Truth be told, there is no magical solution to becoming rich from your Instagram. It is, in fact, hard work, and the best of the best make it look effortless.
So if you are serious and not just curious about this lifestyle of influencing other lifestyles, you’ll understand that none of this advice is the ultimate answer. In the end, it is how much you are willing to apply these tips and tricks that we’ll get into below. Some may seem obvious, but it’s always worth expanding upon.
First off, you need to ask yourself WHY you want this, and what sort of goals you are trying to reach. Are you just trying to make some side money, or are you trying to turn this into a career? Because the two each require separate methods and the result will be drastically different.
If you are just trying to earn some side money off a passion, for example, a fitness account, just do the basics. Everyday engagement, useful stories detailing your workouts, consistency that people can rely on, and clean well-executed content, can result in a small, but significant following.
Sometimes it just takes 5,000 followers, and all of a sudden you have collaborations and sponsorship opportunities that can provide your gym membership, clothes, and cold-pressed power juices. (I know those don’t come cheap).
Becoming a full-time influencer is business. Plain and simple. And if you want to be successful, it is helpful to think of it as such. It’s a business where you are the product and also the business owner. It requires you to always be on, which can be exhausting, for anyone. This career is not for the faint of heart.
When you are browsing influencer’s accounts on Insta, what are some of the things that stand out? What uniformity exists across all pages? The level of professionalism of the photos for one. A lot of influencers have personal photographers hired (or have a friend that is REALLY talented at taking photos). But you can’t expect to have a ‘grammable’ photo if you don’t look completely put together.
These types of posts are almost like a modern art form. They do require a good deal of thought and effort in order to seem effortless. You really need to know yourself and create a well-rounded identity. Think of it as a character. An extension of one part of yourself, that is highlighted and celebrated. It helps keep oneself anchored to reality if there is a little bit of dissonance involved.
So, with that said, be cognizant of your clothing choices. Every piece needs a reason to be there. Eventually, this part can become second nature. It should go without saying that hair and face need to be nearly flawless as well. Your flyaways can be fixed easily in post. Hair is an area you might need to consider a change. It can make you feel amazing, and have a big impact on your overall reception.
Unless you are aiming to run an Instagram model account, it would be a wise idea to break up your page with photos that can still captivate but don’t require your face to be the focal point of the post. How about a scenic shot of the end of a hike you just took? Or even a flat lay? A scenic shot can still showcase an experience. A flat lay can be aesthetically pleasing, and also very personal, and very useful when marketing products.
Aside from the aesthetic and physical factors, when it comes to making a successful post, do some research on your target audience. When is the best time to post? (On average, the middle of the workweek, right before work, and right after). How do you relate to your audience? What hashtags can you use that will be picked up easily? Know your followers, and engage with them. This will guarantee you more traffic and overall ‘brand loyalty’.
If you initially struggle to gain enough followers in the first place, there are several strategies you can employ alongside the previous advice. Start your following with your friends. Interact and make posts in conjunction with your friends that have the most followers. A friend of a friend might see you, take an interest, and start following as well. (This should go without saying, but make sure your profile is set to public).
You’ll find that once you are up to around 50,000+ followers, it becomes easier to consistently gain followers organically, so long as you keep up with the work. Consistency and relatability are vital. 50,000 followers and up is also the point where companies start taking notice. You have now become a micro-influencer.
Reach out by tagging and documenting the use of the companies products/services that you would want to represent. It’s more reliable to become a brand ambassador than to take one-off adverts. Just keep your audience in mind at all times, especially when showcasing a product.
Part of the reason companies love using influencers so much is because it’s a much more genuine form of advertisement. There are even websites that aggregate data of influencer profiles to help marketing teams find exactly what they are looking for. So, in knowing that, understand your value and worth. They need you, as much as you need them.
We hope these reminders and information help you on your journey to becoming an influencer. In the end, it is up to you and your determination to get to where you want to be. How is it working out for you so far?
