5 Secrets to Becoming an Instagram Influencer—and Make Money Doing So!

By Sophie Jaffe

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Over 10 years ago, I started my superfood business, and that really launched my career as an influencer. Through product demos, events, and the yoga classes I liked to teach on the side, I was exposed to a large community of humans who were passionate about some of the same things I loved and shared.

People would ask me what I used on my skin, what products I loved, or different recipes and motherhood tips. I started an Instagram account under the name PhilosophieMama and shared all about motherhood, raw foods, recipes, yoga tips, and intuitive living.

It felt scary and exciting when I first started out. I would ask myself things like, "Who am I to promote products?" "Am I doing this right?" "Is anyone listening?" But I felt in my gut that I had something unique to share, and with trust in myself and a LOT of work, I’ve been able to build a successful platform simply by sharing what I love to do.

Now that I know the secrets to success as an influencer, I want to share a few of those secrets on how anyone can become an Instagram influencer AND make money doing so!

Instagram influencer secret #1: Find your niche

When you’re starting out as an Instagram influencer, pay attention to what you love and are passionate about, and more importantly, figure out what you’re good at. What other Instagram accounts inspire you? Who do you pay attention to? What lights you up? What fills your free time?

My own messaging has changed over the years but people know me for my daily practice of yoga, my passion for whole-being living and superfoods, my love of living by the moon and the stars, but most importantly they know I’m a mama of three, a wife, and a woman. So for me, wellness and yoga were what got me started, but living authentically, being a mama, and sharing the raw and real elevated me.

Instagram influencer secret #2: Create your brand for your authentic YOU

You want to make sure you leave a powerful first impression whenever someone comes to your Instagram page. Your bio is the first thing someone sees when they visit your profile and is an important part of landing that first impression. This is the introduction to your brand, what you’re all about, and your "why." Write like you sound and choose a profile photo that is representative of you.

Instagram is all about aesthetics, and you want someone to immediately understand you just by your vibe. This doesn’t mean you have to always be perfect. Know when to be messy and real versus curated because people can ALWAYS tell when you’re being inauthentic.

Instagram influencer secret #3: Keep a consistent posting schedule and ENGAGE

You MUST post consistently and often. This is work. It’s not always free products and photo shoots. It’s research, constant communication, content creation, storytelling, and so much more. While I may not post every day, I’m always engaging—whether it’s with my followers or with other communities I’m active on Instagram. The algorithm notices when you don’t engage and penalizes you for it.

Truthfully, if you have one million followers who don’t engage, your account is worth nothing. You want a community that lifts you while you lift them. When you’re frequently engaging with your community who love and support you, then you stay relevant.

More articles from AllBusiness.com:

• Why You Need to Move from Twitter to Instagram, and How to Do It
• 10 Key Steps to Becoming an Instagram Influencer
• 6 Important Things I’ve Learned From Marketing a Business on Instagram
• 7 Ways to Make Your Startup Look Professional
• Beyond Facebook: Which Social Media Platforms Should Your Small Businesses Be Using?

Instagram influencer secret #4: Value the hustle

In order to begin working with brands, it comes down to fostering the right relationships. Research brands you love and turn yourself into a business. YOU are your business and it’s important to effortlessly flit from role to role to land the job.

Send brands a DM or pitch them in an email. Use brand-related hashtags in your posts, collaborate with other influencers, comment on posts that are relevant to your brand, and keep your presence strong on Instagram. Most important, don’t be afraid of rejection; it’s going to happen no matter what business you’re in, but it matters whether you keep going.

Instagram influencer secret #5: Own your voice and platform

The new way of marketing is to use influencers and their social media platforms. Think about it: you’re the photographer, copywriter, editor, and marketer all-in-one—a unique, creative package. Not to mention, you have your own community and following that your client's fan base may not even reach. When major or smaller brands work with an influencer, it creates a larger net in ways traditional advertising agencies can’t.

This is not a hobby—own your platform! In my work, it matters to me that I show up as I am. I will say no to any collaboration that doesn't align with my brand because I know my worth.

A final secret to becoming an Instagram influencer

Here’s a secret: you can take your passion for sharing what you love and creating content and turn it into a real, profitable business. Your job is to sell you. Set up business systems from the onset that help you maintain a sense of professionalism, get you more work (and more pay), and elevate your business success.

You’re filling every role (manager, lawyer, accountant, bookkeeper), and while this can feel overwhelming, the important thing to remember is how much freedom this allows. If you stay organized, use strong systems, and trust your work, then you’ll have brands come to you for work.

Embrace the love for what you do and the passion to do it every day for a living. You’ll get rejected and make many mistakes (I’m still learning every day), but the more you sit in the discomfort, the more you will grow.

And finally, don’t be afraid to invest in your own work to earn you more work. Not everyone will be supportive of what you’re doing, but there are people out there wanting you to grow and succeed (like me!) and it’s up to you to be committed to your work.

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