How Do You Become an Instagram Influencer?

Posted on 4th Apr, 2025.

TL;DR (The Short Version)

Becoming an Instagram influencer doesn't happen overnight, but with the right strategies, anyone can do it.
Many successful influencers make their full-time income from Instagram monetisation strategies.
To make it big as an influencer, focus on defining your niche, seeking income streams, and posting high-quality content regularly and consistently.
Read on for more tips on becoming an influencer!

Instagram was the OG influencer platform, and to this day many budding creators flock to Instagram to make it big as an influencer. While influencing can be a fun and flexible lifestyle and you can make significant money doing it, the content creation aspects requires long-term dedication. In theory, anyone with a smartphone can create content, but it requires a little more strategic thinking.

So, how do you actually go from scrolling to influencing? We'll will walk you through the steps, the mindset, and the practical strategies needed to become an Instagram influencer, and maybe even turn it into a career. Let's get into it.

1. Define Your Niche

To stand out on a platform as saturated as Instagram, you need to be clear on who you are and what you offer. This starts with choosing your niche - an area of content that aligns with your interests, skills, and target audience.

Consider what you’re passionate about, what topics you could create content around consistently, and who your ideal audience would be. Make sure there's a demand for your content, too - if you're posting about an interest too specific, you won't find an audience for your content.

2. Buy Paid Engagement

Every good influencer starts by growing their follower count, but this can be hard to do organically. There's a Catch-22 situation where Instagram pushes content with high engagement, but your content can't receive engagement unless the algorithm pushes it.

By purchasing engagement in the form of followers, likes, and views from a reliable provider, you can give yourself a headstart, boosting visibility with the help of the algorithm.

3. Set a Posting Schedule

Posting regularly and consistently is key to growing your audience. Set a posting schedule - whether you upload posts while you go or schedule them - and stick to it. The ideal regularity with which to post is a few times per week. You don't need to post daily like TikTok, but aim for every other day for best results.

4. Plan a Monetisation Strategy

You can only quit your day job if you manage to make enough from influencing to turn it into a full-time career. Before you even hit 10k followers, you can start thinking about how to monetise your content. Don’t wait until a brand knocks on your door - plan for it beforehand. Consider alternative means of making money via Instagram, such as affiliate links, selling digital products or eBooks, or offering services related to your niche, like coaching or content creation for others.

If you’re aiming for brand deals, start creating the kind of content that would attract one. Tag brands you love (even without being paid), use Instagram’s branded content tools, and build a media kit that showcases your audience, insights, and previous work. Avoid topics that are controversial or offensive to make sure a variety of brands are happy to work with you.

5. Stay Consistent

Rome wasn't built in a day - and your influencer career won't be, either. Being patient and staying consistent is a must - your success is unlikely to happen overnight, so persevere even if results don't appear immediately.

Posting regularly - whether that’s three times a week or every day - also helps you stay visible and relevant. Try to maintain a consistent aesthetic, tone and voice across your posts so followers know what to expect.

6. Build Trust & A Strong Reputation

Influence is built on trust. People need to believe in you, and that doesn’t come from filters, it comes from honesty, consistency and showing up for your audience. Be open about sponsorships, share your wins and your struggles, and talk about your journey in real terms.

Don't work with brands that don't align with your purpose. If you're a sustainability influencer, for example, working with a gas company wouldn't be the best move for your personal brand. By building a reputation for honesty, you're more likely to build a loyal community of followers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start as an Instagram influencer?

Starting as an Instagram influencer begins with choosing a clear niche, which should be something you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, and then creating valuable, engaging content around that niche. Your content should offer something to your audience, whether it’s inspiration, education, entertainment, or a mix of all three.

Once you’ve decided on your focus, set up your profile professionally with a strong bio, quality imagery, and consistent branding. Post regularly, engage with your audience, and experiment with Reels, carousels, Stories and Lives to see what resonates. Most importantly, be authentic. Influence starts with trust, and people connect with real personalities, not just perfect photos.

Do Instagram influencers get paid?

Unlike TikTok, Instagram doesn't directly pay influencers. Instead, income can come from a variety of sources, including sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, brand ambassadorships, digital products, courses, and even merchandise or services.

How many followers do you need to be an influencer on Instagram?

There's no one number of followers you need to work with brands or become verified, but accounts with a few thousand followers are typically the smallest accounts to become micro-influencers. A few hundred followers isn't likely to land you a brand deal or allow you to quit your day job. 10,000 followers is the number of followers you'll typically need to be considered an influencer.

Becoming an Instagram influencer isn’t just about filters and hashtags. It’s about consistency and a willingness to be both strategic and uniquely you. The influencers who rise above the noise are often the ones who lean into their quirks, share openly and honestly, and focus on providing real value to their followers. By following our top tips, you too can make content creation your full-time career.