Social media is not only an interesting spot to be but also, an avenue to grow your skills and make some money while at it. However, everyone has different reasons for opening each social media platform they belong to. Considering that entrepreneurs, companies, and firms have leaned towards using social media for their business, influencer marketing is one of the popular strategies used to fuel marketing efforts. Businesses work together with professionals called Social Media Influencers to achieve their proposed marketing goals. 

A Social Media Influencer in Nigeria 

A Nigerian social media influencer is an active social media user who has a large number of followers engaging their content from time to time. Hence, businesses leverage this opportunity to use them as the face of their business so that their products can reach a wider audience and also convert to significant sales. 

Social media influencers can belong to different niches which could include fashion, education, fitness and wellness, lifestyle, food, environmental sustainability, and more. The most important thing about being a social media influencer is to identify your niche and stick with it to ensure a more targeted and effective market campaign. 

If a person has very good and amiable skin because of the products that they use, skincare brands can collaborate with them for influencer marketing. These influencers can provide authentic product reviews, skincare routines, and before-and-after experiences, which can significantly influence their followers’ purchasing decisions. It’s a win-win situation where influencers get to share their genuine experiences, and brands benefit from the influencers’ credibility and reach. This is the way it works for many other brands and business owners looking to try influencer marketing. 

Read Also: The Role of Social Media Influencers in the marketing industry

Types of Social Media Influencers

Just like different platforms identify as social media, there are other social media influencers each catering to a specific audience: 

Twitter (X) Influencers: 

These are X users with a significant number of followers and influence on the X platform. They share content, opinions, and opportunities with the audience they have on the platform. Many X influencers use the platform to advocate for social and political causes, raise awareness, and mobilize support for various movements.

Instagram Influencers: 

Most Instagram influencers are content creators who use their accounts/profiles to share their interests and basically everything that interests them. They focus on certain niches which include fashion, beauty, travel, and more. They post aesthetically pleasing pictures on their Instagram page with engaging captions to attract their community and have them engage their posts. 

YouTube Influencers: 

YouTube Influencers usually have a large number of subscribers who follow their interesting and educational content. They can give product reviews, teach subscribers how to use a product, or even give lifestyle tips. 

TikTok Influencers:

Since TikTok is a platform that allows short-form videos, its influencers excel at creating engaging and entertaining video content. They can market products in these brief videos while also, making it humorous and creative for anyone watching. 

Aside from categorizing social media influencers according to the platforms they use, they can also be classified according to the niche and industry they belong to: 

• Celebrity Influencers (Popular figures and can be known across all platforms) – They can also market any type of product. 
• Travel Influencers
• Parenting Influencers
• Gamers and Streamers
• Health influencers
• Beauty and Fashion Influencers
• Food bloggers/influencers

You need to check this requirement list to become an influencer

If you decide to become a social media influencer, here are a number of requirements you must look out for: 

• A substantial amount of followers (although, sometimes, this can vary depending on the request of the brand you are looking to work for – some brands may require that you have at least 30,000 followers on the platform you belong to. 
• Consistency – Social Media Influencers spend a whole lot of time being active on social media, posting on their pages and showing up now and then. So, if you are not a person who enjoys posting on social media a lot of times, you may not be able to commit to the idea. 
• Authenticity – You cannot come on social media as an influencer to portray an image that you are not because “the internet never forgets.” Also, you are more likely to lose your followers and credibility if you are ever found wanting. 
• Creativity- The idea is not just to come up with content but to be creative about it.
• Quality Content – Whether you are posting videos or pictures, they must be of high quality. 

Thriving Social Media Influencers in Nigeria

Influencing marketing is a thrilling and lucrative path and here are a couple of people doing well in the field: 

• Adegoke Pamilerin – PamPam
• Adeoye Tomike – Olori Ebi
• Temilade Salami – The Global Temi
• Enioluwa Adeoluwa – Eni
• Linda Ikeji – LindaIkeji
• Layi Wasabi – Layi
• Oluwabukunmi Adeaga – KieKie
• Toke Makinwa – Toke
• Maryam Akpaokagi – Tao
• Egemba Chinonso – Aproko Doctor 
• Yemisi Odusanya – Sisi Yemmie
• Gloria Oloruntoba – Maraji
• Ojo Prisicilla – Priscy
• Iyabo Ojo – Iyabo
• Lawal Hauwa – Hauwa
• Anita Afoke – Therealwarripikin
• Folashade Daini
• Ini Dima Okojie
• Veekee James
• Papaya ex
• Ola of Lagos
• Phoenix Black
• Abike Arab Money
• Don Jazzy
• Gilmore 
• Ogbeni Dipo 
• David Hundeyin 
• Tunde Onakoya 
• Aunty Ada
• Savvy Rinu
• Mochievious
• Unkle Ayo

These influencers spread across various social media platforms and are known for their special voices and expertise in different niches contributing to different engaging discussions and digital development.