Influencer marketing is a booming industry, and Instagram is the platform of choice for many businesses.
A recent survey indicated that 92% of marketers believe that influencer campaigns are more likely to succeed on Instagram compared with other platforms.
Influencers also favour Instagram; 87% claim it is their favourite form of social media.
Most people think of celebrities when they hear the term “influencer.” In reality, non-celebrity influencers also attract the attention of businesses eager to win new customers.
This is because 30% of consumers claim that they are more likely to purchase a product if it is recommended by a non-famous blogger instead of a celebrity.
This means anyone can be an influencer if they are willing to put in some time and effort.
It could be profitable; someone with 100,000 followers can charge around $1,000 per sponsored post.
However, to maximize your chances of making money as an influencer, you need a sound strategy.
Follow these tips, and you could soon be making money by documenting your life!
Decide what makes you special
If you spend a few minutes on Instagram, you’ll quickly realize that it takes considerable skill and charisma to stand out from the millions of other posters.
Before you even make your first post, consider your motive and message. Why should anyone follow your account over someone else’s?
What’s your Unique Selling Point (USP)?
Master the art of taking a great picture
Instagram has always been an image-driven platform, so taking gorgeous photos is a must.
Invest in a good camera, find a few online photography tutorials, and start using it!
If you only have a phone camera, experiment with filters and basic editing software that will help you get the right aesthetic.
Decide on your target audience
You can’t possibly appeal to everyone, so don’t even try.
Focus on finding your tribe and building a group of loyal supporters, instead of accumulating thousands of followers who don’t really care too much about your content.
Think about your ideal follower. What is their age, gender, location, budget, and interests? Tailor your content accordingly.
If you are creating content targeted at followers in different regions, consider localizing your content accordingly.
For example, if you are a native English speaker but want to reach an Arabic audience, you may wish to translate your captions and comments accordingly.
According to the CEO of PickWriters, there has “never been a better time to harness multilingual marketing to reach audiences around the globe.”
Influencer and makeup artist Nikkie De Jager understands the importance of choosing the right language for your target audience.
Although her first language is Dutch, she records her videos in English and always uses an American accent:
Be willing to let people see the real you
Beautiful images are essential, but the most successful Instagram influencers aren’t afraid to show their personalities.
Show your quirks, habits, and unusual interests. If you can include a few photos of your pets, closest friends, or even family members, your followers will begin to feel as though they have an intimate insider’s perspective on your life.
Influencer and Instagram celebrity Cameron Dallas regularly posts candid shots of himself with pets and friends on his feed:
Be consistent
If you focus on the food you eat for a couple of weeks and then swap to fashion-based posts for a month, your audience will become confused.
Pick a key topic for your account and use it as a guide when posting content.
Your goal is to build a recognizable personal brand that will keep followers interested.
Make it easy for sponsors to contact you
Put a contact email in your bio.
You need to make it easy for businesses to reach out. It’s a good idea to set up a new email address just for this purpose, otherwise, your personal inbox might become stuffed with spam.
Stay true to your values
Don’t recommend a product or service unless you truly believe that your audience will love it. You’ll soon lose your fan base if you compromise your integrity.
You also need to stay transparent; if you are reviewing a product you got for free, make it clear who sent it to you, and why.
Most of your followers will understand that Instagram influencers often receive products to try, so most of them won’t mind unless you try to conceal it.
Huda Kattan, one of the most influential beauty Instagrammers, wins followers by giving honest reviews mixed with tutorials.
Post consistently
It’s best to post a couple of times per day, rather than upload dozens of photos once or twice each month.
A regular posting schedule will help you hold your followers’ attention. Create an ongoing series that will keep followers coming back for the next instalment.
For example, if you focus on fashion, you could post a weekly selfie showing your Friday night outfit.
Talk to other people
Social media is a two-way street. You cannot expect to upload photos and become an influencer without engaging with other people.
Set aside some time every day to respond to comments, reply to DMs, follow related accounts, and to network with others in your niche.
Start a creative partnership with another influencer
Teaming up with a well-established influencer is an excellent way to boost your follower count, make new friends, and build your reputation.
For example, by collaborating on a creative project such as a podcast or blog, you have a good reason to promote one another’s content on a regular basis.
It won’t happen overnight!
It’s harder than ever to gain traction on Instagram, so don’t expect overnight success.
However, if you believe in your content and seek to connect with people who are interested in what you have to say, you could soon find yourself influencing a large crowd of followers.
From there, it’s a matter of teaming up with the right sponsors and promoting their products in a fun, natural way that adds value to your feed.
