Influence isn’t just for Instagram celebs or keynote speakers with teeth so white they blind you from stage. It’s for you. Right now. Especially if you want to stop blending in, start being remembered, and have people lining up to work with you.
We live in a time where almost 5 billion people are online, and everyone’s scrolling, judging, and filtering fast. The good news? If you’re brave enough to show up, own your voice, and back yourself—you can cut through. The bad news? If you don’t, you’ll get drowned out by cat memes and Canva quotes.
The solution? Leverage the four types of influence that matter. They’re not new. They’re not complicated. But they work—especially when you work them.
1. Share Your Expertise
This isn’t the time to be humble. You know your stuff—so show us.
Thought leadership is just a fancy term for “tell people what you know and why it matters.” If you’re a florist, talk us through why you never pair those two flowers together. If you’re a consultant, map out your process. If you’re a leader, tell us what you stand for and what you’re absolutely not here for.
People don’t trust fluff. They trust substance. So don’t be afraid to explain your “why” and take a stand. Expertise builds credibility. And credibility builds clients.
2. Be Unapologetically you
The fastest way to build trust? Drop the filter. Ditch the “professional voice.” Be the you that your clients love and your friends rave about.
The internet is full of people pretending to be perfect. You’re not here for that. Show us the real, human, messy, funny, smart version of you. Talk about your weird hobbies. Share the behind-the-scenes stuff. Show up with the kind of energy that makes people say, “Finally—someone who gets it.”
As Robert Cialdini said, likeability sells. So be likeable—but make sure it’s actually you they’re liking.
3. Own your online influence
Showing up once a fortnight doesn’t cut it. If you want people to trust you, you need to be in their feeds regularly—and I mean regularly.
This doesn’t mean spamming them. It means adding value so consistently they start to expect you. Your face. Your thoughts. Your opinions. Your stories. Let them get to know you like a friend they’re excited to hear from.
Be the one who drops knowledge bombs before breakfast. Be the one who makes people stop scrolling. Be the one they trust without even realising it.
4. Don’t underestimate the power of ‘IRL’
Online is sexy. Offline is underrated. But together? They’re unstoppable.
When you show up in a room and people realise you’re exactly like the person they follow online—that’s influence. When they hear your voice, see your energy, and feel your presence, you become unforgettable.
So don’t hide behind your phone. Speak at events. Host workshops. Go to the things. Shake hands. Make eye contact. Let people feel you. That energy builds trust faster than any caption ever could.
Here’s the bottom line
You don’t need to be loud. You don’t need to be flashy. But you do need to show up and give people a reason to remember you.
When your audience sees your expertise, your personality, your online consistency, and your real-world presence all line up? That’s when they go from curious to converted.
And that’s when the good stuff lands—like inbox pings, speaking gigs, referrals and yes, actual money.
Start where you are. Be who you are. And influence like you mean it.
Nicola Moras is a motivational keynote speaker and author of Visible and Into the Spotlight. She empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to create the gasp, be unforgettable, and own their impact—so they can build bold, unstoppable success.
