When fashion influencer turned psychology-focused creator Marcel Floruss joined us on The Partnerships Economy podcast, he shared invaluable insights about staying genuine in today’s creator economy.
With over a decade of experience evolving his personal brand, Marcel discussed the delicate balance between authenticity and growth.
In this article, we explore Marcel’s proven strategies for maintaining audience trust—a critical skill when our research shows that 54 percent of consumers rank integrity as an influencer’s most important quality.
Whether you’re starting your creator journey or scaling your existing influence, Marcel’s experience offers practical lessons for staying true to your values while navigating trends, partnerships, and personal evolution.
Key takeaways from this blog
- Define your niche before chasing viral success.
- Build deep connections instead of counting followers.
- Adapt to trends while preserving your core identity.
- Choose long-term brand partners that match your values.
- Evolve your content authentically to grow with your audience.
Striking a balance: The challenge of remaining genuine as a creator
Today’s creators face a constant dilemma: chase trends and risk losing authenticity, or stick to their values and potentially miss viral moments.
Marcel Floruss has mastered this balance. Starting as a men’s fashion influencer focused on style confidence, he’s successfully pivoted to exploring psychology and spirituality—all while keeping his audience engaged.
Many creators struggle to maintain momentum when exploring other content themes. However, Marcel’s audience has embraced this shift. Rather than straying from his original mission, he simply “zoomed in” on what he’s always focused on: helping people feel good from the inside out.
His successful transition highlights the importance of sticking to your personal mission. When you maintain authenticity, your audience feels a genuine connection to you that keeps them wanting more.
In this Instagram post, Marcel highlights his unique style and shares a recent accident he experienced. This approach artfully merges his fashion expertise with a sense of vulnerability, fostering a deeper bond with followers.
5 tips for staying authentic while crushing it on social media
Trending sounds. Viral formats. Algorithm changes. In the rush to stay relevant, creators often lose their way. But Marcel proves there’s another path: his strategic evolution shows how to scale your reach while keeping your soul intact.
Here are five strategies Marcel uses to keep his content real—no matter how much his audience grows or his brand evolves.
1. Build a strong foundation before going viral
Focus on establishing a solid online presence before chasing viral success. “Find what it is that you want to talk about. Talk about it again and again,” he says, emphasizing the importance of owning a niche.
Sure, viral trends can spark attention—but without a clear identity, that spark fades fast. The real power lies in consistency: crafting a world that pulls followers in and keeps them there.
“Make sure that you’re setting your brand up properly beforehand so that if you go viral,” explains Marcel. People want to go to your profile and see the same type and level of quality of content on your page.
Source: @marcelfloruss
This expertise can translate into better brand deals and monetization opportunities. Years of style advice paid off. Marcel’s fashion mastery and loyal following earned him the Creative Director spot at Aetos Apparel.
“Every influencer brand comes out of this natural expertise that stems from the passion and the time that you put in over the years to create content,” says Marcel. “You have a really good understanding of the market because the market is your audience.”
2. Focus on quality connections over follower count
The strength of your community is more important than your follower count. “It’s not just about how many—it’s about who and the quality,” Marcel says, emphasizing the value of a smaller, more engaged audience.
Marcel built a community around men’s fashion to help his followers improve their style and confidence. He explains, “I wanted to build a community that truly wants to improve themselves… and has a sartorial knack.”
Value breeds loyalty. Through consistent, authentic content, Marcel transformed viewers into a vibrant community of superfans.
His secret? Skip the vanity metrics and viral stunts. Instead, gather those true believers—the ones who don’t blindly double-tap, but dive deep into your world. These are the followers worth fighting for.
3. Adapt to trends and platforms without losing your core message
It’s tempting to become a chameleon—changing your colors to match every new trend. Marcel challenges this approach head-on.
“Don’t just do the things that the algorithm is telling you to do, or the things that you think you should do because you’re an XYZ influencer,” Marcel advises
“Nobody’s telling you that you can’t switch who you are, what you stand for, and what you talk about overnight if you so desire.”
