When Instagram was launched on Oct. 6, 2010, it was an unknown social media app that allowed people to share photos. Over the following decade, Instagram exploded in popularity. It is now one of the mainstream social media platforms used by tens of millions of people every day.
While many people still use Instagram to share photos with friends and family, the platform has evolved over time. Instagram has become a powerful marketing and networking tool. Today, successful Instagram influencers make large sums of money promoting their own ventures, as well as the products and services of their sponsors.
Succeeding as an Instagram influencer involves so much more than just making an account and uploading photos. It is important to have a strategy to build a large following. If you are a new Instagram influencer, use the following tips:
1. Create a Well-defined Niche
There are over 1 billion active Instagram accounts globally, but you can’t expect to appeal to everyone. If you want to grow your audience and number of followers, your best bet is to choose a niche. Since there are so many Instagram users, there are numerous niches to choose from.
Popular niches include travel, health/fitness, fashion, beauty, food/cooking, and lifestyle. When choosing a niche to focus on, a good rule of thumb is to choose something you are truly interested in and passionate about. Doing so will help you establish yourself as an authority. You will be able to create content that resonates with your audience.
2. Learn to Use Hashtags
Your followers will see all of the content that you post on your Instagram account. However, when you’re starting as an Instagram influencer, it can take some time to build up a big audience. This is one of the reasons why using hashtags is important. When you utilize hashtags properly, users who do not follow you will see your content when they search for specific phrases.
Don’t make the mistake of adding random hashtags to each one of your posts. You are much better off using hashtag analytic software to help you choose targeted hashtags searched for on a regular basis. There are a number of easy-to-use hashtag analytic software programs available.
3. Utilize Different Forms of Content
Successful Instagram influencers do not simply post photos on their page a couple of times a week. If you want to gain followers and keep your audience interested, you need to provide a variety of content. Feel free to post photos, but also make sure that you also add to your Instagram stories and post videos, IGTV, and reels. Using different forms of content will keep your Instagram page fresh and modern.
4. Interact With Your Followers
One of the keys to being an Instagram influencer is to make an effort to ensure that your audience views you as more than just an Instagram page. You want your audience to grow and stay engaged. A simple way to do this is by interacting with your followers in the comment sections of your posts. Spending a couple of hours a week responding to comments or questions from followers can pay off in the long run as you build your brand.
5. Post Regularly
If you want to become an Instagram influencer, you need to be prepared to put the time in. It is difficult to build your brand and following if you only post sporadically. At the same time, you don’t want to make the mistake of spamming your page with dozens of posts a day. It is a good idea to create a posting schedule to make sure that your page stays up to date and doesn’t get stale.
In the event that you do not have time to keep your Instagram page updated, you may want to consider working with a social media marketing agency. A good social media marketing agency will take the time to learn about your brand and voice and will then post engaging content on your behalf.
6. Consider Buying Likes and Followers
It can take a while to build up a large audience. While you build your brand as an Instagram influencer, you may want to consider investing in buying likes and followers. There are a number of companies that can assist you, and the process is simple and easy. Buying likes and followers can help you when you’re starting out. As you grow your audience, you may no longer need to continue doing so.
7. Select Partners and Sponsors Carefully
The goal of most Instagram influencers is to leverage their brand to earn money. As you grow your following and start being approached by paid sponsors, it is easy to become excited. Before accepting a partnership or new sponsor, though, always think it over carefully. Only work with sponsors who have products and services that align with your niche.
Accepting all paid sponsorships, even if the product or service does not fit in with your brand will fail in the long run. Make sure that any paid sponsorship is with a company that will appeal to your core audience. Also, avoid having too many paid posts on your page. This can be a turn-off to your followers and diminish the brand that you have built.
Conclusion
It is estimated that companies will spend more than $3 billion working with social media influencers in 2021, and that number will likely increase in 2022. There is money to be made as an Instagram influencer, but being an influencer is not a get-rich-quick scheme.
Becoming a successful Instagram influencer requires a lot of hard work, patience, and a good marketing strategy. You can’t expect to go from 1 follower to 1,000 followers to 10,000 followers in a matter of weeks. If you have a well-defined niche, focus on providing engaging content, and market yourself properly, your following will expand. As your audience grows over time, you will have opportunities to make money through paid partnerships and sponsors, as well as selling your own products.
