As today's most successful Instagram Influencers have shown, if you devote your days, nights, and entire career to the platform, you have the potential to make millions. But even if you've got a day job to pay most of your bills, with a little know-how, you can successfully turn the photo-sharing app into your side hustle.
The trick: knowing how to make your account stand out from the crowd. "You need to define who you are and what you're looking to do," says Erica Domesek, an Instagram influencer and the founder of lifestyle brand P.S. — I Made This… It also helps to know which apps to use to monetize your photos. Whether you choose to put in the time on weekends, or before or after your weekday gig, here's how to be a savvy 'grammer and make some spare cash.
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Find Your Niche
There are many strong Instagram accounts, so it's vital that you distinguish yours through your voice and your photos. "It's important to think about a point of view," says Evan Asano, founder and CEO of the influencer marketing agency, Mediakix. "What are you sharing about, and why do people want to follow you?" Asano recommends looking at other accounts for inspiration and, when you do figure out what your unique take on fashion or food or travel is, be sure to engage with your audience. Comment on other people's accounts and respond to comments on your photos. The more you can interact and treat Instagram as a community rather than just a business, the better, Asano says.Make Your Pics Strong
You don't have to shell out tons of cash for expensive camera equipment — many Instagram influencers use only their smartphones. However, editing your photos can play a key role in how much attention they get. Two of the most popular editing apps are Snapseed and VSCO, both of which offer unique, high-quality filters. Snapseed also includes professional-level tools, including one that lets you adjust the brightness in specific parts of the photo. Instagram influencer Sam Ushiro of @aww.sam uses VSCO to plan out her Instagram grid ahead of time so that she can colour coordinate and see how her photos look when grouped together.
Tag & Hashtag Like A Pro
While it's always a good idea to include some popular hashtags on your posts, it's also smart to add less popular ones. Your post can get buried beneath others that feature the common hashtags, but it will stand out more with a unique identifier, says Jessica Hirsch of the Instagram account @cheatdayeats. Iconosquare is a great place to get more data on which hashtags are up-and-coming and already trending. Your tags can also earn you money. By linking your account to Like To Know It, or by downloading the Cosign app, you can earn money when followers buy something that you've featured in a photo.
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