If your dream is to become an Instagram influencer, you’ve come to the right place. Although it may not seem very difficult to get your first 1,000 followers, being a micro-influencer is more than just the number of followers. It’s about creating an active and engaged community of people that will view you as a trustworthy source of information.
People appreciate hearing distinctive voices, and this industry is all about developing relationships. Because your followers are similar to friends, you should earn their trust by producing content that they’ll enjoy.
Here are 5 tips that will help you become a great Instagram micro-influencer.
Find Your Niche
The first and most important step is to find a niche in which you are interested and passionate. Think about the type of products you like and whether you have a favorite brand. These questions should help narrow down your niche.
For instance, if you are a food lover, instead of focusing on becoming a food influencer, you can choose to become a paleo influencer instead. This way, you’ll have less competition and a more targeted audience.
Post Consistently
As an Instagram influencer, you will need to post consistently and engage with your followers. Otherwise, you will simply be out of sight, out of mind. For starters, try posting every day or at least once in two days. Be sure you respond to DMs and comments, and don’t forget to interact with other influencers in your niche.
And if you are wondering when is the best time to post on Instagram, know that every influencer might have a slightly different sweet spot for posting on the platform because every one of them caters to a unique audience. However, there are certain best practices you can follow that tend to give excellent results across the board.
Create a Media Kit
A media kit is like a resume, portfolio, and business card all rolled into one. It is a compact, easy-to-read document you can send to brands to introduce yourself. It contains information like a short bio, audience demographic, number of followers, engagement levels, your previous works, and the packages you offer.
It should be noted that some marketers and experienced influencers might advise against including prices in your media kit but that is completely up to you.
Reach Out to Brands
Once you’ve gained enough followers (between 1,000 and 10,000), you can start reaching out to brands. While it is always best for brands to reach out to you, the reality is they may not even know you’re out there. Consequently, you need to do everything you can to gain their attention.
The best option is to create a cold pitch. Begin by making comments and liking posts from brands in your niche that you find interesting. Then you can send them an email or a direct message expressing your interest in collaborating with them. Make sure to emphasize your good experience with their services or products and explain why you’re a good fit. Don’t forget to include your media kit as well.
Sign Up For Influencer Marketing Platforms
As a social media influencer, you need to do everything you can to make yourself more visible to brands. And the best way to do this is by signing up for influencer marketing platforms. These platforms allow brands to easily search, select, and track Instagram influencers to support their social media marketing campaigns.
One of the most popular influencer platforms is Heepsy which has more than seven million influencers. Other popular examples of influencer platforms you should look into include Fourstarzz Media, AspireIQ, and Social Bakers.
Final Thoughts
Influencer marketing is a relatively new concept within the industry, but it’s gaining popularity quickly. Micro-influencers have introduced new options for brands, which has changed the marketing landscape. Small specialized audiences are valued by businesses since they’re more loyal and engaged, so you should take advantage of this.
It’s critical to think about why becoming a micro-influencer might be beneficial to you. Because not everyone has the time or desire to invest in this type of marketing, it’s unlikely to work for you if you lack the enthusiasm. However, if businesses are ready to pay a premium for these services, it’s worth taking it into consideration.