What truly defines the importance of having a substantial online following? Laurens Tijssen, a Gen Z entrepreneur with a decade of experience in the field, offers profound insights into this ongoing discussion. “You want to focus on interactions over impressions,” Tijssen asserts, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics at play in the digital landscape. With thousands, even millions of followers at one’s disposal, the potential for impact is undeniable if wielded effectively. Yet, as evidenced by cases, one of them which we highlight in this article of individuals with a huge following that still struggles to convert a massive following into tangible success, the equation isn’t as simple as sheer numbers. Followers represent more than mere statistics; they embody social status and, when leveraged strategically, can serve as invaluable business assets.

Followers vs. Influence

What truly is the importance of followers online? Laurens answers this question with clear direction. “You want to focus on interactions over impressions,” as Tijssen said. Having a few thousand to hundreds of thousands, and even millions of followers is undoubtedly powerful if utilized in the right way. According to Laurens, having an audience online is one of the greatest assets to have in 2024. There are many examples of celebrities who can leverage their audience on social platforms for more wealth, or even young TikTok creators who monetize their views into payments. At the same time, there are also examples of many people who have a huge following that can’t monetize their audience, like Arii, who had 2.6 million followers but couldn’t sell 36 T-shirts. Followers are not just a direct reflection of the number of people you follow, which can also be a vague statistic knowing that even bot-like accounts’ followers can be bought. Followers also represent social status.

Social Status as a Business Asset

Dale Carnegie said it best: the most important desired feeling for people is to be recognized. This is totally right in a business context as well. Recognition isn’t just a feeling; recognition is influence. Tijssen’s tactics reveal the blueprint to leverage influence, with his end result focusing on transforming entrepreneurs to achieve true power via strategic methods. Part of these strategic methods to achieve power is based on massively boosting the social status of both entrepreneurs and companies, leveraging world-class positioning, becoming a recognizable face on international TV, being a voice on podcasts, and being listed on various publication platforms.

Understanding the Competitive Landscape

At the heart of Tijssen’s blueprint lies a deep understanding of the competitive landscape. Entrepreneurs must realize the marketplace is more occupied than ever, and there is more noise than ever. Even if entrepreneurs have reached a certain level of influence already, even if you already have an audience, it is still important to show your credibility and have leverage—a powerful position that is brought by world-class positioning and publicity exposure is a gap in the market you can capitalize on. Laurens emphasizes the importance of differentiation in strategic positioning. Entrepreneurs should strive to become a powerful beacon in their industry, setting themselves apart from competitors and establishing a clear position in the market.