Want to create a character that can boost up your online startup idea or business? Then, here I have a comprehensive guide on how you can create one for FREE.

If you want to start your journey from making a simple character to a verified famous virtual influencer, then you can explore my step-by-step guide on how you can create a successful virtual influencer and collaborate with big brands.

Who are Virtual Influencers?

Virtual Influencers, or Digital Persons that are developed by using the computer-generated imagery [CGI] and Artificial Intelligence [AI], have now become a prominent choice for the new era of social media marketing. 

These personalities are designed to look like real people who can interact with the audiences by posting contents, responding simultaneously. 

Based on the recent trend, many brands now invite these virtual influencers to participate in productions, promotions and collaborations with them.

How Virtual Influencers have now become a Trend? 

Virtual Influencers are now being the most famous choices for the big brands that want to be part of their family. The way Virtual Influencers interact and drop their presence on the internet is very interesting and amazing to observe.

Refer to the below reasons why Virtual Influencers are the new Famous Personalities:

1) Customized Control & Consistency

Brands love to control the stuff, therefore virtual influencers are now their first choice because they can easily understand the scripts, actions and the theme that can align with their marketing strategies to deliver the message to their audience. 

2) Virtual Influencers with Human Looks

Thanks to advances in technology and AI, with the help of these it is possible to create human-like characters who can engage, act and respond accordingly. 

3) Easily Accessible Globally

As compared with Human Influencers, the virtual ones can easily extend across the geographical and cultural boundaries of the country. They have a digital nature and can connect with the world and engage with the different global markets.

4) Flexibility to Change

Virtual Influencers can be rebranded and realigned accordingly based on the particular trends, strategies and the target audiences. As compared with Human Influencers, flexibility to adapt with the new trend can be performed easily with Virtual ones.

Step by Step Guide to Create a Virtual Influencer for Free

Let’s learn how we can create human-like talking digital characters which will have customized looks and voice tones based on your preferences. 

Here I will use RenderNet AI powered tool to create a virtual digital character that will be your AI powered influencer who will represent your brand or content and will engage with the audience.

Creating Digital Avatar by Using RenderNet AI

RenderNet AI is a tool that lets you build a digital character with various customization options, you can create almost HD characters / images that can be the capable influencer to engage your audience. 

Follow the step-by-step guide on how you can generate a digital human-like avatar that can be your virtual influencer using RenderNet.

Step 1: Registration & Account Setup

You can register on RenderNET AI to create AI influencers for free. You can use your Gmail or other Email account to login and get instant access to the tool.

Step 2: Upload Reference Image

To create an AI virtual influencer, you will need to provide the reference image of any character you want. You can upload any reference images of Artists, Actors or any models that you want so that your character will be based on that appearance. 

For example: I will use the below sample image of a young adult female to be the virtual influencer model.

RenderNet AI will analyze this image and based on the facial expressions it will generate similar characters in different styles.

For example: I have uploaded a sample portrait image of a young female adult, you can adjust the zoom focus and crop the image area to adjust it properly. Once done, click on next.

Step 3: Setting Up Character Attributes

After the sample image upload, you will need to provide some basic information about the image and choose the type of character you want to generate.

Based on the sample, I have chosen Female, and the age type as Adult, the character generated will be Realistic.

Step 4: Give Unique Name & Description

Provide a unique username that would sound unique and something interesting to the audience. For example: I have named my character “AI-wini” which means a girl powered by artificial intelligence who loves to explore and analyze human perspectives. 

It will be good, if you will give a backstory for the character which can match the niche on which you want to create. For example: I have created an AI model who can be a companion for the people and let them guide on their decisions. 

So the backstory message to introduce herself for the audience will be: “Hi, I am AI-wini, powered by AI technology who is passionate to guide on complex decisions and problems faced by you in your social and personal life”.

Wait for a few seconds, RenderNet AI will generate hyper realistic images in HD quality.

Step 5: AI Virtual Influencer Ready

RenderNet AI will generate a few images based on the sample uploaded by the users. You can customize and generate multiple times to get the best output. 

Step 6: Establishing the Social Media Presence 

After the character generation, it’s to launch the presence to the audience, create relevant social media profiles on: Facebook / Instagram / Quora / Pinterest / Twitter [X] / Medium. 

Based on the backstory of my model, I would prefer the niche of Psychologist who helps people by delivering motivational / inspirational content to assist people and guide them to make correct, important decisions. 

Step 7: Generate Relevant Content

Based on your niche, try to generate relevant content related to your niche, through videos, images, etc. You can post content on social media and public community websites where audiences come to gather information. 

Step 8: Engage with the Audience

The most crucial part of a growing AI virtual character is to respond to the audience. The more you engage with them, the more attention and followers you will gain. 

If this step is performed perfectly, the journey to a simple character would surely become a recognizable virtual influencer. 

Step 9: Collaborate with Brands and Partners

Some brands will invite you, while some have to be approached by you based on your niche. You can drop your business email on your social media, from which the brands may communicate with you. 

Step 10: Follow the Trend

At last, make sure to update yourself with the trend, because this is what makes the journey going successful, provide relatable posts aligned with your niche with amazing character poses and styles.

Creation of AI Virtual Influencer Visual Appearance

If you want to create an AI digital human avatar that can be your shadow for your audiences, then you can find these steps helpful. 

Creating an AI human avatar using an AI tool involves a few steps, there are a lot of AI tools available that can help you to generate customized AI human-like characters with different styles and voices. 

1. Choosing AI human creation tool

AI tools such as Deep Face Lab, Synthesia AI, FaceApp are some of the common AI powered tools that lets you create customized human characters. 

