If you're reading this article, you know what an Instagram influencer is, and may be an aspiring one yourself. Instagram reigns supreme in the current social media marketing world. According to a recent survey, a whopping 93% of all influencer campaigns in 2018 involved Instagram, double the rate of Facebook and YouTube.

There's no denying influencer marketing is one of the most effective ways to promote products and services through social media today.

According to Mediakix, 89% of surveyed marketers say influencer marketing ROI is better than or comparable to other marketing strategies. In addition, 69% of marketers reported they'd invest the most money in Instagram, with regular feed posts being the most popular format.

Bottom line: Influencer arrangements are a win-win for both influencers and brands.

(Source: MediaKix via BigCommerce)

So for the budding influencer, Instagram is the place to be. Here's all you need to know to succeed on the platform.

Preparing Your Instagram Account

First thing's first: you want to be able to know if all your efforts to raise your profile on Instagram have been working. You'll need to be using a business account for the all-important insights/analytics page, which measures your account's performance.

Tip: If you've already made a personal profile, you can convert it into a business account by going into 'Settings' and selecting the 'Account' option. This will show the option to switch to a business profile.

First impressions matter and your audience needs to know exactly what to expect from your posts before they decide to press the follow button. Here's how to optimize your Instagram bio:

Source Image: https://www.instagram.com/kimcrooz/

  • Name: Include your full name to make it easier to recall and for searchability. You can also place your nickname here if that's what you prefer to be called (just don't forget your surname to prevent any mix-ups).
  • Interests and Activities: List keywords about what brands and followers should expect from the content you post.
  • Description: Who are you and where are you from? Some influencers like to put their country in their profile, it makes it easier for them to connect with local communities.
  • Alternate accounts: If you're involved in any other accounts, like side businesses or ones dedicated to different interests, it helps to list them too.
  • Link to website: Where else can people find you?

Tip: Use emojis or symbols as bullet points, or for emphasis. It'll inject some personality without much fuss, and acts as a handy way to make important information stand out.

Creating High-Quality Instagram Content

Instagram is a visual medium, and to make it as an influencer you need to put more effort into your content than the average person. Don't worry if your follower numbers don't boom immediately, though. Brands are tuning in to the effectiveness of micro-influencers, so even if you have follower numbers in the low thousands, an engaged audience is enough to pique marketers' interests. To keep followers interested:

  • Have a personal aesthetic. Editing each photo according to a theme shows you're willing to put effort into post consistency. This is an attractive quality in an influencer, it shows you care about presentation, and brands want partners to be able to show their good side.

Source Image: https://www.instagram.com/instasize.official/

Influencers need good photo editing tools to get their vibe just right, so find an app (such as Instasize) with a variety of filter collections and adjustment sliders. Identifying the filters that suit you save time while still providing quality output.

  • Be detailed. When formulating captions, adding small touches increase your probability of getting likes and comments. Just a few of the Instagram stats you should remember: Posts that include another handle gain 56% more engagement (so tag your friends, the brands you wear, the shops you get your items). Posts with at least one hashtag gain 12.6% more engagement (but don't overdo it!), and posts using a location tag gain 79% more engagement.
  • Regularly post to Instagram Stories. 500 million people use Instagram Stories each day, and it's the reason young people spend more time on the platform than before. Even if it's just to share a tidbit about your day, take a shot of food you're eating, or even more elaborate posts like Q&A's and polls, aim to post every day. Think of it as the more informal partner to your curated feed.

How to Communicate as an Influencer

It isn't as easy as posting to your profile and leaving everything on reading. What makes influencers a better bet than traditional celebrity endorsers is how accessible they are. So engage with your audience! Brands will be looking for influencers with high engagement rates, and your followers would appreciate feeling closer to you.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/olkafiolka/

Respond to comments as much as possible, even if it's a simple "thank you" for liking posts. Some other ways to make conversation with followers on Instagram posts:

  • Ask followers for advice and recommendations. You can do this with restaurants you might want to try, places to go, products to try out, and activities to experience.
  • Invite them to tell them how you feel. Create a conversation about what you're passionate about, especially if it's personal advocacy. Say, "How do you feel about this topic" or "what do you think."

You'll also need to communicate with brands in an open, friendly way that doesn't compromise professionalism. This year, what brands will be focusing on in influencer marketing is how well an influencer aligns with their brand personality instead of follower numbers. If you're going to approach a brand, do so in a professional route (either e-mail or direct messaging their account), after thorough research. Talk about your values, what you do, and why you think you'll be able to provide value for them. If you're a good fit, you may be in the running for a longer-term contract as brands also move to build up long-term relationships with influencers this year.

Tip: Remember to disclose your paid sponsorships in applicable posts. This will keep brands out of hot water and provide transparency to your audience, which they'll definitely appreciate.

Ready to take Instagram on, future influencer? It may seem daunting and competitive, but remember to stay true to yourself and what you enjoy, it's how you'll get by.