When I look back on my own path, I wish I had known these 5 microinfluencer mistakes for creators with less than 100K followers (and if you’re like me, much less haha).
As a newbie Instagrammer or content creator you may sometimes feel like you are treading new ground- building your one-of a-kind brand, developing a content style that feels true to you, and communicating with brands for the first time.
And, while of course you are paving a new path for yourself, that process is a journey that many creatives have been on before. So, why not learn from others’ mistakes?
The One Rule to Remember to Reduce Mistakes as a Microinfluencer
According to a report, influencer marketing is set to grow nearly $14 billion this year. To tap into this market most effectively, keep the following in mind while strategizing for Instagram:
Be clear, be confident, and be community-oriented.
Mistakes happen when this rule is broken.
In the following list of 5 mistakes, I’ll show you a few ways to ensure your brand follows this rule.
5 Common Mistakes Mircroinfluencers Make on Instagram
- Not utilizing Instagram bios. Think of your bio as your first (and sometimes only) impression on brands and potential followers. Gone are the days of dropping a quote in your bio and calling it good. Instead, ask yourself if it clearly conveys the type of content you share. Keep it short and sweet on each line. I recommend using 3-4 lines.
Bonus mistake: Not having a professional email included in your bio. If you are dreaming of turning your Instagram into a side hustle or even a full-time gig, then treat it with professionalism like you would any other job. Make sure your email is on-brand rather than a personal email with a “cute” name. Adding it to your bio is important because if a brand views your profile on a computer, the email button is not visible. - Posting for quantity at the expense of quality. No matter how often you post, if the caption and image are not high quality, thoughtful, and on-brand then they really aren’t worth sharing. Spend more time crafting your posts (longer or more creative captions, more carefully taken photos) and see better results in terms of reach and engagement. Plus, posts that perform better will live at the top of hashtags for longer!
- Focusing only on your own content and not on your community. Instagram is a place where community thrives. Engaging with other creators will nurture connection, build friendships, and really make your time spent on social media rewarding. In terms of engagement, the algorithim loves to see content with lots of interest in terms of saves, shares, comments, and likes. If you engage with other people’s content, they are likely to engage with yours too!
- Creating only in-feed content instead of stories. As funny as it sounds, one of of my biggest growing moments has been showing my face on my story. I heard this was a way to build connection to your audience and totally agree! I view stories as a place to be less formal than in a post and to share behind-the-scenes or everyday parts of your life. Just remember that no one expects you to be perfect. In fact, who doesn’t relate to imperfections? Also, having a story shows that you are active in the app – something that brands and potential followers may like to see.
- Viewing their smaller brand size as a disadvantage rather than an advantage. While we all want to grow, there is SO much value in nano and microinfluencers. In general, we have higher engagement rates – which brands are looking for! Plus, if you begin building your community early on then you will have a solid foundation to support you long-term. Part of being confident in your brand means turning down offers for gifted product that don’t benefit you or align with your niche. I’ve seen people land paid collaborations starting at around 1,000 or 2,000 followers, so never accept a gifted offer without negotiating! Bottom line, don’t forget your value.
Have you made any of these microinfluencer mistakes? Let me know in the comments.
Follow along on Instagram @thekarebear for more tips on content creation and inspiration for Pacific Northwest adventure and boho style.
Kyndal Sowers
Kara,
Thank you so much for sharing these tips! As a new-ish blogger/content creator, I found them to be so helpful!
xo,
Kyndal
thekarebear
Thank you Kyndal! So glad these will help you.