The Ultimate Guide for Becoming an Instagram Influencer

You don’t need to be a celebrity with millions of followers to become an Instagram influencer. Some nano influencers manage to enjoy a lucrative side hustle after amassing 1,000 followers.  As their numbers increase, they then become micro-influencers and make even more. Get some tips, so you can break out as an influencer on Instagram.
 

Select a Niche

Successful nano and micro-influencers have well-defined niches and attract targeted followers. That’s why they are so successful. They have defined target audiences that brands want to reach. 

When choosing a niche, think about your passions and knowledge base. After you come up with some ideas, think about the posts you would create. Can you regularly come up with content for that niche?
 

Define the Content Pillars

Next, you need to define your content pillars. These are the themes and topics that you’ll post on your page. You’ll want to choose 3-5 content pillars for your Instagram page and then develop topics based on those pillars. 

Assume you want to become an Instagram influencer in the makeup niche. One content pillar might be choosing the right makeup shade for your skin tone. You could then post tips, how-to-videos, and advice as part of your content strategy.
 

Create a Profile That Focuses on You and Your Expertise 

As an influencer, you want to put yourself out there as a person, not a brand. Use a personal photo in your profile and add pictures and videos with you as the subject. While you need to be front and center, it’s also vital that your posts provide value. You need to showcase that you’re an expert in your niche, so drop some knowledge in your posts.
 

Make Sure Brands Can Reach You

When you create your profile, you also want to make sure brands can reach you. Create a business profile that includes your email address. Then, brands can click on it to reach out and discuss a partnership. 
 

Grow Your Audience

You need at least 1,000 followers to become an influencer on Instagram, and you don’t really want to stop there. Build your following by creating valuable, high-quality posts with captions that make people want to take action. Post regularly at times your audience is most likely to be online and ready to engage with content. Have a consistent platform and voice on your page and use relevant hashtags to reach your target audience. 

You can also use your audience to expand your reach. Add a call-to-action (CTA) to your post that encourages engagement. Ask people to like, share, or comment on your content, so it will reach their followers. CTAs are simple to add, and they get results. 

If you follow these tips and still aren’t getting enough followers or your audience isn’t increasing fast enough, it’s likely because of Instagram’s algorithm. Instagram rewards accounts with high levels of engagement. Posts from these accounts reach more people due to the algorithm. However, it’s hard to get lots of engagement if people don’t see your posts. You can solve this problem by buying Instagram likes. Buying real likes is a fast way to get engagement. Then, Instagram will increase the reach for your posts, so you can attract followers. This will help you fast-track the process of becoming an Instagram influencer. 
 

Build a Solid Relationship With Your Audience

Brands love using nano and micro-influencers because of their strong relationships with their followers. Strong relationships mean followers are more likely to listen to recommendations. Begin building relationships by interacting with your followers on your page. Respond to comments left on your page and engage in conversations when possible. Also, follow some of your followers back and interact with the content they share. You can also tag them in their Stories as part of building a relationship. Doing things like that will make them feel like friends instead of followers. 
 

Learn More About Your Followers

You can continue building a relationship by taking the time to learn more about your followers. Use polls and surveys to discover relevant information. You can get tons of demographic information this way, including where they live, what they do for a living, and their ages. You can also find out what type of posts interest them the most. This type of information is incredibly valuable to brands and can help you stand out as an influencer. 
 

Create a Media Kit

You want to send a media kit when reaching out to brands. The kit should include your audience size and demographics, image examples, and any partnerships you’ve had, if applicable. Also, include your website and social handles. 
 

Begin Brand Outreach

Once you have at least 1,000 followers and an account with a high level of engagement, it’ll be time to begin brand outreach. Start by tagging brands on relevant posts. This will put you on their radar, and they might even share your content. Some brands might approach you to form a partnership when you do this.

Also, consider joining an Instagram influencer marketing platform such as Popular Pays, Collectively, and Fohr. You’ll add your profile to the platform, and then brands can hire you.  

Finally, you can reach out to brands directly. Send them your media kit and explain how the partnership will benefit them. 
 

Add Value to Your Audience Through Sponsored Content

Choosing the right partnerships is vital. You need to partner with brands that make sense for your audience. The brands should be part of the target market, so your sponsored post adds value to your page. 

Even if you partner with amazing brands, you still need to find the balance when posting content. You’ll lose your status as an authentic influencer if you constantly post sponsored content. Never post sponsored content back-to-back. Always separate it with your own content. Consider limiting yourself to one or two sponsored posts a week so you don’t annoy your audience.
 

Start Growing Your Audience So You Can Become an Influencer

Now that you know how to become an Instagram influencer, it’s time to take action. Define your niche and grow your audience. Remember, buying likes on Instagram can help with this. As you grow in popularity, you can approach brands and turn your influencer status into a money-making side hustle.

For more ideas on how to improve your finances with Instagram, check out this article.