Are you an Instagram influencer in-training? You’re almost at that blue-check status, but just a couple hundred followers short? These days, you don’t have to be a celebrity to be an Instagram influencer. All you need is to have a passion for something. Whether it’s fashion, health, beauty, or anything in-between, your passion plus the right publicity tools will help you reach that influencer status you’re aiming to achieve.
Aside from that little blue checkmark that sits by your username, there are other incredible benefits to being an influencer. Are you looking for a way to make some money or to gain free products? Once you’ve made a small dent inside the Instagram world and have a slight following, you could partner with a sponsor. They’ll send you samples of products and in exchange, you’ll promote them on your profile. You’ll never have to pay for expensive products ever again! And, you’ll gain a following of like-minded fans and can build an online community for other people searching your interests and aesthetic.
Let’s explore how you can gain followers and become the influencer you’ve always dreamed of with these tips.
Clearly Outline Your Niche
If you look at any of your favourite Instagram influencers, they likely have a theme to their accounts. Perhaps they’re a rising comedian and post daily impersonations. Or, maybe they’re an at-home chef on a budget and focus on posting simple recipes with inexpensive ingredients. Whatever your objective is, it’s best to stick with the theme of that content when you post. For example, if you’re a makeup artist, consider posting images of your favourite iconic makeup looks from fashion and film. Ask your followers to comment about their preferred iconic beauty looks. It’s a creative and engaging way to interact with followers. You don’t always have to post about your work, but keep your content within contextual boundaries.
Offer Giveaways
People love free goodies. Many influencers offer exciting giveaways and contests to followers because it creates engagement and awareness for their brands. You can generate buzz about your brand by giving away customized items representative of your interests. Check out the t shirts from Prints Canada — they’re an online screen-printing company offering excellent deals on custom-printed clothing. Order t-shirts in bulk with your logo, avatar, or any other personalized design to use as giveaway prizes for new and existing followers. Fans will feel proud to wear your name around town, and with the promotional clothing, you might even gain some new followers in the process!
Utilize Hashtags
When used appropriately, Instagram hashtags make your content more discoverable. Studies show that it will have 12.6% more user engagement than posts without a hashtag, even with one per post. With every post you make, always create them to go along with it to generate attention to your account. Hashtags describe what the image or video is, where you are, and what you’re doing. Keep them short and memorable so people won’t overlook them. You want them to attract buzz to your brand.
Being an Instagram influencer can be a lot of fun, and you can get paid while doing it! To get started, stick with one theme, provide follower giveaways, and promote using hashtags.