When you hear the term, “influencer,” what do you think of? Maybe you think of a viral TikTok star creating a new dance craze, maybe someone with a hundred thousand followers on Instagram endorsing their favorite skincare products and why you need to buy them right now, or maybe it’s someone in your everyday life that seems to naturally have a major effect on others. There are so many influential factors in our everyday lives, and even some that we aren’t even aware of. According to Google, the term “Influence,” can be defined as the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

As small business owners, we have the opportunity to elevate the lives of those around us. But where do we take the first step? In today’s day and age, social media is the most widely used platform to promote small businesses. Your customers are not only able to “like” or “follow” you, but they’re also able to access direct links to your online stores, websites, and other social media outlets all in one place.

When creating your brand, you pick your color scheme, your fonts, logos, and all of these factors contribute to the “feeling” your customers get when visiting your website, social media pages, or buying your product. It sends a message, and in return influences how others receive you. How do your customers perceive your business? Are you a motivator? Are you creative? Are your visuals just so aesthetically pleasing that people HAVE to buy from you or visit your website to see more of what you’re “all about”? I know personally I have had sponsored posts pop up on my Instagram feed with the cutest outfits, or coolest inventions that I am immediately influenced to visit their pages to see more.

The more that people purchase your clothes, your coaching programs, artwork, books, etc and post about their purchases online, the more influence it has on others to do the same. When we see so many people showing off the same sweatshirt, or their results from the latest workout plan from a big fitness influencer, we want the same for ourselves, so we are influenced to spend our money for similar outcomes. That is of course how trends are started. Your business says a lot about you personally, so make sure you’re sending the right message!