2. Provide Reference Image or Idea

Many AI tools allow you to customize your AI digital avatar based on your tastes and preferences, however it is also possible to generate the AI avatar based on your provided reference human faces or description. 

3. Customization

You can now generate your own AI digital talking avatar who can speak, respond, and manage your audiences, you can adjust its visual appearances as well as its voice or tone to refine the attributes based on your preference.

4. Use AI Voice Generator / Voice Cloning 

Many AI avatar generator tools allow users to choose the AI voices available in different languages and accents.

But if you want to use a different voice, you can browse other AI tools available that can provide you a better voice or tone. 

5. Launch and Integrate

It’s time to integrate your AI avatar with the social media and the specific niches to work with, and review how it is engaging with the audiences, what are the reactions by them to analyze what required changes and styles you have to maintain.

Knowing the Concepts & Personality of Virtual Influencers to Determine the Best Niche

Finding out the best niche or industry for creating a virtual influencer requires several processes, as it all depends upon various market trends and type of audience you want to target. 

Here are some of the steps which you can follow to choose the best niche to create a virtual influencer. 

1) Research Market Trends

Find what’s popular in the market, identify which niche or category is mostly loved by the audiences and is in the trend on social media. It is highly suggested to look for those niches which can have a great potential in the future. 

2) Choose your Goal

It’s important to determine why you want to create a virtual influencer, whether it’s for business purpose or for personal content creation, based on the requirements you will need to plan for success metrics to get optimum engagements and followers. 

3) Competitor Analysis

Before creating one, you should take an idea, by analyzing the famous virtual influencers that are already dominating the industry and promoting the brands uniquely. 

4) Find your Target Audience 

Choosing the particular niche or industry is directly proportional to demographics [age, location, gender and interests]. In order to get the maximum engagement from your audience, make sure to align the content based on their interests. 

5) Real-time Test and Decide 

Experimentation process is necessary to find out which niches suit your skills. You can start creating content in different niches and test out which ones give you positive results in less time. 

6) Choose Niche based on Expertise

Choose a niche that you are good in because this will help you to create high quality engaging content easily. You must also ensure that you have the minimum required resources and skills to operate your niche in order to get results.

Types of Virtual Influencers

Since digital avatars are virtual representations of the people, and can be used in almost every online platforms and niches such as: gaming, virtual meetings, social media, etc. 

Digital avatars come in various forms, that depends upon how it is created. Each type of avatar has their own features and limitations. 

It is possible to create various types of digital avatars by using online AI powered tools and software, refer to the below era of digital avatars that ruled out the internet. As of now, AI powered humans like talking digital avatars is now the new trend.

2D Avatars

Based on two-dimensional images, most commonly used as profile pictures in social media and in other public interacting platforms such as: games, meetings, chat rooms, etc. 

Usually, creating these types of digital avatars is easy and can be done through the apps and online software programs.

3D Avatars

The three-dimensional digital avatars look just like a virtual human, which can be viewed through various angles and the level of realism.

It is usually found in common video games, [VR] meetings / environments. The level of personalization is possible, you can edit, change or remove styles, clothing, facial expressions, etc.

Animated Avatars

Animated avatars can perform actions and show movements, which makes them more dynamic and engaging. These types of digital avatars can show gestures, talk and deliver emotions. 

You can easily find them in the form of virtual assistants, animated movies or videos.

Hyper-Realistic Avatars

These avatars are the mixtures of Cartoon style + Animated which are made for fun. Usually based on cartoon style characters used for entertainment and casual interactions.

Importance of Creating Virtual Influencer for Businesses and Individuals

Virtual Influencers can play a lead role in representing your business and content creations, refer to the below reasons why it creates an important impact. 

24×7 Availability 

Businesses: As virtual influencers don’t need the salary or breaks, they can engage with your target audience anytime when you command too. By this, you can create an all-time presence on social media to engage with the audience. 

Individual: If you are a content creator, then you can create your virtual shadow / assistant / AI human avatar with AI tools present online. By this you can extend your constant presence even if you are having a busy schedule. 

Cost-Effective 

Businesses: Creating virtual influencers might be expensive for once, after that no additional costs. The best example is: instead of paying a huge amount to a human influencer for a single post, a virtual influencer can promote it with no extra costs for long run. 

Individuals: If you are a brand influencer, you can generate or create professional photoshoots and social media posts in less time, via your virtual influencer using AI tools. 

Quality Engagement with Target Audiences

Businesses: The way Virtual Influencers interact with the audience is literally amazing to experience. By this way, they gain more followers and attention from the audience because they love to experience and engage to witness the reaction. 

Individuals: The way you interact with your audience, you can also try to introduce your AI avatar to handle your queries, your followers will surely love to interact how your digital avatar responds to the users. 

Drives Consistent Brand Image

Businesses: You can control the way you want such as their appearances, actions and styles. Since they are powered by AI, you can personalize the brand’s image to align with the marketing strategies. 
Individuals: You can personalize your digital AI avatar based on your tastes and preferences to promote, create or share valuable information or third party promotions.

Conclusion: Virtual influencers vs Human Influencers, which one is best?

You might be confused about how virtual influencers are giving tough competitions to the real humans? 

Here the simple answer is, virtual AI characters engage the audiences well because audiences love to witness the reactions and responses of the AI characters. 

Virtual Characters, also known as AI powered animated 3D avatars, are the latest trend on the internet, therefore people love to follow and engage with them. 

Moreover, brands and businesses are now shifting to collaborate with virtual influencers because they are cost-effective and have higher audience engagement levels compared to human influencers.

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