While engaging with popular trends can boost visibility, your content should still reflect you. For Marcel, adapting doesn’t mean abandoning his message of helping people feel confident—it just means finding new ways to express that through changing platforms or trends.
Tailoring content to each platform helps him tap into trends without losing sight of his identity. This approach can come down to making simple adjustments. “What part of the process you show is what makes the difference,” he says.
For example, you can adapt a trending format but infuse it with your unique style or message. This helps you stay relevant without diluting your brand, keep your audience connected, and stand out in a sea of trend-chasers.
4. Forge long-term partnerships with brands that reflect your values
Think of brand deals like dating: quick flings might pay the bills, but long-term relationships build trust. That’s why Marcel champions deeper brand partnerships.
When you collaborate consistently with companies that share your values, your audience doesn’t see ads—they see authenticity.
For Marcel, it’s all about ensuring there’s a real connection: “For an influencer to feature the same brand over and over, there needs to be a lot of actual shared values.”
Source: The State of Influencer Marketing for Consumers
The benefits of these collaborations go beyond financial gain.
When your audience sees you consistently partner with brands that match your values, it reinforces their trust in you. They’re more likely to believe that the products or services you promote are genuinely worth their time and money.
To align with the right brands:
- Start by identifying brands that resonate with your message. Platforms such as impact.com / Marketplace can help you find the right partners that match your values and content.
- Approach brands directly. Be proactive—don’t just wait for them to find you.
- Communicate via email. According to impact.com research, 52 percent of brands prefer to receive influencer outreach through email.
- Make a case for your partnership. Craft a compelling pitch and supplement it with a well-crafted media kit that showcases your previous brand collabs.
Choose brands that elevate your success
Landing the right brand collabs can strengthen your personal brand.
Discover how5. Transition your content focus gradually
Viral success can become a golden cage. One trending post and creators often find themselves trapped in a niche they’ve outgrown.
Marcel faced this crossroads at his fashion peak. But where others might have played it safe, he dared to dig deeper—revealing how his style guidance had always been a gateway to psychological and spiritual growth.
“Rather than talking about this outside-in approach, now I’d like to talk more about the core,” he explains. By gradually transitioning your focus, you bring your audience along on your journey and invite them to grow with your brand instead of feeling alienated.
Rather than rushing to adopt new trends or interests, let your content evolve in line with what you truly care about.
Keep your audience invested in your journey
The math is simple: authenticity + time = influence that lasts. Marcel’s journey proves it.
“Consistency and patience are the two key terms to make it happen,” he shares. No shortcuts, no hacks. He recommends honest content that attracts loyal followers and dream brand deals.
Discover other strategies for achieving success as a creator:
- Connecting with your audience beyond viral trends (podcast)
- 6 ways creators can elevate their personal brand with brand collaborations (blog)
- 4 research-backed ways content creators can increase buyer’s intent (blog)
FAQs
Influencer content feels authentic when creators stay true to their values and personal style while promoting products.
For instance, fashion influencer Marcel Floruss evolved his content from men’s fashion to psychology and spirituality without compromising his core message of boosting confidence.
Authentic influencers like Marcel ensure their content aligns with their beliefs and only partner with brands they genuinely support.
The most authentic content includes behind-the-scenes glimpses, personal stories, and unfiltered moments that showcase your real-life experiences.
Spontaneous and genuine content—such as answering follower questions, sharing day-to-day updates, or giving honest product reviews—often resonates more deeply with audiences.
However, even curated content can feel true to you when it reflects your personality, values, and interests.
Share your genuine experiences, opinions, and values to make your content authentic. Avoid creating content just for the sake of trends or virality. Instead, stay true to your niche and be transparent with your audience.
Share personal stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and unfiltered content that lets your personality shine.
It’s also essential to only collaborate with brands that align with your values. Being consistent with your message and engaging directly with your followers fosters credibility and keeps your content relatable.
