What Is An Instagram Influencer

Influencer marketing is the new trend now, as more and more businesses are harnessing influencers into marketing their products and services. There is a lot you need to consider when utilizing this method or strategy to grow your business. It would ensure you make the right decision at the end of the day.

Who Is An Instagram Influencer?

An Instagram influencer is an individual in a specific industry, which has a massive following on social media and often helps brands market their products and services. Many popular Instagram influencers today are worth millions and have launched successful businesses through their audience.

You need to understand that these influencers are not just marketing tools; they have become social relationship assets with brands. Through this unique relationship, they can become a valuable asset company’s use to market and promote their business.

Type of Influencers

There are different kinds of influencers, ranked based on their followers’ number, content, industry, and their reach power. Although this can be somewhat tricky, some influencers can rank pretty low depending on the measure used and can rank higher when looked at from another angle. A good example is the celebrity influencer. Since they can lack expert experience, they might have fewer influencers on their audience compared to an expert. Overall, they help the brand create awareness for their products and services. Here are some types of influencers you must know.

Types Of Influencers By Followers Number

• Mega-Influencers

These are influencers with a huge follower base, often from 1 million followers and above. Take note that there is no fixed rule, but a common yardstick used to rank mega influencers is when they have more than a million followers. These are often individuals who amassed fame through an offline medium, like being a movie star, sports, musicians, and even reality stars. Brands that partner with such individuals are usually big, as one post can cost over $1 million.

• Macro-Influencers

These influencers are one step down from the mega influencers, and their follower base could range from 40,000 to 1 million. They could be online experts who are now thriving in their fields, or perhaps celebrities who haven’t attained the level of success like their counterparts in the industry. When it comes to influencer marketing, they are more accessible compared to mega influencers. They are an excellent choice for businesses looking to create awareness for their brand or products. As a business, you need to be careful as most of these influencers could be a fraud. The majority of their followers are bought and might not have an impact on marketing.

• Micro-Influencers

These are not celebrities, nor are they online experts. But they have succeeded amassing some great followership due to their knowledge in a specialist niche. Their followers could range from 1000 to 40000. Although it is not always about the number, the relationship and interaction the micro-influencer has over its audience. As a business, these micro-influencers might not know about the existence of your business. In that case, you will have to convince them of your business’s worth.

• Nano-Influencers

These types of influencers are new and have fewer followers. They are experts in their field, often perceived as a big fish in a small pond. Although most businesses might consider them inconsequential due to the low followership, they can become a driving force to companies with highly specialized and niche products. They are often cheap to work with since they have small followers. For effective influencer marketing, you might need to work with other Nano-Influencers.

How Brands Work With Instagram Influencers

When it comes to influencers’ marketing, Instagram is the number one route to many businesses. That is because they often build an authentic relationship with followers through their constant replies and interaction. Through Instagram influencers, a brand can reach their target audience and create awareness for their product and business.

Through sponsored posts, brands can now reach an even more significant chunk of their target market. It could take the form of sponsored series and perhaps an old tag, or link to the brand account. Sometimes, they can do account takeovers with poplar influencers, which allows the influencer to control the brand’s account for a specific time.

A sponsored post is a growing trend, popularly called #SponCon or #paidpost. It is a billion dollar industry that promises lots of results to brands. There are some shortcomings, like improper disclosure of sponsored content plaguing Instagram.  

Finding The Right Instagram Influencer

One of the standard-issue is finding the right influencer to work with, especially for businesses or brands looking to incorporate influencer marketing into their strategy. 

1. Hashtags – One remarkable way is to use hashtags. When you search for hashtags popular in your industry, you will discover some accounts with incredible followings. They are often influencers you can work with as a business.
2. Influencer Network – Another more useful and reliable way is through an influencer network. Most influencer network platforms aren’t free; they allow you to connect with influencers in your industry. This medium is best if you’re looking to connect to mega-influencers who might seem hard to access.
3. Google Search – The most basic method is using Google. All you need to do is punch in some keywords in your industry. For instance, a business that deals on skateboards can search for “Top skateboarding accounts on Instagram.” This search term will bring up results, detailing top accounts on such a niche. Through this medium, the business can connect with the account owner and pitch about partnership.

Examples Of Influencers

There are tons of influencers making waves on Instagram with their vast followers. One of them is a 16-year-old Alex Lange. His contents and huge followers have lifted his popularity, making him partner with big companies like Brandy USA and Subdued. Another great example is Kayla Itsines, Chris Burkard, Desi Perkins, and so many others.

Conclusion

Instagram influencers are a useful tool and asset in the hands of businesses and brands looking to grow. Building relationships with an influencer in your industry is paramount, as they can become ambassadors and solidify the relationship further.