Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Ryan Cheng @chengman

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What are you doing now and where do you come from?

I was inspired to compete in the 2012 Olympics as a 110m hurdler, but one failure lead me to quit. 8 years later, I’ve started hurdling again to discover my true potential.

2) What are your topics of interest? What do you post on Instagram the most?

My topics of interest are track & field, fitness, and health. I post videos and photos of my competitions, practices, gym workouts, and my training gear.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

I received the name Chengman when I played basketball in high school. My teammates gave me that name and it has been my nickname ever since. In 2010, I started a YouTube channel under Chengman and after 6 years I’ve been able to generate over 240,000 subscribers and many viral videos in comedy and entertainment.

4) What are some apps you use to edit your photos? Share with us your photo-editing routine!

I don’t use any apps to edit my photos because I make sure that the original photo is taken with decent lighting and framing. The only thing I do is increase the brightness and contrast through the Instagram platform.

5) Any Instagrammers whom you really like? Which Instagrammer inspires you the most?

I follow a handful of Olympic hurdlers who inspire me to stay positive and fearless. I look at their content before my competitions in order to stay focused.

6) If there’s one thing your fellow Instagrammers just gotta try now, what’s it gonna be?

There’s one thing that I don’t think Instagrammers are doing enough, and that’s video. As a content creator on YouTube, I find that video has an interesting way to pull an audience because it can show more of your personality.

7) What’s your favorite part about being an influencer?

The reason I create content on social media is to provide people with knowledge about my sport or fitness and to help others embrace their fears by pursuing their passion.

8) What are some of your top tips to brands for running campaigns? How do you maintain authenticity?

My favourite campaigns are when the brand allows the influencer to create content that they normally would while incorporating the brand in a natural way. Sometimes it takes a collaborative effort to figure out a solution but I believe it benefits both parties when it is done authentically.

9) What would your advice be on the importance of quality and original content?

I always tell other influencers to create content in their own style because it gives people a reason to follow you. If your content is similar to others, why would they want to follow you?

10) What do you like best about partnering with brands?

I like partnering with like-minded brands because it gives me the opportunity to create content that I wouldn’t normally be able to produce. In addition, it allows me to be exposed to a larger audience.

Topics:

• Cooking
• Fashion
• Health & Fitness

Country:

Canada