with Blair Quane
Check out Blair's advice on all those different names you can brand YOURSELF today, and stand out from the other influencers…
If you spend any time at all online, you must have heard the term ‘influencer’ by now.
It’s a word that has been around for hundreds of years, but has only recently taken on the meaning it has now. All you need to do is look at the spike in search engine requests for the term since around 2015 to see just how popular it’s become.
Recently, my friend Janet Ann Ayres asked if that makes me an influencer. I said no, but then I had to think about what it really means to be an influencer. As the name suggests, influencers are people with the power to affect the views and decisions of others.
But what does it mean? And what future does the term have in a social media landscape where people are constantly trying to differentiate themselves from one another?
Let’s take a quick look at what it means to be an influencer and then dive into some influencer synonyms so you can find another word for influencers.
What is an Influencer?
I write online content for a living. Try explaining that job to your elderly parents, and you’ll get some confused looks.
Recently, my dad asked if that makes me an influencer. I said no, but then I had to think about what it really means to be an influencer.
As the name suggests, influencers are people with the power to affect the views and decisions of others.
This influence can come in lots of different ways. It may be because they are already a celebrity in some other field, which makes people want to hear what they have to say and even emulate them. Or it may come from patiently building up a following on social media.
Sometimes, just being an expert in your field is enough to give you influence over what other people think and do.
The idea of making a living from influencing others isn’t new. What is new is the scale and scope of influence. Thanks to social media, there are more people than ever before building their own audience and creating their own influence.
But not everyone agrees with the term ‘influencer’.
Instead, lots of people prefer to use a synonym for influencer that allows them to focus on the work they do and the things they create rather than the influence they have on others.
That’s why, these days, choosing an influencer synonym can help you stand out from the crowd.
Think of the list that follows as a kind of influencer thesaurus. These terms can help you communicate more clearly exactly what it is you do and help you stand out in the increasingly crowded online marketplace.
Platform-Related Influencer Synonyms
- Social Media Maven
- Blogging Guru
- YouTube Personality
- Instagram Star
- TikTok Phenomenon
- Podcast Host
- Twitter Authority
- LinkedIn Leader
- Facebook Celebrity
- Snapchat Icon
Job-Based Influencer Synonyms
- Brand Ambassador
- Industry Spokesperson
- Opinion Leader
- Trend Setter
- Market Innovator
- Consumer Advocate
- Digital Nomad
- Content Creator
- Thought Leader
- Public Speaker
Creative Influencer Alternatives
- Creative Genius
- Artistic Pioneer
- Design Visionary
- Fashion Icon
- Culinary Maestro
- Music Trendsetter
- Photography Wizard
- Lifestyle Guru
- Fitness Coach
- Beauty Expert
Authority and Expertise-Based Synonyms
- Subject Matter Expert
- Professional Guide
- Industry Analyst
- Tech Savant
- Business Mentor
- Legal Advisor
- Health Specialist
- Educational Resource
- Science Commentator
- Financial Analyst
Engagement and Community-Focused Synonyms
- Community Builder
- Audience Engager
- Dialogue Initiator
- Relationship Creator
- Feedback Collector
- Network Facilitator
- Interaction Expert
- Connection Maker
- Collaboration Encourager
- Empathy Leader
Niche and Specialty Influencer Synonyms
- Eco-Warrior
- Travel Enthusiast
- Gaming Champion
- DIY Creator
- Vintage Collector
- Wellness Advocate
- Cultural Commentator
- Food Critic
- Tech Reviewer
- Hobbyist Expert
Finding New Words for Influencer
There are lots of reasons why a person might not once refer to themselves as an influencer. Maybe they feel it doesn’t reflect the creativity they bring to their work, or that it’s not specific enough to describe what they do.
Maybe they just want something that sounds good on a resume, or job title they can tell their elderly parents.
All of these terms help you to focus in on exactly what it is you do and create, and can help you stand out in an online world that is only getting more crowded.
