How to Shift Your Profiles from an Online Sales Rep to a Leader in Your Industry

Whether or not you think this is the case, you are an influencer. I want to share with you how to differentiate yourself from being an online sales representative to a true brand influencer. I am so passionate about this topic because it really helped me to grow from not having any social media presence, no prospects asking about my products, and no brand to speak of to truly blowing up my business and brand.

Let’s first identify the distinction between being a sales rep and a brand influencer. A sales rep is somebody who represents a company and makes it their only goal to sell their products and inform people of their business. Many people typically have a negative perception or stigma that surrounds salespeople and we don’t want them to have that feeling towards us. If I visit your wall and all I see is you posting about your product/company/service, that is not what we want. We don’t want to be the person who posts the same content over and over again, especially if you’re in the business of social selling.

An influencer, on the other hand, helps impact other people’s decisions. Online influencers help to make a buying decision based on what they love and what they’re sharing on social media. It doesn’t matter the reach of people…so congratulations! You’re all influencers already. So, think to yourself: do you only post company materials or do you think you’ve mastered the mix of content and shifted into the influencer space? If you need some help moving into the influencer space, I want to share with you my 3-Step-Strategy to make the shift.

The first step to moving into an influencer profile is to make sure you’re posting about other companies, brands, and businesses products and services. For example, if you’re in the beauty industry – what are all of the tips and tricks you can share to help others improve their beauty routine? You could post anti-aging products, hair care, skin care tips, makeup advice, your favorite lashes, the list goes on. Share about the brands you love and you use on a regular basis and, periodically, one of the things that you will recommend is going to be your product. Your main goal is to share the products that you love and include your brand in there. Think to yourself: what can I share to help others improve their lives? Widen the net of what you’re sharing so people find you and your content valuable.

This next tip is tricky to understand but hear me out…if you’re doing this right, your audience should not know what company you sell for. Most of you don’t know what company I’m with and that’s on purpose because I don’t want you to feel like I’m selling to everyone. Do an audit of your social media and make pretend that I’m going to visit all of your profiles. What would I say/do if I saw what is posted on your profile? Would I be turned off from your products or interested in what you’re sharing? If you notice that it’s just your products/services, hide or archive some of them, ask yourself: Am I an influencer in the space that I’m in? Am I giving well-rounded advice? If not, you’ve got to make that shift.

Lastly, you’re going to want to make the mindset shift. This is where you look in the mirror and say, “I am an influencer. I share the things that I love and I love sharing with my audience what I’m finding. It’s so much fun to be a leader and share my interests with others. I am showing up like a BOSS.” Where you are right now in your business is based on what you’re sharing and what you love to your audience from your own space. Keep in mind that I used this process to go from being a typical sales representative to a highly successful entrepreneur and influencer in the space of social selling.

Watch my latest #getLIT training to see how I used this process to blow up my business and brand!

Are you looking to monetize your brand and show up authentically on social media? Check out my Personal Branding Workshop to get you started!