Tired of being a nobody in the social web/blogosphere?
Get onto the fastest growing social network, gain some attention and indulge your egotistical side (let’s face it, who does not want to be famous?)
Ready for internet fame? Yes, you! It is easy, use these tricks and learn how to become an instant Insta-celebrity. Be sure to give us a shout out when you get to the top!
Emulate the Best of the Best
So how do you become a celebrity when you don’t have a team of marketing experts and stylists perfecting your every move, making sure you look like you are ready to pose on the cover of Vogue, like those famous Hollywood celebs? You learn from them of course, emulate the best. Soon you will be the one people are looking to learn from.
The first thing you need to do is take a look at the Instagram accounts of top Hollywood celebrities, follow them, check out their selfies, see what kind of updates they post, basically do some online stalking. You will be surprised to see how addicting some of those accounts are, you will get a glimpse into the glitz and glamor of their lives, the private world of A-list celebrities will be exposed to you, you will fall in love with every selfies, every little video. The regular updates make you feel like you are a part of their exciting fast-paced lives.
But do not get lost in the glittering picture feeds, analyze why the content is doing well and you will see what makes it attractive. Here are a couple of reasons why celebrities rule Instagram:
They treat their fans like friends-Direct response to the comments, maybe a “regram “of a photo. Any little gesture is appreciated by the fans.
- They excel in self-promotion- Stars know that remaining in the public eye is the key, so they post regular updates, and photos.
- They use the platform for building their brand and promoting their own interests.
- They hire smart social media managers, you might not be able to do this yet, but take a look at the tips and tricks that major social media consultancy blogs recommend)
Check out some of the top and highly interactive accounts, these Instagram goddesses have perfected the art of creating a huge fan following.
- Lady Gaga (Instagram handle: @ladygaga, 11.7m followers)
- Beyonce Knowles (Instagram handle: @beyonce, 49.2m followers)
- Taylor Swift (Instagram handle: @taylorswift, 52.9m followers)
- Kim Kardashian West (Instagram handle: @ kimkardashian, 50.3m followers,)
How Instagram is Different?
Whoever told you that Instagram is just another Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest was sadly mistaken; ignore whoever said that, those people are not very social media savvy. And no, it’s not a “Twitter replacement” for dumb people who don’t want to read, ignore those people too.
Instagram is the fastest growing social network and has a mostly teenager/young adult user base. It is a highly visual network. Content is restricted to pictures and short (3-15 second) videos. This does not mean that you cannot express yourself; in fact this limitation makes Instagram even more interactive, you can unleash your creative side and find unique ways to express your ideas. Your ideas will become even more powerful when you give them a visual existence. In the world of Instagram, the age old statement of “a picture is worth a thousand words” not just applies but is a rule of the game.
Take a look at the demographics:
According to Pew Research, 26% of online adults use Instagram
53% of young adults (18 years-29 years) are on Instagram
These numbers prove that users are focusing on Instagram and are highly favoring it over old social networks, there are a lot more active users and engaging with them will sky rocket your fame.
Brands and Instagram – The Influencer Effect
Instagram users with a large number of followers can become influencers for major brands. This is basically the same as the traditional celebrity endorsement. The influencer uses the brand’s products or services and recommends them to his/her followers.
This strategy has let brands connect with customers and helps them achieve an interactive online presence. This obviously translates into monetary gains but also builds reputation and trust in the brand.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Instagram-A Quick Strategy Building Guide
Alright, so now that you know that you need lots and of pictures, make a strategy and follow these rules.
What Pictures Should I Post?
This is up to you, let your imagination go wild and show the world how unique your point of view is. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:
1. Selfies-Give the world a glimpse into your vibrant personality
2. Quotes-Share wisdom from the ages, or as Dejan Stojanovic puts it “It is beautiful to express love and even more beautiful to feel it.”
3. Memes-These will provide a quick laugh, gotta keep the followers happy!
4. Videos-The duration is short so be creative and to the point
5. Daily Life-It might seem mundane to you but the followers will be interested
6. Funny Photos-Lighten the mood with a bit of humor and zaniness
7. Throwback Thursday #TBT-This is an Instagram tradition, share posts from the past
8. Time Lapse Videos-Use Hyperlapse, an app from Instagram that lets you create stunning visual content
9. Color-theme days-Stick to a specific color for a day, it will create a stunning visual feed
10. Goals-What do you want to achieve in life
11. Clothing
12. Food
13. Makeup-Include a short review if you like, if people show interest then make it a habit to include the products/color/shades/ brands that you have used in that particular picture.
