I started blogging my senior year of college as a way to express myself in my own creative world. I wanted to create a space that could inform others but also be fun and exciting. In 2016, I decided to build my website LexPaige.com which focuses on lifestyle products, travel experiences, and day-to-day advice. Years later (5 to be exact) my growth as a lifestyle blogger has grown tremendously and I’m about to tell you why.
With my website and social media accounts, I use photography, writing, and cinematography to highlight brands and experiences. Over the last year (2020) I have gained over 10,000 new users/visitors on my website and I promote all blog reviews via my social media accounts. My social media reach is 54 out of 100, which has a collective audience reach of 12.8K targets largely female consumers age 20-35. But how did I make this all happen?
Well, I have noticed over the last several years as a blogger and influencer you must be adaptable. The digital game is forever changing and you should always be able to relate to the current culture and your audience. Unfortunately, 2020 was a perfect example of how we all must be able to adjust to new circumstances. With many of us staying at home, marketing companies were having a hard time finding ways to reach customers. Sure, digital advertising was available (who doesn’t love a good Facebook Ad) but companies were looking for emotional and true connections to share their products. This is why many companies turned to microbloggers and influencers like myself to help organically market their brand.
For me, since I cover lifestyle products and event reviews, I am a part of affiliate blogger programs that serve as a way to make a genuine blogger and brand connection. During the past year, I noticed more and more companies reaching out to me through these platforms to collaborate. Years earlier, I felt like most compies (especially big-box retailers) were not utilizing the benefits of influencers and sticking to outdated marketing techniques. Most companies were scared to work with influencers because of the unknown (not knowing analytics, if they were reliable) but over time this has drastically changed for good. Because so many more people want real reviews (even the bad) and the real people who use them (not super-famous celebrities) the push for authenticity in brands gave wind to the movement of marketing using influencers like me!
As I mentioned earlier, 2020 definitely was a turning point for me as an influencer. I was given a lot more opportunities for bigger name brands that previously never use to occur. After filtering through pitches, I noticed having my three main social media platforms, Instagram, Twitter, and a Facebook Like Page for my business were all key in what these companies were looking for. In addition, having a YouTube page where I could review via video for companies also aided in solidifying collaborations. One thing I noticed (which hasn’t happened to me yet) but on social media, the goal is to get your followers above 10,000 on Instagram and you can include URL links in your Instagram stories. This will drive your social media traffic up even higher and get you even more collaborations as an influencer.
For me, my success started from a passion and a desire to share with the world my life. I wanted to be able to tell people products I liked, things I found awful, trips I took, ways one can experience nature, and overall just better their well-being. Having a passion for writing and creating is how I was able to become a reliable outlet for businesses both big and small. If you want to see the success of another Influencer who found her niche like me, click here. If you are looking for more ways to start your very own niche blog and grow as a blogger and/or influencer, you can see more of my tips here. Remember, blogging and being an influencer is so much more than just “getting things” or “doing reviews” you have to have a passion and from there you can grow your digital footprint and create an everlasting mark on the world…like me.
With Love,
Lex Paige
