Every time we open Instagram, "kal raat aaya, mere ghar ek chor!" Who is this chor? Why are they everywhere? Why am I opening Instagram every 5 minutes? Instagram has indeed become a widely accepted social media platform, evolving significantly since its inception in 2010. It's a platform where influencers and content creators can reach a wide audience, collaborate with brands, and build their personal brand. Are you ready to turn your selfies and posts into cold, hard cash? Buckle up and get ready to learn the ins and outs of how to become an Instagram influencer!

Becoming an influencer on Instagram is a great way to build a following, share your passion, and make money. And almost everybody wants to make it big on Instagram. Here are some tips to help you on your journey to becoming an Instagram influencer:

How to Become an Instagram Influencer? A Beginner's Guide

1. Define your niche

To stand out on Instagram, you need to have a clear focus. Determine your area of expertise, whether it's fashion, beauty, travel, food, or something else, and make sure all of your content aligns with that niche. It’s okay to take time to figure out your niche. A little bit of back and forth and trial and error will be necessary for the same. 

2. Build a consistent aesthetic

Having a consistent aesthetic is critical to building a recognizable brand on Instagram. If you want to become an Instagram influencer, choose a color scheme, filter, and overall style that represents your brand and stick with it. Keep in mind that the aesthetic should talk about you. You don’t have to copy or replicate someone else’s pattern to become a successful Instagram influencer. 

Here’s an example of an aesthetic:

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3. Create high-quality content

To attract followers and brands and to become an Instagram influencer, you need to provide high-quality content. Make sure all of your photos and videos are well-lit, in focus, and visually appealing. To get visibility, you can make reels/memes on trending topics that are relevant to your niche. 

4. Engage with your Audience

If you are wondering how to become an influencer and look over engagement, you are setting yourself up for failure. Building a relationship with your followers is crucial to becoming an influencer. Respond to comments and messages, ask for feedback, and create content that is tailored to your audience's interests. 

5. Utilize Instagram stories

Instagram Stories are a great way to increase engagement and reach a larger audience. Share behind-the-scenes content, ask questions and host polls. Give the audience a peek into who you are and this will help to keep them hooked.

6. Collaborate with other influencers and brands

Collaborating with other influencers and brands can help you expand your reach and gain new followers. Reach out to other influencers in your niche and see if they're interested in working together. Again, this might take time and effort. Getting a shout-out does not happen overnight. You have to invest your time in creating good quality content so that other influencers feel that you are worth their time. 

7. Use Hashtags

Hashtags can help you become more discoverable and there are better chances of you showing up on the Explore page. However, it is important to remember that using hashtags does not guarantee that your content will be displayed on other people’s feeds/explore pages. Here’s what Instagram’s official support page says:

“Not all posts or accounts are eligible to be surfaced in Explore and hashtag pages. We use a variety of signals, for example, if an account has recently gone against our Community Guidelines, to determine which posts and accounts can be recommended to the community.”

8. Use Instagram Insights 

Keep track of your progress by using Instagram Insights. This will help you understand what content is resonating with your audience and what isn't. Use this information to make informed decisions about your content and strategy. This will also help you understand when to post, when your followers or potential followers are active etc. 

9. Be authentic

People can tell when someone is being fake, so it's important to be authentic in your interactions with your followers and the brands you work with. Be yourself and don't be afraid to share your personality and real-life experiences.

10. Private/ Public Account

You have to approach this tactically. Some say that engagement is less when the account is public. So, keep the account public in the initial stage so that your content is discoverable in the explore feed with the hashtags that you have used. Once you start turning heads and people start talking about you, make it private.

11. Leverage the Features

There are many features on Instagram that can help you reach the right audience and get the desired engagement. Make sure to leverage these to your advantage. We will be coming up with a detailed blog on Instagram Features, stay tuned to this page.

Once you start getting followers, it is important to maintain the community. The importance of community building and maintaining the community cannot be overstated. Remember, becoming an influencer takes time and effort. Be patient, stay consistent, and always be open to learning and improving.

How much do Instagram influencers earn? On average, an influencer earns US$2,970 (Rs 2.44 lakhs approximately) per month. However, this is not a fixed amount. The earning depends on the following, the brand deals, the engagement, and other metrics.

How do I start a career as an Influencer? It takes time and effort to become an influencer. The points mentioned above are sure to help you become an influencer.

We kept our promise, the Instagram Features blog is now live. Read it here.