A Guide To Influecing

Recently, the term "influencer" has really taken off, and now this can be a persons full time job! Before I get into this, I should probably define what exactly an instagram influencer is. Instagram influencers are content creators who have a substantial following, based on their expertise, authenticity, or interesting content. These people use their online presence to engage with audiences, promote brands, and often serve as trendsetters within their niche. Personally, I follow a lot of influencers on both Instagram and TikTok and get a lot of enjoyment and inspiration from their content. If you are looking for some influencers to start following, here are my recommendations!

• Emma Chamberlain (@emmachamberlain)
• Avery Katherine Wood (@averykatherinewood)
• Bryn Sato (@brynsato) (@bryniebooo)
• Anna Sitar (@annaxsitar)
  
• Cody and James (@codyandjameslife)

If you are wondering how the heck these people got to be so successful and are able to do this for a living? ME TOO!! So, after a lot of research, here is my guide on becoming an Instagram Influencer!

    1.  Discover Your Niche

• Before diving into the deep end of the Instagram world, you first need to identify your passion or expertise
• What are you going to post about? What is going to make you stand out among other accounts?
  
• Your niche may be anything from fashion to travel to vlogs to fitness, but whatever it is, having a clear focus will help you stand out and attract a dedicated audience interested in your content.

    2.  Optimize Your Profile

• Your Instagram profile is essentially your digital business card. Optimize it by choosing a good, clear profile picture, writing a good bio, and including a link to your blog or website if you have one. Use keywords relevant to your niche to enhance discoverability!

    3. Create High-Quality Content:

• Invest enough time and effort in creating visually appealing and high-quality content. Have a consistent aesthetic that reflects your brand and engages your audience. Use all of Instagram's various features, like photo posts, Stories, IGTV, and Reels to diversify your content.

    4. Engage with Your Audience:

• Building a community is crucial to becoming an influencer! Respond to comments, engage with followers in your DMs, and participate in relevant conversations within your niche. Make sue your followers know you are invested in them, and foster a sense of communication.

    5. Consistency is Key:

• Regularly post content to maintain visibility and attract new followers. Consistency helps to establish trust with your followers as they come to expect and look forward to your posts, especially if they know when they are coming. Utilize scheduling tools like a content calendar to plan and organize.

    6.  Utilize Hashtags Strategically:

• Hashtags play a vital role in expanding your reach. Use a mix of popular and also niche-specific hashtags to make your content easily searchable to a broader audience. Research trending hashtags within your niche and incorporate them into your posts

    7.  Collaborate with Others:

• Collaborations with fellow influencers, brands, or creators can broaden your reach and introduce you to new audiences and gain you followers, and also more trust and respect. Partnering with others in your niche allows you to cross-promote, share followers, and create engaging content together.

    8.  Understand Analytics:

• Use Instagram Insights to analyze the performance of your content. Understand your audience demographics, engagement rates, and the effectiveness of your posts. All the numbers can get confusing, but actually understanding them will be super beneficial.

    9. Monetize Your Influence:

• As your follower count grows, explore opportunities to monetize your influence. Consider brand collaborations, sponsored posts, PR packages, and even launching your own products or services.

    10. Stay Authentic and Evolve:

• Authenticity is the key to long-term success! Stay true to yourself and your niche. Adapt to changes on the platform, and continuously evolve your content. Share your journey, setbacks, and successes to maintain a genuine connection and trust with your audience.