Unlock Your Full Potential on Social Media
Social media influencers hold a lot of power. They don’t call them “influencers” for nothing. With hundreds of thousands of followers or more, these individuals have become their own personal brands, sharing information and their personal experiences with the click of a button. With a focus on visual content, Instagram has emerged as the platform for influencers.
If you’re active on social media, you might be wondering how you can become an influencer on Instagram as well. You’ll increase your social standing, boost your resume, and even turn a profit off your content by mentioning other businesses and accounts.
So how can you actually do this?
Use these fundamental tips to learn how to become an Instagram influencer.
- Identify Your Brand
Every influencer has their own brand whether they realize it or not. Even if they’re not explicitly tied to a business or organization, these individuals have their own sense of style. They tend to post similar images on Instagram and show off their personality in the captions and comments. This adds up to a personal brand, so their followers understand what their account is all about.
Whether you’re posting as an individual or a business, come up with a cohesive brand identity for your account. Choose what kinds of content you want to share, whether it’s informative, personal, silly, or serious. Use the same font and tone in all your posts, so your followers will start recognizing your content. Some people follow thousands of accounts, so you need to make sure your content has a signature style if you want to start racking up the “likes”.
- Be Authentic
You’re not going to get a lot of new followers if your content seems overly promotional. If you’re posting as an individual, don’t be afraid to share personal experiences with your followers, including how you feel about the post, what you were thinking at the time the photo was taken, or why you’re using social media in the first place. The more your followers know about you and your life, the more they’ll engage with your content. Photos only tell a part of the story. Fill in your posts with personal information, so your posts ring with authenticity.
If you’re posting as a business or organization, it’s best to limit your promotional efforts to just 15% to 20% of your posts.
The rest of the time you should be sharing content that’s relevant to your users. You should also be candid about your goals on social media, why you enjoy sharing content in the first place, and what your business is hoping to achieve. You should be motivated by more than dollars and cents. Be authentic and show the world your true self.
- Share Content with a Purpose
While you need to be yourself on Instagram, everyone has goals in life. Whether you’re applying for a new job, killing it at your current job, advocating for social issues, or just looking for the perfect eyeliner, your followers want to see you make progress toward your goals. This helps you tell a story on Instagram as opposed to just going through life without much purpose at all.
An important key is to think of your account like a movie.
No one wants to watch a movie about someone with zero goals in life. Show your followers you’re reaching for something tangible, even if it’s something as abstract as a healthy sense of self.
Start posting with purpose and make the most of your time on Instagram. Incorporate these tips into your posting strategy and become the Instagram influencer of your dreams.
