Discord is the #1 communication platform for gamers, developers, streamers, and content creators. It can also be a great tool for social media influencers looking to connect with fans and build community. Whether you’re a newcomer looking to make a splash on social media or a seasoned influencer or content creator with a dedicated following, creating your own Discord server will inevitably help connect you with more fans and further build your brand.
What is an Influencer?
An influencer is someone who influences others, whether in terms of buying choices, personal style, or beliefs. Social media influencers are common on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms, where they typically have hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers or subscribers. Many participate in influencer marketing, wherein a company pays them to market a product such as makeup, a video game, or health products to their fans.
Discord has become popular among influencers because it offers an enclosed space to interact directly with fans walled off from the rest of the internet. It is considered safer than most social media platforms because servers are invite-only. This means you have to be approved by the private Discord server’s moderators before you can join. Discord community guidelines, which apply to the entire platform, are more expansive than most, banning activities like doxing and the releasing of private information. Servers can also enforce their own rules on top of the community guidelines. As stated in The Atlantic, influencers have flocked to Discord because it “provides a respite from the trolls they encounter on the broader internet”.
To go over the basics of how to construct a great Discord server, check out How to Use Discord Like a Pro. Otherwise, continue on to learn about 4 specific ways that you can use Discord as an influencer to build a community, promote your content, and attract Discord followers.
1. Get Discord Verification
The best way to build a following and attract fans to your server is to get verified on Discord. Verification confirms that your server is legit and that you are who you say you are. Discord verified servers are identified by the above logo located next to the server’s name.
Verified Discord servers also get a few exclusive perks. You can promote your custom brand through custom splash art and a custom invite link to your server. Verified servers also have access to VIP voice servers with higher performance than average voice servers.
2. Use Moderation Bots
Discord bots are one of the platform’s best features. They perform automated tasks that free up time for administrators and moderators. Every server should contain a moderation bot that can welcome users, delete spam, and enforce group guidelines.
I recommend MEE6 as the most well-known and well-regarded moderation bot for Discord. MEE6 can automatically check your server for foul language, spam links, invites, repeated text and emojis, and spoiler tags. It will then warn any member who uses any of the above if they are against the server’s rules. After committing a number of infractions (as specified by you), MEE6 can mute, kick off, or permanently a user from your server.
If you want to consider other moderation bots, visit a Discord bot list such as top.gg or Bots on Discord. You can review how others rate each bot and compare features before selecting the one that works best for you.
If you don’t want to use bots or want to have real-person moderators in addition to moderation bots, then you can have your moderators train at the Discord Moderator Academy. This academy will teach them the ins and outs of moderating an online community. If they complete the course and pass the exam at the end, they will receive a special Discord moderator badge that they can display on their profile.
3. Set Private Channels
Want to run special events for your top fans or personal friends? With Discord, you can, thanks to private channels. Discord private channels, also known as role-exclusive channels, are channels that can only be accessed by members with specific roles in your server, as set by you. For example, you can make a channel only accessible by moderators and administrators, or a channel just for members with a custom role assigned by you. For more information about how to set up a private channel, check out Discord support.
There are various reasons why you may want to set up a private channel. Having a moderator-only channel will let you discuss issues or upcoming events with your server’s moderating staff before announcing them to the general membership. You could set aside special channels for fans who have been very active on the server or supported you financially. You can use these private channels for exclusive events or personal interactions between fans and you, the influencer. This is a great way to encourage server participation and support for your brand by offering special perks for fans. It also provides a way to “promote” someone on Discord by setting up exclusive areas for your top fans.
4. Become a Discord Partner
If you already have a sizable following as an influencer on another platform, you can become a Discord Partner. Discord Partner perks include special features such as personalized servers, high-performance voice servers, an exclusive badge, a free hoodie, and free access to Discord Nitro. Top partners can be promoted to premium status and even get paid by Discord!
A free Discord Nitro account is a great perk as it includes features that enhance the quality of your server. Nitro includes higher quality video and screen sharing, custom emojis and GIFs, a custom Discord tag, and an upgraded file upload limit from 8MB to 100MB. With Nitro, more users will want to become a part of your server and participate more frequently.
To become a Discord Partner, you have to apply online. Discord chooses people to become partners who already have a robust server or presence on another social media site. The typical Discord Partner has a server size of 820 members as well as 11,642 followers on Twitter, 10,425 followers on Twitch, or 113,638 YouTube subs.
Ways to Advertise Your Discord Server
To advertise your new Discord server, you should promote it on the social media apps that you already use. For example, if you have a large following on Instagram, you should add a link to your Discord to Instagram or use a story to talk about your new server. You can do the same on TikTok, YouTube, Patreon, or whatever other platforms you use. You can also work with other influencers who cover similar topics to promote your server.
Additionally, you can directly connect some of your social media accounts to Discord. This way, you can cross-promote between the two platforms. Platforms that you can connect to your Discord profile include Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, Reddit, and YouTube.
Do More with Discord and Droplr
The above features are just a few of the great ways you can use Discord in order to promote your brand as an influencer. Don’t forget to check out our own Droplr integration with Discord, which lets you share your own screenshots, recordings, and GIFs directly on your server! To learn more about how Droplr can help you make the most of Discord, check out our Discord app review or watch the video below.