How to Become an Instagram Influencer in 2024

In the modern world of digital marketing, the spotlight is on reviews, user-generated content (UGC), and digital word of mouth. This has given rise to a new key player: influencers—whether they’re on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or other platforms. The influencer industry has experienced a meteoric rise, surging from $1.7 billion in 2016 to a whopping $21.2 billion today.

But if you’re an Instagram enthusiast aiming to make it big as an influencer, know that ‘luck’ isn’t the only ingredient for success. It requires a good deal of hard work and dedication. But don’t worry, this article has compiled all the essential steps on how to make your Instagram influencer dreams come true!

What is an Instagram Influencer?

An Instagram influencer is essentially an Instagram user who has not only amassed a large following but has also built credibility, using their content to share entertainment, product reviews, and more with their audience. Their influence is profound, playing a crucial role in social media conversations and communities, and wielding the power to impact the market.

Instagram influencers come in various types, each specializing in different content and industry niches such as fashion, lifestyle, IT, education, and more. 

Another critical aspect is their ‘audience size’ — the number of followers they have, which can influence the types of brands that approach them for collaborations and endorsements. The extent of their reach and visibility, and perhaps most importantly, their fees, are all tied to the size of their audience.

Currently, the digital marketing world divides Influencers into 5 tiers:

• Nano Influencers: less than 10,000 followers
• Micro-Influencers: 10,000 – 50,000 followers
• Mid-tier Influencers: 50,000 – 500,000 followers
• Macro Influencers: 500,000 – 1,000,000 followers
• Mega Influencers: more than 1,000,000 followers

1. Identify Your Niche

The role of an influencer is a special one. It’s all about guiding people’s opinions and being someone others look up to. But remember, being a role model isn’t just about doing community service. It’s more about showing off what makes you different and interesting enough that people want to be like you. 

Here are some ideas to help you find your unique style or point of view. Remember, the most successful influencers are authentic and individual. They’re not afraid to be themselves, and that’s what makes people want to follow them.

• Fashion and Style
• Beauty and Makeup
• Travel
• Fitness and Wellness
• Lifestyle
• Pet Parents
• Parenting
• Food and Cooking
• Tech and Gadgets
• Gaming
• Photography
• DIY and Crafts
• Books and Literature
• Career and Professional Development
• Tech and Coding
• Environment and Sustainability
• Motivation and Self-Improvement

2. Optimize Your Instagram Account

“If you dream of becoming an Instagram Influencer, it’s all about making sure your face and content get noticed by as many people as possible.” 

With Instagram having over 1 billion active users, you could potentially reach a whopping 1.48 billion people by using the right Instagram SEO tricks. Think of it like Google – Instagram shows profiles and content based on what people are searching for.

Hence, it’s crucial to optimize your profile with comprehensive details and relevant keywords. This will help you get found in the Feed, Explore Page, or even during specific keyword searches. Here’s how you can do this:

• Name and Username: Add a keyword to your name and username. If you want to be known for cooking, start your name with something like ‘Cooking’ or ‘Food’. For example, @annhomecooking is a Thai Instagram Influencer with 99.3K followers.
• Bio: Write a bio that shows what your content is all about. Keep it interesting! Add a button to link to your website or share contact info for work, top content, or product reviews.
• Instagram Highlights: Use this feature to organize your content types. It helps new visitors understand you better and encourages them to explore more.

Let’s not forget to turn on ‘Content Creator’ mode; It gives you handy tools to make your journey to become an Instagram Influencer smoother. You can control your online presence, see how you’re growing, and manage your messages.

Pro Tip: Think about getting ‘Meta Verified’ to boost your credibility on Instagram and avoid others stealing your content.

3. Understand Your Audience

Compared with brands that have executed marketing strategies to carve out a distinctive online presence, individuals aspiring to become Instagram influencers or Content Creators must also craft a thoughtful plan. It’s crucial to grasp what type of content resonates with audiences and the factors influencing a user to hit the ‘Follow’ button.

Content Preferences:

• What kind of content captures their interest?
• What motivates a user to follow someone?

Taking a cue from competitors can be enlightening, helping to discern effective strategies and pitfalls related to content and media types.

4. Create Highly-Engaging Content

Being an Instagram Influencer is a different ballgame compared to managing a brand’s Instagram with boosted ads. As an influencer, the focus is on building visibility and engagement more naturally, aiming for authentic and steady growth.

