We often see many influencers on TV, hear them on radio and read their columns in newspapers, magazines, blogs and social media networks. These people have the capacity to change other people's views or opinions, and can make their followers emulate what they are doing.

WOMMA (Word of Mouth Marketing Association) reports there are five types of influencers. There are those in a formal position of authority (government officials, company CEOs, military commanders); those who have expertise or who are managing advocacies (academics/scientists, industry analysts, consumer activists); media (journalists, commentators, talk-show hosts); cultural elite (celebrities, designers, artists, musicians); and those you are socially connected to (neighborhood leaders, members of community groups, business networkers, bloggers, and the like).

Now you're wondering, how do I become an influencer? Promotional Consultant Today shares these tips in our two-part series on creating influence.

1. Help and give without expecting anything in return. This may sound ironic, but this is one of the most effective ways to become more influential in your field or organization. Though you may not expect anything in return for the things you do, the law of nature always put a balance in the things around us. The saying, "What you give is what you receive," is an example of this truism.

2. Don't be afraid to innovate. Innovation is the mother of all invention and those who are not afraid to innovate are effective influencers. Take Lady Gaga, for example. Her genre of music is not something new, but the way she innovates and delivers her performances captures our attention and propels her to the top of the music industry. Her out-of-this-world fashion sense, combined with her music, transformed her from a struggling New York artist to a world-class super star, idolized by music lovers all over the globe.

3. Always lend a listening ear. Learn to listen more to what people say. Listening is a vital communication skill necessary to improve your influential ability. Lending your precious time to others by listening to their ideas is a way of showing respect and letting them know you care about them.

4. Always initiate harmonious teamwork and collaboration. An effective influencer is a good leader who knows that a group effort is five times better than an individual effort because the team effort can yield better results regardless of a single person's dedication. As an influencer, you should initiate team collaboration by maintaining harmonious relationship with each of your team members.

For more ways to become a better influencer, read PCT coming to your inbox tomorrow.

Source: Qamar Zaman is the chief visionary at Oxygen Marketing Group.