Instagram has grown in recent years as a powerful medium for individuals to communicate their interests, abilities, and personal brand with a huge audience. Influencers on Instagram may engage, inspire, and influence their following, making it an appealing professional career for many. If you want to be an Instagram influencer, here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started.
Instagram is an American photo and video-sharing social networking service platform. It was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. In April 2012, this highly popular social media platform was acquired by Facebook.
Instagram Influencer marketing is about developing relationships with influential people (especially online) in order to help create greater awareness and visibility of their services or product. Rather than targeting the market as a whole, influence marketing focuses on certain key individuals. It has become one of the most effective strategies to reach customers and build brand awareness.
Is Instagram Marketing Profitable?
As per this report, The influencer marketing platform market size worldwide was valued at USD 7.68 billion in 2020. Industry experts predict an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.3% from 2021 to 2028.
Instagram is a powerful social media platform that carries massive value for brands. As of today, it has over 800 million active monthly users. This implies that all of the people that brands try to target are mostly available on Instagram. However, it is observed, that Instagram is predominantly used by younger people under the age of 35 years.
In this article, we are sharing some tips on how to become an Instagram influencer and start making money. So, let’s get started.
14 Steps to Become an Instagram Influencer
1. Choose a Profitable Niche
Selecting a profitable niche is extremely critical in making money on the Instagram platform. You need to explore and research and find out the one that both brands and users find interesting. We list down here the top profitable areas that can fetch you good returns as an Instagram influencer.
- Beauty
- Health & Fitness
- Travel
- Business
- Fashion
Read: Best Instagram Business Ideas
2. Create an Instagram Business Account
If you’re serious about becoming an Instagram influencer, you need to let the seriousness show. And nothing does a better job of doing this than having an Instagram business account. But what are the benefits of switching to a business account?
The most important benefit is that with a business account, you get access to valuable insights, analytics, and additional features that can help you understand your audience and track your performance.
You’ll be able to see not only your follower demographics but also which posts are getting better engagement. In addition, you will also be able to see the days and times which give you the best engagement.
3. Choose a Primary Network as Your Main Focus
Instead of being present and active on a myriad of social media networks, you should select a primary network to focus on building a strong following on that particular channel.
4. Be Good at Clicking Photographs
To get success on Instagram, it is extremely important to post high-quality photographs that attract people. A good quality DSLR camera is a good option. However, nowadays high-end smartphones also can provide stunning pictures.
5. Build a Theme Around Your Content
Those wanting to establish themselves as influence marketers should build a theme around their content rather than creating content around various topics and themes. Focusing on a content theme will help you be regarded as an expert on a certain subject and help generate a strong following in that particular area.
6. Create a Consistent Content Schedule
Let your followers know when you’ll be posting content by creating a consistent schedule. Think about the optimum days and times your target audience is likely to be active on social media and post fresh content then.
7. Focus on Quality Over Quantity
When it comes to social media content, quality always prevails over quantity. Don’t just post for the sake of posting. Instead, put quality content live on social media that will bring true value to your followers.
8. Post Regularly & Engage with Your Instagram Followers Every Day
Build up a relationship with your followers by reaching out to them and engaging with them daily. Whether it’s liking and commenting on their posts, reacting to the comments they’ve written about your content, or messaging them directly, interacting with followers daily will help build social media rapport and generate a solid relationship with fans.
9. Leverage Cross-promotion to Reach New Fans
Reach out to new fans and build your social media networks by cross-promoting social posts. Cross-promotion requires no investment and enables you to gain a credible introduction to new audiences on social media.
Partnering with a brand that is not a direct competitor of yours and cross-promoting each other’s content will mean your posts are promoted to each other’s fans, thus helping you reach out and engage with a new set of followers.
10. Collaborate with Other Instagram Contributors on Content
Content collaborations, in which you create content with like-minded content creators, are an effective way to diversify your work and be exposed to other fan bases that are not yet aware of your brand. Collaborating with other content creators on social media can also be a lot of fun.
11. Collaborate with Brands
As your following grows, you may start receiving collaboration opportunities from brands. Instead of agreeing to take on any old brand as a sponsor, be selective and more selective. The brands you take on as sponsors are a reflection of you and should not be chosen lightly.
Just as brands are becoming more savvy and selective about the Instagram influencers they choose to work with, you should be selective too about what brands you choose to take on. If you have a genuine interest in a product or service, chances are the relationship will be more successful, effective, and fun.
12. Monetize Your Influence
Explore various monetization options available to influencers. It includes sponsored posts, brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, sponsored events, or launching your own products or services. You must develop a clear pricing strategy and negotiate fair compensation for your collaborations.
13. Speak with Authenticity as an Instagram Influencer
Effective and credible social Instagram influencers speak with authenticity. An authentic voice on social media that speaks with authority and is reliable will help ensure your fans view you in a credible and trustworthy light, ultimately helping you not only grow your following but gain sponsors too.
14. Be Consistent
The final tip we recommend to those looking to establish themselves as an influence marketer is to practice consistency at all times. From consistently creating quality and informative content to being consistent with the timing of your postings, social media consistency is possibly the best way to build loyalty with your fans.
Conclusion
It’s true that you cannot become an Instagram influencer overnight. You will need to be patient and make sure to follow the above steps. It might take a few months, but you will definitely start seeing results.
You always need to be authentic in anything you say on social media. Get to know your most active followers, remember them, and give back some love.
Related: How to Become Freelance Social Media Marketer
You may also want to check out an article in which we dived further into the self-employment genre. By becoming an Instagram influencer you can target a lot of audiences that would help you to gain a lot of money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many followers do I need to become an Instagram influencer?
There is no specific number of followers required to become an influencer. You need to focus on building an engaged and loyal audience, regardless of size. Typically, brands prioritize engagement rates and the quality of their content over follower count.
How do I find brand collaboration opportunities?
It is observed, brands generally reach out to you directly if they are interested in collaborating. Additionally, you can proactively reach out to brands that align with your niche and express your interest in working together. Networking with other influencers and attending industry events can also lead to collaboration opportunities.
How much can I earn as an Instagram influencer?
Earnings vary depending on several factors. It includes your niche, follower count, engagement rate, and the type of collaborations you undertake. Income can range from free products and services to significant financial compensation.
Is it necessary to disclose sponsored content?
Yes, it is essential to be transparent with your audience and disclose any sponsored or paid content. You need to use hashtags such as #ad, #sponsored, or #partner to clearly indicate when a post is sponsored.
How long does it take to become a successful Instagram influencer?
Building a successful Instagram influencer career takes time and effort. It varies for each individual and depends on a wide range of factors. It includes the subject niche, content quality, consistency, and audience engagement. Patience, perseverance, and dedication are essential for long-term success.
Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.
