Social media has opened new avenues for making money and building careers. 
As companies seek to reach wider audiences in the digital space, social media influencers are becoming increasingly important. The Sauce spoke to 4 Kenyan social media influencers on what it takes to build a social media brand that can earn you money.
1. Sylvia Monayo
She’s popularly known as Binti Pretty to her over 100,000 followers on Instagram and recently started a YouTube channel.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmLeQTeF5jR/?taken-by=bintipretty
“Personally, I started to learn where the likes go to. If it’s videos, it means most of your followers are silently asking for such. If it’s selfies, do more of those. Another thing is consistency. Make a social media schedule so that your followers keep up with you and they’ll be hooked.”
2. Lawrence Sawanda
He’s one of the few teen influencers with over 30,000 followers on Instagram. He has worked with brands such as Fanta, tours and travel companies as well as with the teen magazine Insyder on events. “Know your target audience and don’t compromise on the brand you want to build. You’ll be paid your worth so don’t take on projects that’ll make you appear immature because you will never be taken seriously.”
3. Adam Maina
He has over 80,000 followers on Twitter and over 20,000 followers on Instagram. He has worked with many of Kenya’s corporates and personalities including Sauti Sol. He focuses mostly on travel, technology, music, and lifestyle. He is currently a Jumia Kenya Ambassador.
“First of all don’t fake an online persona, be you, you’ll go a long way by interacting with things you’re most passionate about. Two, understand your audience, what they want to interact with, then feed them that content. Third and most important, be patient, for you to achieve growth it will take time. Just trust the process.”
4. Janet Machuka
She has built a brand that has come to be known for its content with over 65,000 followers on Twitter and over 20,000 on Instagram. Having been able to grow her social media presence through influencer marketing services she offers to companies, digital marketing consultancy and her with journalistic skills she founded a platform, #AfricaTweetChat, to amalgamate enthusiastic brands from different countries in Africa. She has spoken at conferences in Nigeria as well as other events.
Janet said, “If you have a social media account and you don’t engage, you’re probably a spectator. Brands look out to employ people who have a good engagement rate to represent their brands and services.”
