Trying to convince your friends and family that you’re considering a career as an influencer is intimidating, but sometimes trying to convince yourself can be harder. When making a lifelong decision like your career, it’s only natural to experience a bit of self-doubt. Before giving in to it, remember why you wanted to become an influencer initially.

5 Good Reasons To Become An Influencer

If you’re thinking of becoming an influencer for the glitz and glam, the hoards of fans, or the money, you may want to reconsider your intentions. 

While many influencers live captivating lives, not all of them do. For those who do manage to make it as influencers, the road is often long and the least bit glamorous – consisting of long nights and workdays that often interfere with personal engagements. Besides, if you do become a popular and self-sustaining influencer, you need to be prepared for the hate and scrutiny that make the job unbearable. 

If you’re not thinking of becoming an influencer for the right reasons, perhaps it’s time to reconsider? 

To give you an understanding of what the right reasons are, we detail them below.

Reason #1: Creative Freedom

Not many jobs give you as much creative freedom as that of an influencer. Influencers have the opportunity to choose the type of projects they work on, how they execute those projects, and most importantly, what they want to do.

If you’re someone who thrives on the idea of having greater control of your career, this will be appealing to you. Also, by becoming an influencer, your remuneration is directly linked to your dedication to the job. The more time you spend doing your job, the more benefits you’ll reap from it, something many other careers don’t offer.

Reason #2: Change The Lives of Others

Influencing the lives of others is what influencers do. Just think of all the influencers you’ve looked up to that have helped you in one way or another. By becoming an influencer you too can become a positive role model in the lives of others and affect change on a greater scale than if you choose another career.

Essentially, using your platform you can inspire, teach, motivate, and enable people to consider or reconsider their life choices.

Reason #3: Creative Workday

Just as you have creative freedom to decide what it is you work on, influencers have the benefit of having a creative work schedule.

Regular jobs have restrictive working hours that you have to conform to, to remain employed. However, as an influencer, you’re able to choose your working hours and your working days. Being able to choose your working hours, enables you to make full use of your workday, according to your schedule. If you’re someone who always has new ideas or constantly needs a creative outlet, becoming an influencer can be liberating.

Reason #4: Opportunity in Other Entertainment Ventures

If you’ve wanted to work in the entertainment industry as a musician, model, or actor, becoming an influencer is one way to fast track that process while getting paid. Because once you gain even just a fraction of success, you can start networking with managers, agents, and others in the industry, allowing you to explore your other interests. Just think of the number of influencers who’ve started their businesses, launched their brands, gone into music, acting, etc. You can do the same, the only caveat being you need to be a SUCCESSFUL influencer for this to be possible.

Reason #5: Ability To Start Young

Most people start their careers at 22 after graduating from college. By that time most influencers are making a name for themselves after gaining a massive audience. This probably is because, on apps like Instagram and YouTube, you’re legally allowed to join at the age of 13. Although you won’t be making money at this age, it does give you time to finetune your craft, explore styles of content, and come into your own. 

However, just because you’re permitted to join at this age doesn’t mean you should.  You need to understand that being an influencer is a tremendous responsibility. 

That said, if you are thinking about starting your journey as a creator, discuss this with a parent, or guidance counselor, or an adult you trust. You don’t want this ambition to stand in the way of interests you may have in the future.

If your parents don’t agree with your decision to become an influencer, don’t be discouraged. 

Remember, most people who are skeptical when you say you want to become an influencer aren’t doing it out of malice, but out of concern. Unlike other careers, becoming successful or even earning an income as an influencer isn’t guaranteed. 

That said, if you want your parents to be open to the idea, show them that this ambition won’t adversely impact your grades or your decision to go to college. Also, be committed to creating content so they see it’s not just a ‘phase’.