Breaking into the social media marketing world isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. 17-year-old Elan Caviani grew an Instagram account to 150,000 followers when he was just 12 and has been taking over the social media space since. Caviani has over a million followers with @jacked and @python, where he posts content that drives some serious engagement. He uses his expertise to help businesses grow, and grow fast.
In a space that can seem oversaturated, you need to stand out – and Caviani’s biggest tips are below:
Learn From the Pros
Whether that’s interning or finding a mentor, get plugged in to the people who know what they’re doing. There’s certainly a ton of value in being self-taught, but don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty working under someone else. “I interned for different SV application platform companies on their social media,” Caviani explained. “I learned quickly how to monetize by fully paying attention to the analytics behind audience response to ads and marketing campaigns. After growing a network of 8 million followers, I decided to sell my accounts and keep my sports page, @jacked.”
Harness the Power
We live in a digital age, but, more than that we live in a social one. There are billions of people around the world using social media for leisure, but the ones who really latch on to the power behind algorithms and likes can quickly make things happen. Recognize that, and learn to unleash it. “This is a great era for businesses to expand outside of traditional paths. Today, the word travels in seconds, and reactions are just as quick,” Caviani says. “Knowing when and how to get the best results among the tsunami of daily information load is key.”
Be Trustworthy.
Whether it’s with brand partnerships or choice of captions, it’s always important to remember that your audience is first. If you lose that trust – whether through choosing off-brand partnerships or using divisive language or even posting unengaging content – you lose your following. “A lesson I’ve learned is to always keep trust with your audience,” Elan says. “I learned how to do that when I lost many of my audience due to lack of interest. It’s challenging to reestablish trust but doable with good content.”
Take the Jump
No one ever got anywhere by taking the easy way out, and that goes for building a business in social media. Constant innovation is always at the top of the social media landscape, and it’s imperative that you trust yourself enough to leap. “If I could give advice to my younger self, it would be to learn how to make a calculated risk and not be afraid of failing,” Elan says. “Failure is not a bad thing; it just means you have another chance to do it again.”
For more social media inspiration, you can check out Elan’s accounts, @jacked and @python.
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