Hence, the key to success lies in crafting highly engaging content. By creating content that captivates and encourages actions like saving or sharing, you can elevate your status as a prominent Instagram Influencer. 

The essential elements to enhance the engagement of your content include:

• Post Format: develop compelling headlines, pair them with engaging images, and include a clear call to action.
• Visual Quality: invest in quality equipment, such as a good camera or video editing tools, to enhance the overall visual appeal of your content.
• Post Consistency: maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and anticipating new content consistently. (take a look at the best time to post on Instagram)
• Post Content: curate engaging Instagram content that is not only interesting but also addresses common questions or provides entertainment, making it easy for your audience to connect with and follow you.
• Voice & Sound: adopt music that complements your content or incorporates popular tunes to maximize its virality.

5. Use Relevant Hashtags

In the world of Instagram, hashtags are more than just labels — they’re your ticket to boosting discoverability, reaching a broader audience, and fostering engagement.

As an Instagram influencer, it’s a smart move to sprinkle in 3 to 5 relevant hashtags, just as the platform itself recommends. This not only aligns with your niche but also helps users find your content when they’re on the hunt.

Watch out for overly generic hashtags, though. They might not do the trick since they’re swamped with other users, making it tough for people to stumble upon your posts.

A word of caution: steer clear of spammy hashtags. Misusing them won’t just waste your time but can also give off an inauthentic or overly eager vibe, which is not the look you want as an influencer.

6. Engage With Followers by Building Your Communities 

Despite having many influencers with million followers means you’re famous. But In reality, you’re going to get better results from having quality followers than from having a large quantity of followers. It’s more important to build a community than a following. 

As your community gets to know you on a more personal level, you’re going to build relationships with your audience. They’ll get to know you, like you, and trust you — high engagements from your side are what brands and new audiences seek when they want to tap into one influencer. 

As an influencer, here’s to build engagement between you and your followers:

• Respond to Comments and Direct Messages
• Ask Questions and Encourage Discussions
• Q&A Sessions
• Collaborate with Followers
• Host Giveaways with Followers

7. Collaborate With Other Influencers

Entering the influencer realm involves actively seeking opportunities for collaboration or content creation with established influencers. This is a great one to help you get exposure to larger audiences, with a chance that those audiences will become one of yours in the future!

For those with existing connections, this path may be more accessible, but for those less acquainted with influencers, exploring alternative avenues, such as attending popular events where influencers gather, is advisable.

Similarly, consider producing reaction videos or participating in content alongside renowned individuals to showcase your unique perspective. 

8. Let Brands Know You’re Open to Collaborations

With the boom of Instagram social commerce, influencers now play a pivotal role in their profession—reviewing, endorsing, and enticing people to hit that follow button.

In the realm of brands on Instagram, the game is all about boosting sales. They actively seek out influencers, whether they boast a massive following or are compact yet impactful nano influencers. Brands are convinced that these influencers can authentically showcase their products to broader audiences.

To let brands know that you’re open to collaboration, consider:

• Tag brands on your IG post as a review or showcasing their use in daily life
• Add  ‘contact for work’ information in your bio
• Enter review groups, or influencer & brand communities 

9. Make Use of Instagram Stories

A massive 500 million users are hooked on Instagram Stories regularly. It’s like the go-to spot for a quick, real-time check on what’s happening in everyone’s lives, way faster than scrolling through regular Instagram posts.

Whether you’re into the classic 15-second Stories or stretching it out to a chill 3 minutes, Instagram Stories are where it’s at for connecting with your audience in a more personal way.

For you, Instagram influencers, think of Stories as your own creative playground to share quick, fun content and build stronger bonds with your followers with some of these ideas:

• Q&A Sessions
• Polls
• Mini Lifestyle Vlogs
• Behind-The-Scene of Upcoming Content
• Resharing Your Previous Content

Discover our blog, “40 Instagram Story Ideas,” and start boosting your engagement today!

10. Host a Live Stream Sessions

Instagram also got us covered with an interactive feature — Instagram Live — within its Stories tool, perfect for influencers who want to chat with their audience in a more ‘personal’ and ‘real-time’ way.

A lot of influencers these days like to host live sessions regularly, giving their followers a set schedule for some daily entertainment, like ASMR sessions.

Tips for Instagram LIVE

• Promote your live stream in advance: Give your followers a heads-up about when you’re going live. Use Stories, posts, or any other method you prefer to generate excitement.
• Check Your Internet Connection: Make sure your Wi-Fi is solid before hitting that live button to avoid any hiccups that make your viewers exit your live.

