Shikha Agrawal - An Influencer Is Someone Who Can Influence Their Followers Opinions (Content Creator From India)

I was analyzing my life and thought that maybe Instagram could be a place where I can showcase what I know and that when I started My page TheShikhaDose. It's been 2 years now and during the lockdown, I got so much growth. People are loving my content and the appreciation that I got regularly is what keeps me motivated.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I always had dreams of doing something on TV or maybe modeling, but since I am from a middle-class family I didn't get many opportunities and after engineering, I started doing an IT job.

One day when I was switching jobs and on notice period I was analyzing my life and thought that maybe Instagram could be a place where I can showcase what I know and that when I started My page TheShikhaDose page. It's been 2 years now and during the lockdown, I got so much growth. People are loving my content and the appreciation that I got regularly is what keeps me motivated.

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

All my friends and family always use to say that I am good at fashion and fashion-related jugaads. They always use to come for fashion advice to me and that's how I thought to share those on a bigger platform.

Initially, it just started with fashion and travel since I have travelled to 10+ countries, since lockdown when everything was changing, I started finding new ways of posting OOTDS in my average house, and that's why I started editing and sky self-portraits and my posts started getting viral. Since then I have started posting about editing also and people love that.

3. How would you distinguish the term blogger from an influencer?

Bloggers are the ones who just blog and share about what and how they do things, but an influencer is someone who can influence their follower's opinions. This happens only when your follower trusts you and want to follow you not just on the Instagram page but on your choices and the way you do things.

I have that kind of relationship with my followers. With the clothing brands I have worked with, I have often received huge orders responses when I have posted about them. and especially for the apps, I have collaborated with many editing apps and they have seen immense downloads once I post about it.

4. Is it financially sustainable to be an influencer today?

I am continuing with my full-time IT job and financially I still look up to it. On Instagram, I share things because of my passion. But I would say it's a pretty decent additional income. How much amount is good or bad depends on person to person.

5. What do you think influences consumer behaviour?

In current scenarios, consumer behaviour largely depends on how the people they look up to do it. One actress wears one outfit and suddenly that dress becomes a trend, we have seen that with co-ords, airport looks and many things. Affordability influences a lot too.

I believe in it and I think most people do. If an item is affordable it would be chosen more. and lastly, I believe in flexibility, in how many ways you can wear the same thing or use the same product increases the usage and hence tend to be bought more.

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

Hard + Smart Work. I believe one has to work hard to his dreams but it has to be in a smart way. You have to be clear about what you want to and how do you wanna see your life going.

7. How can someone become a successful social media influencer?

For becoming successful on Instagram it's very important to have a genuine relationship with your followers. Never lie, never share products that you don't use, or share something that doesn't resonate with you. Try to be as candid and as everyone says consistency is a key. There are so many influencers out there, so you miss out one day, somebody else will take your place.

8. Which is your favourite book and why?

I am not a book person, I just don't like to read books. I think It's just Instagram for me to entertain me and even to motivate me or to lift my mood. There is every kind of page out there.

- Shikha