You treat Instagram like it’s your full-time job. But, what if it was? Getting famous on Instagram isn’t easy, but the payout can be huge. Free trips! Constant swag! Celebrity at the snap of a selfie!
Becoming an Instagram influencer means that the world is your oyster/office. That is, if you’re ready to put in the work. Whether you want to be known for your clothes or charming wit — or all that and more — here are a some tips on how to become Instagram famous.
Find Your Niche
Think about your obsessions, passions, and talents. Then, build a personal brand around it.
Maybe you are really into crafting and want to devote your feed to your projects, DIY interests, and handmade aesthetic. Maybe you’re all about vintage clothing and want to use Instagram to share your outfits and make retro-loving friends. From fitness to film, as long as people can relate and connect to your niche, it can work.
Being extra specific can also help you gain traction. For example, it’s easier to grow an online community as a food influencer who focuses on a certain type of food or region of the country. There’s less competition/more community, and you can establish yourself as an expert voice.
Build out your photo skills
You don’t need super expensive camera equipment and a full Photoshop package to capture and edit all of your content. You can become Instagram famous with just a smartphone and a few apps, such as VSCO.
Consider buying an attachable light for your phone (like this one from Amazon for $11.99) to shoot in dark spaces, and if you are shooting photos of yourself or your gear/clothing/cooking tools, try to do so in natural light. Watch a few Youtube tutorials for editing photos on smartphones (like this one for iPhones), and you’ll be ready to #nofilter in no time.
Post Regularly
Don’t just post selfies with captions saying you “feel cute, might delete later.” Tell stories to your audience, inspire them, and educate them about you and the cool AF stuff you like!
Create moodboards of items that align with your brand to help you post often with consistent messages. Maybe some of the things on your moodboard are shades of lavender, fashion photos from the ‘90s, and quotes from feminist heroes of yesterday.
Use locations and hashtags strategically
You can use locations to get your content in front of other people searching the same area — or you can use them to joke around. Use hashtags the same way by tagging sayings, like #NYCfood and #NYCfashion. Put your hashtags in a comment below or after a block of space so they aren’t killing the ~vibes~ of your caption.
Plan partnerships
Collaboration beats competition every time. Find other influencers or brands that share your mission or aesthetic and partner up with them through cross-posts, takeovers, and joint photoshoots. You’ll gain the attention of each other’s audiences, and you might make some new friends in the process!
Engage With Your Followers (and Potential Followers!)
This is social media — not an ivory tower. Respond to messages and comments and have real conversations with people. People will be more likely to engage with your content, which signals your value to Instagram’s algorithm and also creates loyal followers.
Also, like posts that relate to your account from people who don’t already follow you. For example, if you really care about and focus on body positivity and self-love, you should like content from people using body-pos hashtags and participating in self-love campaigns.
Be Authentic
This isn’t just some cheesy line from an after-school special. Your followers have brains and will know when you’re acting fake. Don’t over-edit your photos or feel pressured to constantly only show your successes. We are all struggling at some point, in some way. Showing your followers the real you helps form a deeper connection, and you won't have to sacrifice your spirit as you become a star, baby! A star!
