Welcome to the World of Being an Instagram Influencer
The world of social media has centered on Instagram. Influencers from all over the world are coming to Instagram to provide value and engage with their audience. It is obvious now that Instagram is the social media platform to become an influencer, but the real question is how do you become an influencer on Instagram?
Today, there is almost 1 billion active monthly users on Instagram, and brands are shelling out money like never before to influencers to help advertise their products and services.
Why let everyone else reap the benefits of this new social media world? This is your chance to dive in as an influencer. Below, is a 5 step process on how you can become a profitable Instagram influencer
Step 1: Pick Your Niche
This may sound obvious, but to make money on Instagram it is so crucial for you to understand exactly what kind of area you want to focus on and become recognized for. The key is to pick an area that you are genuinely interested in and passionate about.
Here is the thing: *You do not need to be an expert to become an influencer, you just need to be a few steps ahead of your audience*
As you begin to establish yourself in your niche and have gained a following, you can then branch out into other areas. For example, if you are a known travel Instagram influencer and have acquired a following of 10,000 engaged followers, you can then add food into the mix as it compliments and adds to the value that you are providing.
Step 2: Batch Your Content
There is nothing worse than trying to come up with content last minute to impress your audience. If it’s forced and unnatural to you, it will be the same way to your audience. The key is to spend some time batching your content (ideally 2 weeks worth of content) in advance, so that you never run out of content and that you are always providing your followers with new and engaging value!
How do you batch content?
a) Spend 1-2 days creating content
b) Hire a photographer (average rate of $30 per hour) to take multiple shots in different locations and themes with you
c) Rent a camera yourself and bring a friend along
d) Ask your audience what they’d like to see more of, and provide them with that.
Step 3: Create a Frequency Schedule for Posting
Humans enjoy predictability. It brings a sense of security to their lives. It’s your job to post your content on a consistent basis so that your audience can get used to it.
Try this: Post a piece of content every day (Monday-Friday) at 8:00 am and 7:00 pm. Below, a schedule that we created to help you stay on track with your posting schedule.
Step 4: Engage with Your Audience
This is the biggest mistake that influencers make in 2018. For you to become a successful Instagram influencer, you need to engage with your audience and get to know them. This means replying, commenting, and caring for your followers.
If they’ve taken time out of their day to follow you, then the very least you could do is show them some appreciation too! Not only will they thank you for it, but the level of trust you have between yourself and your followers will grow dramatically (thus increasing engagement).
Try your best to reply to every comment on your posts and to provide value in each response.
Step 5: Be Patient
In this “instant gratification” kind of world we live in, it is those who deploy patience that will thrive. Becoming an influencer is a process that takes time and effort. As you continue to follow the steps learned in this article, you will watch yourself grow as an influencer. Followers will begin to trickle in, and engagement will start to build all of which is directly correlated to the consistent value that you provide.
As you continue to grow, brands will start to reach out to you to work on different projects, and that is when you will start to feel like you are winning. The key is to maintain your authenticity throughout the process. If you find it too difficult to get your target audience then you may look for growth tools like Kicksta and to find more accurate information you may look for the Kicksta review on The Small Business Blog.
Nowadays it seems as though everyone is trying to be an Instagram influencer, and as a result, it may seem overwhelming even to dream about that lifestyle. The truth is, anyone can do it with enough persistence and the right guidance. If you are looking to become an influencer and make a living doing what you love we have designed a 2-hour course that outlines a step-by-step process to gain a following online and how to convert this following into business for yourself.
