Looking for a quick and easy shortcut to becoming Instagram famous? Hoping to crack the code on how to get famous on Instagram overnight? If so, you’re in for a long and disappointing search. Before going any further, take a step back to consider why you want to become Instagram famous.
You want a lot of people to see your content, you want to stack up thousands of followers, and you want to catch the eye of the Instagram algorithm, but why? Are you looking to sell more products and services? Are you planning and publishing the kind of content you can monetize? Fame means different things to different people.
When you think about it, the words fame and influence have two completely different meanings. Fame is shallower than influence, based purely on the numbers. Plus, it’s worth remembering that fame in the traditional sense isn’t necessary to make money on your preferred social networks.
So again, the key to getting famous on Instagram lies in first establishing your objectives. Either way, with around 1.4 billion competing creators from around the world, you can’t expect an easy ride.
How to Become Instagram Famous?
Becoming Instagram famous is all about choosing an appropriate audience for your output and giving them something they cannot already get elsewhere. Your posts need to be consistently creative, inspiring, and unique, coupled with constant efforts on your part to engage your target audience.
Conquering this immensely popular social media platform is perfectly possible. If you genuinely make an effort to succeed, you have a good shot at making it happen. In specific, these are the things you need to do to start building IG fame (and perhaps fortune) right now:
1. Keep Your Bio Fresh And Attractive
Be mindful of the fact that the first thing people see when checking you out is your bio. Your profile picture, in particular, can be a real make-or-break factor. Avoid the temptation to be cute, cool, and clever with your bio.
Keep things simple and provide a clear indication of who you are and what you do. An authentic bio that conveys real personality always gets the job done best.
2. Always Post Engaging Content
It’s important to bear in mind how quality content and engaging content are not necessarily the same thing. Engaging content is the kind of content that draws people in, triggers an emotional response, and motivates interaction. All of which holds the key to building fame and influence. Here are a few tips to help push your posts in the right direction:
Research Before Posting
Keep an eye on your competitors and see what other people in your niche are doing. Pick up on the newest trends as they break while ensuring the content you publish is of genuine value and relevance to your audience.
Don’t expect inspiration to fall out of thin air – go find it.
Be Genuine And Authentic
Being genuine and authentic is as easy as staying true to who you really are. Instagram users can spot fakes from a mile off and don’t take kindly to them. If you love what you do, your content will naturally be inspiring, engaging, and worth checking out.
Refine Your Photography Skills
That said, you will also need at least base-level photography skills to make things happen. Don’t go crazy with the editing, but take the time to ensure that every image you share is eye-catching and original. If this means stepping up to better equipment, do it.
Tell A Story
There’s nothing more engaging than an image (or set of images) that tells a story. This is where it pays to question the purpose and value of your posts. Don’t just share random images – show them who you are and tell them your story with the pictures you post.
3. Concentrate on Your Niche
As already touched upon, the niche you choose should be whatever subject you are most passionate about. Focusing on something you’re genuinely interested in should make it easy to run a successful Instagram campaign.
Share your talents, showcase your personality, and stay close to your main niche. Get it right, and the content should flow freely, without having to try too hard.
4. Use Your Personal Picture
Back with profile pictures, presenting a picture of yourself comes highly recommended. People head to Instagram to find interesting people and content – not faceless brands and businesses.
Technically speaking, you are your brand on Instagram, so it simply makes sense to present yourself front and center. Again, while avoiding the temptation to excessively edit or airbrush your profile picture.
5. Timeliness Matters
In this context, timeliness means never keeping them waiting too long for something new. Think about it – how would you respond if there were unannounced or indefinite gaps between episodes of your favorite TV show?
Chances are, you’d quickly run out of patience and find something else to watch. Quality counts, but so too does the consistency of your output.
6. Focus on Your Target Audience
The most successful Instagrammers are those who view everything from the perspective of their audience. Before publishing a post, ask yourself – what are its purpose and value? What does it offer the recipient? Why would I take an interest in it from their perspective? Does it differentiate me from my competitors? Can I do better, and should I?
7. Be Genuine
When it comes to Instagram, being genuine is key. Don’t try to impress others just to get more followers. Instead, be yourself and focus on building real connections.
Remember, having one loyal follower who genuinely enjoys your content is more valuable than having thousands of fake followers. So, stay true to yourself and your audience, and your follower count will grow organically.
