well but after posting it, it won’t do as well as I had hoped. I find it challenging sometimes not to get discouraged when this happens. I try to remember my bigger purpose and this motivates me.
How did you build that loyalty with followers?
As an influencer, we have to remember that building an authentic connection with our followers is so important. It is crucial to be responsive to the comments and messages that we receive from our followers. I also think it is important to always be honest with your audience. Honesty is the key to loyalty and trust.
How did you grow your channel?
I started out by networking with other influencers in my niche. It is so important to build connections through this platform and learn to be supportive of others because most of the time they will do the same for you. Over time, I was able to build connections with photographers and brands, and that helped me grow my audience as well.
What is your advice for creating an authentic audience on social media? How did you get the ball first rolling?
The way to build an authentic audience is to be your authentic self. Believe it or not, people are able to figure out pretty quickly which influencers are authentic and which ones are not.
As an influencer, what do you do to switch off from your phone?
We all need time away from our phones sometimes. It is so crucial to remember that. When I spend time with my family, I try to be fully present and switch off my phone.
Do you feel that your online life reflects who you are as a person, or do you feel like you have an internet “persona,” to a degree?
I think that influencers try to put their best self forth on social media. However, this does not mean that they are someone completely different online. I actually think it’s best for influencers to be themselves online. If you have a completely different online persona, it becomes very hard to maintain over time, and eventually, it may become very hard on the person.
What is the best piece of advice that you were ever given?
Never give up. Remember why you started. Remember that even if you’re influencing just one person in a positive way, what you’re doing is worth it.
What strategic advice do you have for up and coming Instagram influencers?
When you start out, don’t be hard on yourself and don’t be influenced by numbers (likes, views, etc). Let your creativity flow and make sure you are having fun!
Do you predict any shift in influencer marketing in the coming future?
I think the Instagram platform is definitely moving towards favoring video content as opposed to photos. The reason is that videos can tell a story and are more fun to watch rather than reading a long caption for example. I think the platform is learning that people are more responsive towards video content and I definitely agree.
What do you think is most misunderstood about influencer marketing?
I think a lot of people have a misconception that when influencers advertise a product, it must be for money. Most successful influencers, however, will only advertise products that they have tried out themselves and truly love and would recommend to their friends and family.
What’s one “influencer marketing must” that marketers often overlook?
Selecting the right influencer for a company’s marketing needs should be based on the company and influencers’ values. An influencer who truly loves and cares about a brand can be far more valuable than an influencer with a large following base. It is also important to remember that quality content creation can be far more important than a large following base.
What’s one “influencer marketing must” that marketers often overlook
Being an influencer is definitely a long journey of learning about social media as well as yourself. As an influencer, you will learn so much about your own capability and creative side. When things get stressful, remember to have fun and remember that you are inspiring your amazing audience who is rooting for you and all of your successes to come!
