For any business, the ability to harness influencers to build awareness and brand loyalty is essential. Instagram has emerged as a leading platform for influencer marketing, with almost a billion monthly active users, making it the perfect place to reach out to potential customers. But with so many influencers on the platform, how do you know who to work with? We’ll cover some of the top influencers who are crushing it on Instagram, and give you the tools to make an informed decision to find the right influencer for your campaigns.
Who are Influencers?
To understand how to identify top influencers on Instagram, it’s important to first understand what an influencer is. Simply put, influencers are individuals who have the power to influence others. This can be through their content creating ability, their large following, or the reach of their network. Influencers come in many shapes and sizes, from celebrities and athletes, to content creators and industry experts.
The Benefits of Instagram Influencers
As the rise of influencers has grown, so have the benefits that come of using influencers for marketing campaigns. The largest benefit is access to the influencers’ large, engaged community. In many cases, this is a community of people who may not have even heard of your brand or product. Commissioning influencers also promotes an opportunity to leverage their existing fan base, rather than building one from scratch based on limited resources.
Additionally, influencers represent the perfect tool to simultaneously increase brand recognition, visibility and internal advocacy. Working with influencers has been linked to an increase in ROI and sales, and campaigns involving influencers have been known to increase overall earned media value.
Top Influencers Crushing it on Instagram
In order to determine the top influencers on Instagram, you need to look at specialized metrics such as engagement rate and follower growth. Here’s a list of some of the top influencers crushing it on Instagram, who have proven to be successful in several campaigns.
- The Rock
With a whopping 166 million followers, Dwayne Johnson, famously known as The Rock, is definitely a top influencer on Instagram. As one of the world’s highest-paid actors and a former professional wrestler, he has been a great advocate for many popular campaigns, including the Boost Mobile Campaign and the Reebok Campaign.
- Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner has a staggering 191 million Instagram followers, making her one of the most popular influencers. She is known for her makeup brand and her social media presence, and she routinely features products from other well-known brands in her campaigns. She’s been involved in successful campaigns with companies such as Puma, Adidas, Calvin Klein, and PacSun.
- Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne is a model and actress who sports over 55 million Instagram followers. She has successfully promoted brands and campaigns such as Burberry, Top Shop, Puma, Revlon, DKNY and many more. Her campaigns are always a success, which is why she remains one of the top influencers on Instagram.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a professional soccer player who is a likely pick for any sports-related campaign. His Instagram following of 215 million followers makes him one of the most followed individuals on the platform. On his profile, you can find campaigns with brands like Nike, Hublot, and Monster Energy.
- Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has an impressive 200 million Instagram followers, and is a great choice for any brand looking for a young, influential individual. She’s worked with campaigns for companies like Coach, Puma, Starbucks, and Louis Vuitton. Her dynamic posts feature the brands she promotes, often in an effort to empower her audience and create relatable content.
How to Choose an Influencer
When it comes to choosing an influencer, there are several important factors to consider. First, consider the influencer’s reach and their engagement rate. Reach refers to the number of followers an influencer has, while engagement rate refers to the percentage of people who are actively engaging with their content. The higher their reach, and the higher their engagement rate, the better.
You should also consider any niche or specialty the influencer might have. For example, if your brand sells shoes, look for an influencer who has experience and success in promoting footwear.
Finally, make sure the influencer aligns with your brand values. This is a key factor to determine if they will be the right fit. Assessing the influencer’s content, values and social commentary can help you decide if they’re a perfect match.
An in-depth understanding of who’s out there and what they can do for you is essential to identify the right influencers for your campaigns. As we’ve covered, some of the top influencers who are crushing it on Instagram and have proven to be successful in campaigns are Dwayne Johnson, Kylie Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Selena Gomez. But you should also consider reach, engagement rate, influencers’ niches and any alignment with your brand values when selecting the right influencer for your needs. With the right influencer in your corner, your business can reap the full benefits of influencer marketing that Instagram offers.