Insights on Instagram by an Influencer: Muneeta Aneja

 

Want to become a member of Eat My News? You can enrol for EMN membership now from here.

If you would have to introduce yourself in a gist, what all will you include about yourself?  

This is Muneeta Aneja, a Public Relations Executive by profession & a social media influencer on various digital platforms. Speaking about myself, I am humble enough to understand that I am not the special and distinct one in this world, but I am wise enough to understand that I am quite different from others. I have my own voice, which defines me all the time.

I strive for excellence and perfection in everything I do. It may sound a bit childish to affirm this, but I still believe that we have the power to change this society, and this revolutionary power lies in the hands of digital media today, and thereby I use these mediums to voice my opinion and express my thoughts. I basically write journalistic articles for leading English dailies at times, but my usual hobbies include, sticking my head inside a book for the entire day, penning down my thoughts, working out, dancing, cleaning my house & organizing things. I am an extremely simple person, dolled up in flamboyantly styled outfits. Laughs!

What led you to start your page on Instagram and what is it about?

Honestly speaking, I never started my Instagram page with an aim to make it an influencer profile. I was really active on my blog, and I thought, why not use these social media platforms to raise awareness regarding my blog posts. So, I joined Instagram in August 2018, and I used to post stories about my new blog posts, and people used to read it and enjoy them.

With the pace of time, I started understanding the relevance of social media and it's growing popularity. The pictures on the trending section used to intrigue my inner creativity always. Each and every person, starting from an artist to a business house to a fashion blogger, a photographer, or any other general account. All of these accounts have a sense of uniqueness, self- belongingness, and their own identity attached to it. I started posting my pictures on the feed and I realized it was a better way to gather the audience for my blog.

I was really determined to maintain the quality of pictures and content that goes on my feed. I started putting in some research work, planned the aesthetics, learned new things like photography, editing, social media post writing, right hashtag selection, and just started with it. It was by mid-October 2018, that I realized that I can establish this Instagram page as a good social media influencer page too and I started posting on a regular basis on various themes, and the journey has not taken a halt since then, It's still continued and I love what I do and how my audience interacts with me on my insta profile. It gives me a sense of fulfillment, that I could add any sort of value in anyone's life.

How would you distinguish the term blogger from an influencer?

That's a very good question. I often witness a lot of people mixing these terms together, but they are different terms with their distinct meanings. A blogger is someone who owns a blog and posts his blog posts on a regular basis on his digital blogging space in reverse chronological order.

On the contrary, a social media influencer is someone who can use various social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook to post his content and influence his target audience according to the brand's agenda. There's just one thing common in both, which is, up keeping their audience trust because for the entire lifetime, a blogger or an Influencer tries to convince a part of the audience about anything in particular and if these professions lose their credibility or trust even for once. It's gone forever.

Is it financially sustainable to be an influencer today?

I'll be really honest about that, If you are creating content for your own learning and to impart some sort of value in other lives as well, then the journey for being an influencer is incredibly happening. But if you are simply doing it to get brand promotions, money or fame, then you need to consider it twice. To start with, one can open their Instagram page at any given time and I don't think content creation depends on financial assistance too much.

I have seen incredible bloggers pairing just a few clothes from their wardrobe in fantastic & myriad styles, their content curation skills are not the result of them spending money, but it's the use of their wit on how to recycle their old clothes in multiple ways. I respect all kind of bloggers & influencers in my community, but sometimes having money, owning a DSLR, a great clothing and shoe wardrobe won't help, if you are not creating the right impact. On a general basis, people love the creators, and influencers, who influence them by creating something special and unique with their spark in it. You don't need big labels to shine in this affiliate marketing industry, you need the right application of your knowledge and expertise.

I promise you if you'll create your content with all the love inside your heart, and you stay patient with the entire process, you'll automatically build your own audience, brands will start approaching you if they find you fit for their campaigns. But, on an honest note, I choose influencer marketing as a field with which my passion connects, but I can't think of losing my full-time job to continue with influencing as my major field.

Rationally speaking that would be a tragic decision. That's my personal advice to all the new bee Influencers and bloggers out there, at the end this is a freelance job, you never know what and how much the brand will offer you, you need a permanent full-time job with it to keep yourself stable and in the meantime, enjoy this journey to the fullest. Also, if you are really passionate about it, aim to reach a higher level in this field, so that you can rely on some basic minimum income sources. It's an incredible field, but you need to be wised with the right timing and scheduling. 

What do you think influences consumer behavior?

Consumer behavior is deeply influenced by an influencer's personal credibility and his knowledge and expertise on the subject he is talking about. I won't review something if I didn't like it myself, because then it's just like disseminating false information. How many times will your audience fall for it and do you really care for them, if you are doing this?

Eventually, with the pace of time, they'll understand and you'll lose your trust in their eyes. So, it's better to stay genuine with your audience, answer their questions about certain products, their questions regarding skincare or some issues arising, which they think you can help them with. Balance is the ultimate key, I am not telling you to defame the brands, but I am also not telling you to blindly post fake reviews. Stay genuine with your digital family.

Your opinion on Instagram contemplating removing likes option for posts.

I share a mixed feeling for it. Removing likes can be considered a good option to enhance uniformity among people and placing content above engagement in front of the brand's eyes. It will definitely eradicate the difference between the popular and the non-popular. There are some extremely talented people on gram who work really hard and still have fewer followers compared to the level of content they curate, I guess at some point maybe this could help them. 

But also, on the contrary, removing likes is not a long-term option to consider equality of post outreach and visibility. People on social media have their biases in minds which can't be resolved by simply disabling an option for them. If they've developed negative feelings for someone, they will particularly target their account always, no matter how better content they create.

Which is your favorite book and why?

I just can't choose one, I am a Bibliophile. My favorite book has to be, The Alchemist by Paula Coelho, as it highlights the essence of always following our dreams and never giving upon them.

Secondly, The Secret by Rhonda Bryne and The Good vibes, good life by Vex king are two, among my most favorites because they instantly recharge you with all the positive energy you need for the day. They've taught me about the law of attraction, the power of positive thinking, and a higher state of vibing, which has really helped me personally.

What is your idea of success or your mantra in life?

I define success with terms like inner happiness, joy and peace of mind. Too many people are financially rich out there with a royal house, hundreds of servants serving them 24/7, and luxurious cars parked outside their gates, but are they successful? Did they fully succeed in whatever they aspired to seek from life? Or is it just a false illusion, and they are just fooling themselves every day? 

Believe me, we as humans are immensely complicated creatures with anxiety-ridden minds, overthinking about each and everything in this entire world. Money is important, in fact, a necessity for your survival, but if someone puts money before their peace of mind, then they are more likely to take a dip in a pit called the” THE SUCCESSFUL Yet, THE UNSUCCESSFUL.” 

Success comes with hard work; determination, patience, good virtues, and a constant urge to learn always. If you are rich, and you're not happy: You're not successful my friend! Internally, your gut knows better. According to my point of view, success is the balance of more and less. One should know when more is too much and when less touches the mark of the least. It's all about enjoying your own space, genuinely loving the people around you and your work, and the art of staying positive amid the most negative situations, without giving up. This implies success for me.

Instagram ID: @ms.journo_