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Influencer Marketing 101: How to Get Sponsored on Instagram

April 14, 2022
how to get sponsored on instagram

How To Get Sponsored On Instagram Even If You’re Not An Influencer

Getting a sponsorship on Instagram is unquestionably one of the most popular ways of earning money on the platform, and rightly so. With a hefty payout ranging between a few hundred to several thousand dollars for each post, getting sponsored is worth sinking resources into.

Luckily, you don’t need any professional skills to get sponsored on Instagram! Instead, all you need is to get to the right audience and develop a connection with them. If you want to know how to get sponsored on Instagram, you’ve come to the right place.

What Are Instagram Sponsored Posts?

An Instagram sponsored post is an image or video uploaded to Instagram that promotes a product or service in exchange for money. Often, the creator of the post will receive a free product or service in exchange for posting about it.

Sponsorships on social media are sometimes structured in the form of an affiliate deal, where a brand will pay a % of sales to the influencer.

Companies pay for sponsored posts because they believe that doing so will lead to increased exposure and greater visibility for their brand. In other words, they think it’ll help them increase their sales.

Now, whether or not this is actually effective is up for debate. Some marketing experts say that sponsored posts are a waste of money, while others believe that they can be helpful in certain situations. Personally, I think it depends on the quality of the sponsored post and how well it resonates with the company’s target audience. It’s also important to consider how much an influencer’s audience aligns with the company’s real customer base.

Can someone without lots of followers get sponsored on Instagram?

The short answer: Yes!

When we think of influencers, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a celebrity with millions of followers. And while that’s certainly one type of influencer, there’s another growing category that is becoming just as important: the micro influencer.

Micro influencers are social media users with a relatively small but highly engaged following. They often specialize in a particular niche or topic, which gives them credibility and authentic connections with their followers. In many ways, they are the experts in their field and considered thought leaders by their peers.

How To Get Sponsored On Instagram

Getting sponsored on Instagram is a dream for many Instagrammers. Although it seems quite challenging, it isn’t as complex as you would expect. By establishing a devoted following (even if small), you can persuade target companies and help them connect with the right audience. 

Follow these steps below and you’re on a sure-fire path to getting sponsored!

1. Create Your Brand’s Identity

Creating a brand identity is one of the best ways to get sponsorship on Instagram. To ensure your audience is highly engaged, you need to dive deep into your niche. Do you want to post health-related content? Or is your focus solely on delicious desserts? Whatever you decide, you must establish yourself within your niche to develop a strong brand identity.

Keep in mind that branding plays a significant role in establishing your presence on Instagram. Choosing and crafting an aesthetic for Instagram often starts with choosing an appealing color palette. Consistency in your brand identity is a crucial component in developing trust with your audience.

black and white instagram

2. Understand Your Target Audience

Understanding your target audience is key if you want to onboard a brand to work with you. Keep an eye on your audience’s demographics. This can be accessed from Instagram Analytics in-app or in Publer Analytics. Having a strong grasp on who your audience is and what they’re into will allow you to grow exponentially faster. With this information on hand, you’ll also have a better shot at figuring out what kinds of brands are more likely to work with you.

3. Post Often

Without a doubt, frequently posting on Instagram is the gateway to getting a sponsorship. But before you post any content, it’s essential to determine the right timing and frequency of your posts. You have to make the decision to post 1-3 times a day to actively capture new followers. Additionally, you must decide the right time to post on Instagram, ideally when your audience is most active. 

Instagram Reels can be a powerful tool to engage your audience. Knowing when to post or schedule Instagram Reels can differentiate between a popular and an unpopular profile. After all, by determining the best times to post Instagram Reels, you can get sponsored on Instagram by engaging a large audience.

4. Use Hashtags

Using relevant hashtags is another effective way of eventually getting sponsored on Instagram. 

If you want to grow your Instagram following, hashtags are one of the most important tools at your disposal. Hashtags help connect your content with users who are searching for specific topics, and they can also help make your content more discoverable in general.

When used thoughtfully and strategically, hashtags can be a powerful way to grow your audience and engagement on Instagram. Here are a few tips for using hashtags effectively

5. Use Geotags

The geotagging feature allows you to add location data into your posts and make your post visible to those searching for content in that geographic area. If you’re aiming to score a partnership with a local brand, using geotags is a great way to catch their attention.

6. Tag Relevant Niche Brands In Your Content 

Once you are all set with defining your brand and have developed your own style of Instagram content, it’s time to tag relevant niche brands. Tagging small businesses rather than popular ones will help put you in view of potential sponsors. Try tagging them in your descriptions or in a follow-up comment until you have proven yourself a worthy sales partner.

When scheduling Instagram posts in Publer, you can also schedule a follow-up comment, saving you the hassle of adding them manually after publishing.

7. Pitch A Sponsorship Deal

Unsurprisingly, you can directly pitch a sponsorship deal with both local and established brands. But before you do so, try to develop a rapport by commenting on their posts and interacting with them regularly. If they already know who you are and what your content is like, they’re more likely to respond! 

If you’ve never pitched a brand before, it’s never too late to start. You can reach out to brands over DM, emails or even calling them. The key here is to be clear as to what the sponsorship looks like for both parties. What do they get from you? What do you want in exchange? This could be as simple as a cash payment or even free products.

8. Include Publer Link In Bio 

Changing your link in bio constantly to match your new offers, blog content and more can be quite the hassle. Luckily, Publer offers an easy solution for you: the Link in Bio feature. This allows you to host all your links on a single page that you keep in your Instagram bio. No need for updating! If you’ve used platforms like LinkTree, it’s pretty much the same thing, except with the added bonus of Publer’s analytics.

Publer link in bio

9. Make It Easy For Brands To Contact You 

Getting the attention of target sponsors can be a difficult task, especially if brands don’t have an easy way to contact you. To make it easy as possible for brands to reach you, connect your phone number, add your email to your bio or add a Contact button through Instagram’s Creator Account or Business account settings.

10. Understand Your Analytics

With even a basic understanding of Instagram analytics or Publer Analytics, you’ll have a leg up on your competition. With these tools, you’ll be able to identify and work off of your post’s engagement metrics, demographic info and more.

Key Takeaways

Getting sponsorship on Instagram is not easy, especially when you are not an influencer with an already established audience. However, using a nice combination of the right tools and techniques can ensure you catch the attention of brands willing to sponsor posts.

If you want to know how to get sponsored on Instagram, keep an eye on these key points:

  • Ensure that you are easy to contact.
  • Tag niche brands in your posts.
  • Use hashtags and geotags to make your content discoverable.
  • Define your brand.
  • Get to know your target audience.

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