How to Get Paid on Instagram: An Influencer’s Success Story

Are you looking to start your journey as an influencer or struggling to get noticed on Instagram? 

You’re in the right place! With influencer marketing on the rise—65% of marketers are increasing their budgets for it—now is the perfect time to ramp up your strategy and start making money on Instagram.

To attract brand partnerships and paid collaborations, you’ll need to build a strong presence. 

That means posting, tagging, using hashtags, and showing brands that you’re serious about promoting their products. 

Think about it: How will brands like Patagonia know you’re a perfect fit for their gear if you don’t show them first?

The road to becoming a prominent influencer is undoubtedly an investment but will pay off if you follow these unwritten rules. Keep up with Kicksta for more on how to get real followers for Instagram and further digital marketing tips for your business.

Here’s Fawn Rosenbohm, Blogger and Influencer, with her tips and personal story of how she got paid on Instagram and built her success:

Tell us about yourself and how you decided to become an influencer.

Hi! My name is Fawn and I run the fashion and lifestyle account @fawnrosenbohm on Instagram as well as my blog fawnrosenbohm.com.

Like many of you, I’m a mom with three beautiful kids and a super handsome and supportive husband.

I initially started blogging 9 years ago when my daughter was born, back before Instagram and Facebook were a thing. It was a way for me to journal my thoughts and keep in touch with my family. 

As the social media world emerged, I began sharing my favorite things with my followers, focusing on clothes, beauty, and kids’ items.

By utilizing Instagram influencer tips, I learned how to make money on Instagram and turn my passion into a successful Instagram influencer story. Through effective influencer marketing strategies, I’ve been able to get paid collaborations on Instagram and grow my following. 

If you’re looking to increase your Instagram followers and learn how to become an Instagram influencer, sharing your favorite things with authenticity and passion is a great place to start.

When brands started reaching out to me to work with them about 5 years ago, I realized “Hey I can make an income doing this while staying home with my kids”, so I decided to go for it and become an influencer.

What were the biggest struggles you had to overcome when you first started?

My biggest struggle was to not just say “YES” to every brand that wanted to work with me but to be selective with who I chose to work. 

Another thing I struggled with was keeping my eyes focused on my journey, and not comparing other influencer’s journeys with my own.

How did you grow your following on Instagram?

It didn’t grow overnight, that’s for sure. It took a good few years of really focusing on my social media and treating it like my job. Engaging with your audience is a top priority when growing your Instagram. 

Make sure you reply to every comment and DM that you’re able to and also engage on their pages as well. Doing this goes a long way and builds an authentic relationship with your followers.

I also team up with like-minded influencers and giveaways. I love giving back to my friends on Instagram. So, a group of us will put our money together for an awesome prize and then do a loop giveaway, where to win, they have to follow each account. Here is an example:

By using these Instagram influencer tips, you can learn how to make money on Instagram and become successful. Using influencer marketing strategies and hosting giveaways are great ways to get paid collaborations and grow your followers. If you want to be an influencer, it’s important to engage with your followers and work with others.

It’s a great way to gain followers who would like your content but probably haven’t come across your profile before. I’ll also team up with others to do Instagram story takeovers or shout-outs to share each other’s accounts with new audiences.

What were your biggest obstacles?

My biggest obstacle was trying to balance work and home life. I didn’t want to be on my phone all day, so I had to learn to use my time wisely. 

Now I try to stay away from mindless scrolling and focus only on what will benefit my business, such as engaging with everyone who comments on my posts, answering questions, and responding to messages.

Another obstacle for me personally was dealing with the “No’s” or the “no responses” from companies. It can be discouraging when you see other influencers getting brand collaborations on Instagram with brands you want to work with, and they don’t want to work with you. 

Don’t let this discourage you! I usually ask them for constructive criticism and if they would mind telling me what I could work on to better my brand.

By focusing on paid partnerships on Instagram and following the right Instagram influencer journey, you can overcome these obstacles. Use Instagram marketing for influencers to build your brand, and learn influencer pricing on Instagram to get paid collaborations. 

Following Instagram sponsorship tips and concentrating on content creation for Instagram is crucial. Building an Instagram following and growing your Instagram audience requires perseverance and dedication. Remember, every setback is an opportunity to improve and grow as an influencer.

Can you tell us about the very first collaboration you got paid for? When did you start getting paid through Instagram?

Yes, I do remember my first paid collaboration. I was so excited, it was with Dove. The marketing team who was representing them reached out to me through email.

Pro Tip: Always include your email in your Instagram bio.

The promotion was for their deodorant. I needed to do a blog post as well as an IG feed post. After that, I started getting paid collaborations within the 6 months.

Walk us through your process of looking/reaching out to other brands to work with (or do they all reach out to you).

