Instagram influencers can make between $1,000 and $8,000 per month, with some of the more well-known macro influencers making six figures. The fact that we have a larger following on Instagram means that the rest of us will never be able to command such high prices.
However, there are lots of Instagram influencers who have been able to give up their day jobs and focus solely on their mini-celebrity status. There is a relatively simple formula to follow if you want to become Instafamous. Please keep reading.
Find Your Instagram Niche
Finding your niche and defining your target audience based on it will be the first step that forms the foundation of your influencer career. You have probably seen it pretty much anywhere, and it may sound like another “drink a lot of water to be healthier” that you also hear from everyone, but it actually is really important and will help you out a lot.
The market could be focused on topics like cooking, fitness, motherhood, DIY, or fashion. It would also be a good idea to initially focus on a specific niche.
For example, if you want to create content about fashion, focus on a specific style, such as street fashion, vintage clothing, or second-hand clothing.
By doing that, you’ll increase the number of followers who actually care about your content and are looking forward to new posts because they are interested in the same topics that you are.
It would be best if you could find a niche that doesn’t get much coverage yet. It will be a little challenging to stand out from the other accounts if you start with something where competition is already fairly intense.
Make Sure That Instagram Is The Right Channel For You
There are a ton of social media sites around the globe; Instagram is just one of them. The second step for you is to choose a platform considering your skills and interests:
- If you are interested in taking photos, editing them, and creating short videos, Instagram would be a great place for you;
- If you are proficient in mainly creating videos, like trying out new effects or enjoy talking in front of the camera, choose YouTube or TikTok;
- Like writing a lot? – Twitter or a blog may be for you;
- You’re not much of a writer, but you’re a natural conversationalist. – you could think about starting with your own podcast.
Ideally, it would be smart to choose at least two platforms – if you build the business on just one platform, and, in the worst-case scenario, it goes bankrupt, there’s a risk of you losing basically everything.
As an additional platform for your brand, you might think about setting up a website or a LinkedIn account if you decide to start your social media influencer career.
Set Up Your Instagram Profile
The following step is to edit your profile in order to make it better (or to create a brand-new profile altogether). What are the things that you should consider then?
Profile/cover Photo
When someone sees your comment on Instagram, it’s your profile picture that prompts them to click on your username, so make sure it’s attractive or catchy! If your platform requires a cover photo, pay attention to how it appears as well. See if the profile and cover photos go well together.
Informative Bio
In the bio / “about me” section, you could mention what your content is focused on and where you are based; maybe add something fun as well that expresses your personality!
Add A Keyword To Your Name
You are free to include your name in your bio, but we strongly suggest placing a keyword related to your niche right next to it. In this manner, there is a greater likelihood that your account will appear in the search results when people use that keyword on Instagram.
Flattering Feed
If you already have some posts on your profile, make sure they all look good and are relevant to the niche you chose. Do they accurately reflect the perception of you that you want others to have? Do your photos appear to have taken effort? The aesthetics of someone’s feed is frequently used to determine whether or not to follow them.
Contact Information
We advise influencers to create a creator account on Instagram so that they can access key tools like growth insights and buttons that send people directly to their contact page.
Your contact information, such as your email address, website, and other social media accounts, should be added.) to the bio – that way; it will be easier for others (including brands) to reach out to you at any time!
Learn Photo/Video Editing
Being good at taking photos and making videos is one of the requirements for gaining a large following on Instagram. You can use the fundamental tools, like filters and captions, on Instagram, for sure.
However, you must develop your photography and videography skills if you want to differentiate yourself from other Instagram users.
Share Your Stories
If you think you can become an Instagram influencer just by sharing photos, you clearly have it all wrong. In addition to the photos themselves, the captions for those pictures are equally important.
If you want to become an Instagram influencer your stories need to connect with your social media followers on an emotional level. Give them a reason to believe in you, follow you, and participate in your activities.
But don’t lose sight of being sincere in your efforts to draw in followers. People will only stop caring about you if you come across as fake. Instead, talk about interesting and genuine personal experiences.
Listen To Your Audience
The best asset you have is your audience. People on the internet are typically brutally honest. You can anticipate an accurate response if you ask a question. When you are your brand, this can require some thick skin.
Solicit answers through questions and polls — and be specific. Open-ended questions like “Why do you want to see more of that?” likely won’t get you what you want. Instead, ask specific questions, like “Should I add color or leave it monochromatic?”
Keep an eye out for any questions or comments that recur. Your communication may need to be improved if there is a gap. Give your audience what they want, and you can encourage brand loyalty.
Engage Your Followers
Fame doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Only those willing to pay attention will be able to become famous. Bring your audience in and keep them interested; there is no way around this. We tried it, and using bots to increase engagement doesn’t work.
Even though it may be tempting to cut corners, a strong engagement strategy will have you reaping the benefits in no time. High engagement continues to be a major factor in Instagram’s algorithm.
The higher your engagement, the more people will see your account on Instagram, which will increase the reach of your brand.
Engage Meaningfully
Social media is all about people and how you interact with them. Engagement is one of the most important factors that will help you become an Instagram influencer.
Make sure to respond to any comments made on your photos. Likewise, return the favor by commenting and liking their posts. Here’s a checklist that you can use to increase the engagement rate on your posts and become an Instagram influencer:
- Include a call-to-action in your caption
- Post at a time when you’re likely to get maximum engagement (use insights if you have a Business Account to find the best times)
- Host giveaways and contests
- Use polls in Instagram Stories
- Follow similar accounts and engage with their content
- Use popular and relevant hashtags or create your own hashtags
Be Consistent
Credibility is a product of consistency! Finding your visual aesthetic, brand voice, and posting rhythm may take some time. But once you succeed, continue. People will begin to associate your brand with a particular aesthetic and viewpoint, further solidifying it in their minds.
You can plan ahead and post frequently with the aid of a social media content calendar, which can literally save your life.
Share Good Content On A Consistent Basis
Building a following on Instagram requires more than just being open, honest, and engaging with other accounts. Beginner influencers frequently undersell the importance of consistency.
It’s important to plan out your upcoming posts so that you’d post content regularly, not leave your followers “hanging.” Making a structure for yourself is a simple hack.
For instance, as a fitness influencer on Instagram, you might post something inspirational on Mondays, describe some exercises on Wednesdays, share healthy recipes on Saturdays, etc.
Maintaining variety in your content and coming up with concepts for interesting posts simultaneously is helpful. Influencers who are most successful have strict content schedules, especially those who are rising.
Treat Your Instagram Account Like A Business
You and your personal brand are your product, and your Instagram account is how you market it to the world. Therefore, you should treat it as though it is now your business.
Now is the perfect time to switch to an Instagram business profile or creator account, if you haven’t already. You’ll get access to in-depth analytics and tools made just for creators.
Additionally, a creator or business profile enables you to use third-party applications like Hootsuite, which is undoubtedly our favorite.
Hootsuite allows you to schedule and publish posts directly to Instagram, engage your audience, track performance, and manage your presence on other social networks—all from a single dashboard.
Manage Sponsorship Interest Like A Boss
The exciting part is about to begin: money! Brands or organizations will get in touch with you about sponsorship opportunities once you’ve gained a certain number of fans and recognition.
Additionally, you can start actively pursuing that money. On how to monetize Instagram, we have professional advice.
Furthermore, Hootsuite’s analytics can be used to create your brand pitch deck once you’re ready to start contacting potential collaborators. Being able to demonstrate a high conversion rate or strong engagement rate can be a game-changer for brands looking to determine whether you’re a good bet.