8. Add Calls To Action
One of the best ways to encourage people to take positive action is to simply tell them what you want to do. Want to get more followers on board? Ask them to follow you.
Looking to get the conversation started? Tell them to share their thoughts in the comments section. In need of inspiration for future posts? Ask them to submit their suggestions and recommendations. Easy, isn’t it?
9. Use Hashtags Wisely
The keyword here is wisely, as the random use (or overuse) of hashtags can be counterproductive. Every hashtag you use needs to be of genuine relevance to the content you publish. Be mindful of the fact that Instagram uses hashtags to categorize and recommend posts to relevant audiences. Hence, using irrelevant hashtags won’t bring you any benefits at all.
A few additional tips for making good use of hashtags on Instagram:
Develop Your Own Hashtag To Become Famous
Most successful Instagrammers and businesses have their own custom hashtags. It takes time to create a person hashtag that gains traction, but the sooner you get started, the faster it will happen. Your hashtag could be your own name, the name of your account, your product, your brand – anything you like.
Track Your Performance With Different Hashtags
While experimenting with hashtags, keep a close eye on your performance. Otherwise, you’ll have no idea which hashtags are delivering results and which you can get rid of. Keep a close eye on the analytics and monitor all aspects of your campaign’s performance. Make regular adjustments, keeping a note of what works and what doesn’t.
Use a Large Variety of Hashtags
In keeping with the above, feel free to experiment with as many different types of hashtags as possible. Trial and error almost always hold the key to making things work on platforms like Instagram. That said, don’t make the mistake of attaching too many hashtags to your posts. Use hashtags in moderation, or you risk being seen as a spammer.
By the way, don’t forget to explore our Complete Guide on Instagram Hashtags to gain further insights and elevate your hashtag game for maximum impact on the platform.
10. Utilize All Instagram Tools And Features
They say variety is the spice of life, so why stick exclusively with conventional content on Instagram? Increasingly, everyday Instagram users are showing preference to publishers who branch out into new areas. Specifically, the following five Instagram features are growing in popularity at a record pace:
- IGTV
- Reels
- IG Live
- Stories
- Highlights
Each of these features provides an opportunity to present your content (and yourself) in an entirely different light. Best of all, there’s little to no learning curve to negotiate – they’re all easy to get started with.
11. Return The Engagement
Boosting your visibility on Instagram isn’t just about posting content—it’s about fostering a community. Respond promptly to comments, like and comment on followers’ posts, and participate in relevant conversations. By actively engaging with your audience, you not only strengthen your connections but also increase engagement, making your profile more appealing and likely to attract new followers.
12. Don’t Go Crazy With Sponsored Content
Striking the right balance between sponsored posts and regular posts isn’t easy. However, the overwhelming majority of the content you put out should not be sponsored.
Overly promotional content can make it difficult for people to take you (or your content) at face value. Always err on the side of caution, ensuring you don’t take things too far with sponsored or promotional content.
13. Planning is Important
Coming up with ideas for inspiring content on a constant basis isn’t easy. This is why the most successful Instagrammers plan their content strategies in advance. Create a calendar outlining exactly what you intend to post and when. It’s even possible to automate your publishing duties with specialist software, which can help you stay on top of your schedule.
14. Pick Brand Partnerships Carefully
Any brand partnerships you strike up need to be relevant to your brand, your output, and your audience. An animal rights activist sponsored by a steakhouse would, for obvious reasons, not exactly scream authenticity. A fairly extreme example, but one that illustrates the point of ensuring your partners and sponsors are right for the job.
15. Set Limits And Switch Off
Running a successful Instagram campaign can quickly become a full-time job. But when it becomes an obsession you cannot separate yourself from, it’s time to take a break.
You cannot expect to stay passionate and committed to your craft without regularly disconnecting yourself from social media. Set sensible limits on how much of your time you invest in your campaign, and stick to them.
16. Don’t Get Discouraged By The Haters
Along the way, you will encounter countless nasty and unpleasant people who exist solely to make other people’s lives miserable. Social media is bursting at the seams with haters – pathetic people who go out of their way to cause problems for others. Haters are everywhere, so you have to both expect them and learn how to ignore them when they appear.
17. Prioritize Your Mental Health
Attempting to put out positive and inspiring content when you feel like garbage is a waste of time. Always remember that your output needs to be a true reflection of your personality, your character, and your emotions.