• Optimize Lighting and Sound: Invest in equipment that enhances lighting and ensures clear sound for better overall quality.

• Create Interactive content during live: Keep your live session engaging with fun activities. Consider using features like polls, hosting Q&A sessions, or inviting followers to join a call for a lively chat.
• Acknowledge viewers: Personally recognize and appreciate viewers as they join the live. Adding an exclusive touch fosters loyalty among your audience.

• Promote Interaction Before Ending: Encourage your viewers to like or follow your Instagram account before you conclude the live session. It’s a simple way to boost engagement and connections.

11. Promote Your Instagram on Other Platforms

Promote your Instagram on other platforms because why not? It’s a cost-effective strategy with nothing to lose. Social media users today are spread across various platforms, and your TikTok followers could easily become your Instagram followers.

For instance, create cross-platform content with introductory posts on different platforms, guiding audiences to view the full content on Instagram.

On platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, where you can add website links or other social media handles in bios, consider placing your Instagram link. This ensures a quick and easy way for audiences to learn more about you with just a click. Cross-promotion—making your social media presence a seamless experience across platforms.

12. Prioritize More Reels Content

In the world of videos, Reels are the big thing, grabbing the attention of a whopping 2.35 billion people every month—an impressive 22% more than regular video posts.

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As an Instagram Influencer, spice up your feed with some top-notch video content that suits your style. Reels get a broader audience thanks to Instagram’s magic algorithm, giving you a better shot at reaching more people. Here are some fun ideas:

• Day in the Life
• Quick Tutorials
• What’s in my bag?
• Get Ready With Me
• Product / Service Reviews
• Viral Dances or Challenges
• Throwback or Flashback

Pro Tip: Craft a visually appealing video thumbnail that complements your curated Instagram Gallery. It not only enhances your profile aesthetics but also captures the attention of audiences who appreciate visually-led content on Instagram.

13. Apply For The Brand Affiliate Program

The world of digital marketing is changing. More and more, brands are seeing the value in influencers, but not in the old-school, pay-a-celebrity-millions-to-endorse-your-product way. Instead, they’re getting influencers on board as online presenters or ambassadors.

This is where affiliate programs come into play. Influencers sign up, link up with big brands, and boost their credibility in the process. The Cherry on top: these influencers get a cut when people buy stuff because of their influence.

See an example from Glossier, a digitally native beauty brand that has built a cult following among young generations, who hosts a ‘Generation Glossier Affiliate Program’. Content creators or enthusiasts of the brand can register, receive a unique coupon code, and earn a commission when customers use this code for their purchases.

14. Track Your Content Performance

For those with a substantial follower count in Instagram’s Content Creator mode, a built-in tool called the ‘Professional Dashboard’ is available in your bio. This tool empowers you to delve into insights related to your content performance.

Explore insights like:

• The top age groups and genders of your audience for tailored content creation.
• Identification of high-performing content in terms of reach and engagement.
• Analysis of the types of content that elicit the most interactions.

15. Keep Up with Instagram Algorithm Changes

As we mentioned earlier, relying solely on luck won’t cut it in the Instagram Influencer game. Your fantastic content needs to cozy up to the platform’s algorithms for the best results. Grasping Instagram’s algorithm changes is like having the secret sauce to boost your reach, visibility, and interactions.

Right now, Instagram—whether it’s in the Feed, Reels, or Stories—has a sweet spot for content that checks four main boxes:

• Info about the post
• Info about the person posting
• User’s activity
• User’s history of interactions

16. Build Up Viral Moments

Influencers are all about catching the wave of trends and going viral — being the go-to peeps when audiences want the latest scoop on Instagram. So, it’s quite a big deal to keep your radar on for emerging news and trends in the online world. Hop on these trends with your own twist, snag a front-row spot, and let your uniqueness shine.

Here’s the golden rule: Figure out what your audience will be into during that time, and get ahead of the game. For instance, if Christmas is around the corner, plan your content early—stuff like ‘Best Christmas Date Spots in NYC’ or ‘Christmas Gift Ideas’ — being the trendsetter in the room!

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Start Now!

Today, Instagram influencers are here to stay, with posts from both small and big brands tapping into their sponsored content. 

As online shoppers increasingly trust their voices for purchase decisions, being an Instagram influencer is not just about the glitz—it’s a serious job. 

Planning and curating every detail with consistency and quality are key to ensuring your sustainable growth in the digital realm. We hope our steps make your journey smoother and more informed!