Both, of them, reach out to me, and I reach out to them. When a brand reaches out to me, the first thing I do is make sure it’s a good fit: Is it in my niche? Is it something my audience would be interested in? Is it something I genuinely want to promote?

Then I look through the contract and see what the deliverables are (how many posts/stories need to be published, what type of content, how the product should be mentioned in the content, what hashtags need to be used, etc.). 

If I feel like we’re a good fit, then I go for it. When I reach out to a brand, it’s because I love what they are offering and think a collaboration would be beneficial to both of us. Even if it’s an unpaid collaboration, if I love the product, I will do a gift exchange.

This approach has been integral to my Instagram influencer journey. Focusing on paid partnerships on Instagram and brand collaborations on Instagram allows me to maintain authenticity while growing my influence. 

Instagram marketing for influencers is all about finding the right match, both for the influencer and the brand. By understanding influencer pricing on Instagram and following Instagram sponsorship tips, you can build successful partnerships. 

Content creation for Instagram is key to keeping your audience engaged and building an Instagram following. Growing your Instagram audience requires strategic collaborations and a genuine passion for what you promote.

How do you create content as an influencer? (Any apps you use, strategies, etc.) What are your favorite features to use on Instagram?

I try to think of unique and creative ways to share content, but there are a lot of us doing this gig, so not everything is going to be unique, unfortunately. First of all, I make sure the picture is of good quality and that the product or message is visible.

My favorite app for editing is Lightroom, I use it more than any other app. It’s important to keep your feed looking cohesive. I also love to clean up my Instagram every once in a while by using the Cleaner app. I don’t want fake accounts following me, so I go through and delete them every few months.

Pro Tip: Quality over Quantity. You want quality Instagram followers who are following you because they are interested in what you have to offer and are engaging.

Can you tell us about some of the most successful collaborations you’ve had, how you got them, and why they were so successful?

I think the most successful collaborations are the ones where you build a long-term partnership with a brand. Not just a one-time post and done situation. I love building connections with the brand and the people that are overseeing the collaboration. When a brand comes back to work with me again I consider it successful.

Pro Tip: Communication is the most important aspect of creating these long-time partnerships!

Make sure you’re both on the same page about what is expected. If you’re not sure, ask! Don’t just assume. I also believe that kindness goes a long way. 

Be kind and professional with the brands you work with, and give it your best effort. Don’t forget that the person you’re talking to on the other side of the computer is real 🙂

One of my most successful collaborations has been with Royal Caribbean because they’ve worked with me twice in the last year. So my husband and I got to go on two paid vacations!

This approach is crucial in the Instagram influencer journey. Ensuring clear communication and professionalism is key to securing paid partnerships on Instagram and successful brand collaborations on Instagram. 

By following Instagram marketing for influencers, you can create lasting relationships with brands. Understanding influencer pricing on Instagram and applying Instagram sponsorship tips helps in negotiating and fulfilling collaborations. 

Content creation for Instagram should always be top-notch to maintain credibility and trust with both your audience and the brands you work with. Building an Instagram following and growing your Instagram audience requires genuine interactions and consistent quality in your posts.

What are your future goals as an influencer?

As I look at my goals for the coming year, I first want to stay authentic to who I am as a person. I also want to build more long-term partnerships with brands and do more travel-focused posts. I would love to one day have a clothing collection with a brand. 

My dream would be Nordstrom, but I also want to partner with a boutique I love, where I could choose items and promote them. I’ve seen a few influencers do this, and think it would be so fun. I’d also love to do more traveling collaborations with my family.

Focusing on these goals will help me grow my Instagram influencer journey and secure more paid partnerships on Instagram. 

Building strong brand collaborations on Instagram and leveraging Instagram marketing for influencers will be key to achieving these aspirations. Understanding influencer pricing on Instagram and applying Instagram sponsorship tips will also help in negotiating and managing these collaborations. 

By creating engaging content for Instagram, I aim to continue building an Instagram following and growing my Instagram audience. Staying true to myself and my passions will ensure that my journey remains fulfilling and authentic.

What advice do you have for other influencers out there or ones that are just starting on how to get paid on Instagram?

Trust your gut and be authentic. When people see your real life and real struggles, they feel like they can relate and feel a connection with you. This connection is made more through Instagram stories so don’t be afraid to get on there are start talking 🙂

If you’re wondering how to get paid on Instagram, connect with like minded influencers. I’ve made so many Instagram friends with women who are killing it on Instagram and we’re all huge supporters of one another. 

Last but not least, keep your mind focused on your journey. It’s so easy to look to the left or the right and start comparing. Don’t do it. Stay in your lane, and celebrate your successes and those around you who are cheering you on. You got this!

Conclusion

To be a successful influencer, you need to be genuine, dedicated, and persistent. Follow your passion, connect with your audience, and seize every chance that comes your way. Remember, your path is one-of-a-kind—keep pushing forward, and success will come to you!