Robert Pattinson is on a high right now. Thanks to the upcoming premiere of his newest film, Belle, which hits theaters next week, the 26-year-old actor is set to become a household name. But just a few years ago, the Oxford grad and former child actor, who now goes by his surname Pattinson, was virtually unknown to most of the world.
Pattinson’s road to superstardom started with a bang and wasn’t slow to follow. In 2012, he appeared in the horror flick, The Guardian, followed by another supporting role in The Purge, the year’s most successful movie. Since then, the England-born star has continued to rack up film credits, with major parts in the upcoming Glass, Black Mass, and Zoolander 2. He also starred in last year’s hit comedy, Wonderful Life, alongside Alex Pettyfer and Jack Black.
Pattinson’s busy schedule allows him to spread the love — and the lust — for his work far and wide. He’s currently touring Europe with the rock band, Kingdom Come, leading up to the release of their debut album, The Black Album, next month. The guitarist and singer’s travels have taken him to London, Prague, and Amsterdam, among other places.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Pattinson has also found time to make headlines for the right reasons. In January this year, he donated £100,000 ($136,220) to a struggling theater company in London. In addition to his hefty donation, he has also been spotted at numerous premieres and award shows, rubbing shoulders with celebs and VIPs.
But is all this really enough to make someone a superstar? We analyzed his Instagram and Twitter accounts to get a handle on just how popular and recognizable he is today. And the answer is…not really.
The Rise Of Instagram
Pattinson’s Instagram account, @robertpattinson, currently has nearly 5 million followers. It’s a goldmine for marketers, who can use the account to target potential customers in Britain and around the world. And it’s easy to see why. Aside from the actor’s stunning looks, he regularly shares images of himself with celebrities and high-profile individuals. These images invariably go viral, often gaining hundreds of thousands of views within a few days of being posted.
This is no accident. Instagrammers work hard to gain the trust of their audience, and @robertpattinson has surely earned the privilege of displaying some of the most attractive people in the world’s attention.
But while the account’s popularity could be attributed, at least in part, to the celebrities he regularly features on it, it’s clear that it’s not solely down to that. Behind every viral Instagram post is a sophisticated marketer who knows just what to post at what time to maximise the chances of a positive reaction.
The Rise Of Twitter
On Twitter, which he uses as his main social media platform, Pattinson has around 500,000 followers. This follows a fairly standard biography of a celebrity’s Twitter account: lots of fashion-related posts, followed by some sports-related posts, with a sprinkling of music-related posts here and there.
This is all well and good, but in order to truly understand the popularity of @robertpattinson, one has to dive into his tweets a little bit deeper. Take a look at the top of his timeline and you’ll notice that, in addition to the typical celebrity accounts he’s followed and engaged with, he also follows a number of accounts related to marketing, branding, and social media.
This should come as no great surprise. Since its introduction in 2010, Twitter has transformed the way people interact and communicate. The service is now used not only for keeping up with the latest news and gossip, but also as a way to find relevant information, research data, and, most importantly, connect with people.
Pattinson’s Twitter account is an excellent example of how the platform is used today. He regularly shares interesting tidbits about marketing and branding, often in the form of short, snappy tweets. These range from explaining the difference between affiliate marketing and sponsored posts to sharing a useful graphic on brand loyalty.
The popularity of his tweets indicates that they’re doing their job. People are reading them and finding value in what he has to say.
The King Of Instagram
Pattinson is far from being the only celebrity to make a successful Instagram account, but he is one of the most influential figures in the space. According to data from Buzzsumo, @robertpattinson’s Instagram account has an impressive 241.64 average score out of 100, making it the most influential Instagram account in the world according to the metrics used by the review platform.
The account has nearly 6 million followers, making it one of the most popular Instagram accounts globally. In addition to his sheer number of followers, what makes @robertpattinson so influential is his ability to constantly attract and retain an audience. His feed is both beautiful and unique, featuring a mixture of celebrity gossip, celebrity portraits, and lifestyle content.
Take a trip through @robertpattinson’s Instagram and you’ll notice that he regularly shares content from brands such as Burberry, Dior, MATCHESfashion, and Ralph Lauren. These are some of the biggest and most well-known brands in the world — and not your typical boring, run-of-the-mill fashion and lifestyle accounts.
So while he doesn’t boast any particularly noteworthy awards or accolades, Robert Pattinson has nonetheless carved out a special place for himself in the world of fashion and celebrity. He may not yet have conquered the world, but it’s clear that he’s well on his way.