There are literally hundreds of ideas, if you are at a loss, try creating content around a theme, such as Obsessions, Rarely seen photos of celebrities or maybe focus on a particular event. Another good idea is to promote cultural festivals and celebrations. Think outside the box and lean as you go along
Do NOT Post These Pictures
Avoid these like the plague, and speaking of gross stuff, head onto the list of Instagram visual no-no’s
- Do not post pictures of any serious injuries
- Photos of you and your friends wasted, it’s not flattering or pretty
- Avoid mentioning specific locations, full names etc.
- Pictures of drugs or anything illegal, you will get into serious trouble or end up getting fired
- Photos that you don’t own the right to, repost from other’s Instagram accounts instead
Think carefully about what you post, remember, once it is out on the internet, it will remain their forever, no one wants their past mistakes haunting them.
#Hashtag #Your #Life!
Hashtags are a way to categorize your posts, similar to Twitter, Instagram also uses hashtags to enable users to quickly find relevant content. DO not overdo the hashtags, you will end up confusing your users. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post. You can also identify the trending hashtags and include them in your post if they are relevant. Or create posts that are centered on the most popular hashtags. Specific brands have their own custom tags that they promote in every post.
Share the love: Cross-promote on Other Social Networks
Visual posts can be cross posted to other social network accounts, keep your brand identity consistent by making sure the visual elements are the same and the message being communicated has the same tone. If you plan to remain active on only one social network, it is a good idea to cross-post. You never know, you could even use the SEO service Toronto is talking about to get your site noticed too. There are a couple of tools available that will integrate your social media posts such as Hootsuite.
Build a Good Portfolio before trying to get Followers
When you are starting out, build a portfolio of sharable, quality content. Improve your photography skills, use good editing tools and give your photos a professional finish. Get feedback from your friends and improve your profile before trying to promote it on other social networks.
Encourage Participation
Respond to your followers comments and always follow them back. It is important that your followers feel a sense of connectedness with your life. Ask questions, show interest in their opinions, if they recommend something, be sure to check it out and make an effort to show them that they matter. Remember to be polite, respectful and treat others like you would like to be treated.
Be Original!
Emulating does not mean copying, people respond best to uniqueness, take risks and see which of your content gets the most likes, comments and try to remain true to your own ideas.
Craft a Narrative
Create a story that you would like to communicate to your users; it should have a unique angle and message.
Track Your Followers and Listen to What they Say
No need to analyze detailed statistics, just keep an eye on the major ups and downs in the follower levels. If you see negative results, change your strategy a little. Once you have developed a successful following continue monitoring the account.
Use Your Existing Social Leverage
Everyone has a large number of people and acquaintances in their social circles, engage these friends on Instagram, if you are cross=posting on other networks, your friends will follow you and help expand your user base.
Target the Most Popular Hashtags
Using hashtags is an easy way to get more exposure. Do not simple rain down hash tags on your post, target specific ones that are most popular at the moment. Use tags that are already popular, but pick relevant ones.
An easy trick is to use Websta’s constantly updated list of the top 100 Instagram tags.
Share Relatable Moments
A touch of human-ness will make your followers relate easily to your life. Do not get over-emotional but share any touching moment that will tug at people’s heartstrings. Create an atmosphere of intimacy amongst your fans.
Don’t Disappear!
This is the fast way to be forgotten or worse, irrelevant. Keep your account active and update regularly. Showing up is half the battle, celebrities post about two images a day, and you should aim for that once you get more fans.
Focus on Quality, not Quantity
More posts do not automatically get you more followers. You cannot post grainy shots of boring things and expect that people will like it. You need to really think about and focus on starting with some high quality content that is worth sharing. Think of what you would like to share with your social circle and go from there.
Research Your Hashtags
In the world of Instagram, hashtags equal keywords. When searching for relevant content, users will find whatever content you post if they click on the hashtags. This is not that simple, to get more users to your page, you will need to do some research about the hashtags that are defining the type of content best. Users click on a hashtag if they want to discover similar content. Use at least 11 hashtags for optimal traffic.
Consider Buying an Instagram Account
Starting out is a daunting task, if that is an issue and you cannot face the thought of working up from 0 followers, consider buying an Instagram account with a large number of followers. However you will have to work on the rebranding.
Follow the Official Instagram Blog
You can take advantage of the official Instagram blog to learn how the people become the stars of Instagram. These people have been highlighted by Instagram itself because of their unique approach; you need to see what sets them apart from the crowd.
Inspire your Audience
People like to feel inspired and motivated. Share some inspirational quotes or stories that have inspired you. This can be personal or a major news event, anything that moved you.
Comment on Photos
Make sure you comment on photos, just liking the pictures is passive, make your voice heard, it will encourage feedback on your posts. Comments are unique, most people do not comment, it is surprising to note that on Instagram, there are 575 likes every second, but only 81 comments. Make the extra effort and say something.
Stick to these rules and you will climb up the ladder of Instagram fame, maybe not as high as Beyoncé or any Kardashian but you will definitely end up making a successful following in your niche.
About The Author