Consequently, your own mental health and wellbeing should always be your priority. So again, don’t be afraid to take a step back on occasion in order to focus on what really matters in life.
18. Build A Killer Instagram Feed
Quite simply, never post anything you are not 100% proud of. The key to creating a killer Instagram feed lies inconsistency. Be mindful that even a single substandard post could harm the appeal of all your other posts. Avoid the temptation to post run-of-the-mill content simply to fill gaps – it’s better not to post anything at all.
19. Find Micro-Influencers To Work With
Until you become well known on Instagram, set your sights on modest collaboration opportunities. Micro-brands and micro-influencers – i.e., those with smaller audiences – are much easier to get on board than their more established counterparts. They may only have a few hundred followers, but it’s a few hundred people you could add to your own follower count.
20. Be Persistent
As touched upon back at the beginning, there’s no such thing as a shortcut to Instagram fame. It’s not the kind of thing that can be rushed, and you need to be ready to take the rough with the smooth. Setbacks are unavoidable, as are frequent bumps in the road. But if you stick to your guns and remain persistent, you’ll get there eventually.
21. Research Your Competitors
Competitor research isn’t about stealing ideas from rival publishers. Instead, it’s about seeing how they influence and engage their audiences with their output.
Not to mention identifying their weaknesses and shortcomings in order to exploit them for your own benefit. Keep a close eye on your competitors at all times, and don’t be afraid to engage with their followers directly.
22. Find The Perfect Posting Times
The best time to post on Instagram is the time your audience is most active and engaged. This is something that varies significantly from one demographic and niche to the next. As a general rule of thumb, the following times combine good audience engagement with relatively low competition:
- Sunday: 8 AM – 2 PM
- Monday: 11 AM – 2 PM
- Tuesday: 10 AM – 3 PM, 7 PM
- Wednesday: 7 AM – 4 PM
- Thursday: 10 AM – 2 PM, 6 – 7 PM
- Friday: 9 AM – 2 PM
- Saturday: 9 – 11 AM
Use analytics to work out the optimum publishing times for your content and adjust your schedule accordingly.
23. Shoutouts
Shoutouts can be great for bringing followers on board but are most effective when you already have a decent follower count. A shoutout is basically a mention of a person or a brand in a post/story. With each shoutout, the person or brand mentioned gains exposure in front of the shouter’s audience.
There are two options available for stacking up plenty of shoutouts:
S4S (Shoutout for Shoutout)
This is the classic approach to getting more shoutouts, which involves exchanging them with other publishers. You basically reach out to someone else in your niche and offer to give them a shoutout in return for doing the same. A pretty fool-proof pitch you can’t go wrong with, as it’s a win-win for both of you with nothing to lose.
Paid Shoutouts
The alternative option is to pay for high-profile shoutouts, which usually start from around $5 and up. With a paid shoutout, your name could appear in front of a potentially huge audience. You can buy as many as you like for an even bigger exposure boost. However, paid shoutouts are rarely as engaging or influential as authentic/organic shoutouts.
24. Curate Your Tagged Photos
It’s both a blessing a curse, but anyone can tag you at any time in any of their photos. Many of which could be of questionable quality or portray you (and/or your brand) in entirely the wrong light.
Keep a close eye on who is tagging you and what kinds of photos you are being tagged in. Where there’s an image that could do your profile more harm than good, remove the tag manually.
25. Engagement Groups
Engagement groups are best approached with caution, as the Instagram algorithm can pick up on attempts at deliberate manipulation. However, purely organic engagement groups – populated by real people with shared interests – are worth looking into.
These pods of publishers looking to support one another have worked wonders for some, though they aren’t to be relied on as your sole driver of engagement on Instagram.
26. Paid Advertising
Last up, it’s always worth considering the potential benefits of paid advertising. Paid ads give you the opportunity to have your name and your message presented to a highly-targeted audience.
Products and packages are available to suit all budgets, based on the platform’s flexible PPC model. But while paid ads can be great for generating a brief burst of interest, they’re not a viable long-term solution.
Conclusion
Instagram fame is not something that happens overnight. Even if you go viral, it still takes time to build a sizeable audience of engaged followers. Each of the tips and tactics above could help steer your campaign in the right direction.
Stay true to yourself and take every opportunity to let your personality shine. Be patient, take setbacks in your stride, and focus on your long-term goals. Base your Instagram campaign on something you are genuinely passionate about, and the rest should take care of itself.
