A Beginner’s Guide to Becoming an Instagram Influencer

instagram influencer

Did you know Instagram has over 800 million active monthly users? With that kind of traffic, it’s no wonder businesses are making big investments in Instagram influencer marketing.

It’s not easy to become an Instagram influencer. If it was, everybody would be doing it.

To succeed, you must make a real commitment and prepare to work at it every single day. Here are some of the best pro tips to help you get started.

Choose Your Niche Carefully

Selecting the right niche is the key to successful influencer marketing. Don’t choose something just because you think it will help you gain more followers. You must have a passion and some knowledge about or genuine interest in the topic or else people will see right through you.

You can choose more than one niche as long as they make sense together and aren’t just a random collection of ideas. If you decide to take this route, make sure there’s a good balance of each topic on your feed.

Pay Attention to Your Bio

Your bio is your first impression, so take some time to develop it. Create a story to grab your viewer’s attention and present it in an engaging manner. Give enough personal details to captivate your audience without over-sharing.

If you can, add your niche into the name field and hashtags in your bio so your profile comes up in relevant searches.

Create a Business Account

Switching to a business account brings a lot of advantages, particularly if you want to become a paid influencer. It shows that you’re serious about your Instagram activities and gives you access to valuable insights like follower demographics and engagement analytics.

It’s also the only type of account that allows you to run ads.

If you’ve chosen a few different niches, you might want to create several accounts. You must be careful about it though because doing it incorrectly can lead to an Instagram ban. Read more here to learn how to set up multiple accounts successfully.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Captions

Instagram influencer marketing is about more than just posting pretty pictures. You must create thoughtful captions that share a story and connect with your audience on an emotional level.

Don’t forget to remain genuine and authentic. Keep reminding your audience why they want to follow and engage with you and make it easy for them to trust you.

Keep Your Feed Visually Appealing

Make sure your posts look nice and adhere to a general theme. All photos on your feed should compliment one another. Pay attention to uniformity when it comes to composition, color, and tones.

You can use the built-in Instagram filters or other programs to help you modify your photos and create a unique touch. Above all, make sure all images you post are clear, crisp, and well-lit.

Be Consistent

When it comes to social media, consistency is key. Most successful Instagram influencers post at least once a day, and some do so more often.

Higher posting frequency can increase engagement. However, starting something you can’t keep up with won’t do you any favors. Whatever frequency you decide on, make sure you can commit to it.

#Hashtag Wisely

Hashtags help Instagram users easily find your content. You’re allowed to add up to 30 to each post, so use them to your advantage.

Choosing your hashtags based on volume also increases your chances of success. Those with super-high search volume also come with a ton of competition. A volume of 10,000 to 1 million is generally the sweet spot.

Actively Engage Your Followers

Always reply to comments left on your posts. When people take the time to engage with you, return the favor by following and commenting on theirs as well. Look for accounts similar to yours, follow them, and engage as much as possible.

Giveaways, polls, and contents are also excellent ways to connect with your viewers.

Take Advantage of Stories

Stories are one of the hottest trends in Instagram right now. Over 200 million users are watching Instagram stories every day. Don’t miss out on this huge opportunity.

By consistently creating stories, you increase your chances to find new followers while engaging with your current ones. Tagging users in your stories and connecting with other accounts helps you build relationships.

Grow Your Following Organically

Buying followers is the number one mistake you can make. Instead, focus on posting quality content and followers will come to you.

Growing your audience organically requires a good deal of effort and patience, but the results are well worth it. It’s generally recommended that you have at least 1,000 followers before you start trying to promote yourself as an influencer.

Communicate with Relevant Brands

Big companies drive tons of business through social marketing campaigns. If you want them to hire you, you need to make sure they know you exist.

Once you have a large enough following, get the attention of relevant brands by tagging them in your photos. You can also send companies direct messages, particularly if you’ve noticed that they have worked with similar influencers in the past.

Take your time creating a pitch that explains exactly what you bring to the table and why they should consider working with you. It won’t be easy, and you’ll probably face some rejection, but it only takes one acceptance to make it all worth it.

Are You Ready to Become an Instagram Influencer?

Instagram influencer status doesn’t happen overnight. It requires hard work and consistency. In fact, it may take years before you’re reached a large enough audience to attract the right investors.

While you’re building up your followers, you may want to check out other ways to make money online. Creating your own website, promoting yourself on other social media platforms, and affiliate marking programs are all viable options.

Check out our affiliate marketing blog posts for more information about how to get started and best practices for long-term success.