Instagram started off like any other social media app. Nowadays, it has grown into a platform that harvests some of the most influential individuals from around the world. These influencers are adored on a huge scale by their followers. And thanks to Instagram, we can follow their day-to-day lives. Below, we have found 15 influencers to keep your eye on. By reading a bit about each one, hopefully it can paint a picture about how their influence reach is far greater than Instagram itself.
Sonam Kapoor
Sonam Kapoor is an Indian-American actress who has been the star of several Bollywood films. She has become a well-known fashionista on Instagram. For example, on the influencers wedding day, #sonamkishaadi was posted 85,000 times! Through her posts on Instagram, she has created a fan base whose connection is so strong that she has built her own community app. Now, her fans are able to be apart of her day-to-day life.
Huda Kattan
Huda Kattan is an Iraqi-American makeup artist who is seen as a powerhouse in the beauty industry. She has a cosmetics line called Huda beauty and an Instagram account with 37.9 million followers. Forbes named Kattan as one of the top ten influencers in the beauty industry. Celebrities from the likes of Kim Kardashian have famously worn her eyelash set, shining an even bigger spotlight on the empire Kattan has created for herself. These are only two examples of the magnitude of her influence. As far as the cosmetic industry goes, she is one of the biggest Instagram influencers around.
Kayla Itsines
Australian raised Kayla Itsine is a fitness entrepreneur and an Instagram influencer. Her account has 11.6 million followers and continues growing every single day. According to Bloomberg news, her popular fitness guide ‘Sweat with Kayla’ generated the most revenue out of any fitness app in the App Store in 2016. This influencer does pop up workshops all over the world from New York City to Amsterdam. The most amazing thing about it all is that she has stayed in Adelaide, the town she grew up in, through the rise of her fitness empire. Itsine is an example of how influencers have the power to create change from any location in the world.
Jen Selter
Jen Selter is yet another fitness star who is taking the industry by storm. She has 12.8 million followers and the New York Post values her business at $5 million-a-year. She owns a nutrition bar company, co-owns a blending product and is one of the head trainers of a fitness app. Even her products have a big Instagram following!
Chiara Ferragni
The Milan born, New York based Instagram influencer has taken the fashion industry by storm. She started off with a blog called ‘The Blonde Salad‘ that then become a prominent fashion Instagram account. From her success, she was able to launch her clothing line ‘Chiara Ferragni Collection‘. The Financial Times labelled her as the Milan influencer who created a €30 million global brand. Instagram gave her a platform that has allowed her to blow the fashion industry away.
Jay Alvarrez
Hawaiian born Jay Alvarrez rose to fame through his videos. He gained a lot of attention by posting his travels on Youtube that showed his luxurious lifestyle and daredevil activities such as sky-diving. Now, he is considered a social media influencer with 6.4 million followers on Instagram. Forbes wrote an article about the partnership of influencers and brands, using Alvarrez as an example. He has even done a luxury bag collaboration where he was given full control over the marketing of the product. This is only one of the numerous projects he gains from being an influencer.
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Just a casual 150M drop to the rocks beneath.. Don’t slip😅💕 @theedgebali
Derrick Jaxn
Derrick Jaxn is the proclaimed ‘Self Love Ambassador’. A modern day life coach, using Instagram as a platform to spread his message. Through the app, he has a staggering reach of 1.2 million people. The influencer gives love and relationship advice and often shares his wisdom through motivational quotes. Live video has also been beneficial as it allows Jaxn to speak to his audience directly and have a more personal conversations with them. He now uses a community app to create a platform where he has even more direct reach with his followers and those seeking advice.
Results with Lucy
This fitness platform is run by Instagram influencer Lucy Mecklenburgh. She uses Instagram to post her recipes, workouts and retreats. The platform allows her to share everything within her fitness routine with her fans. On top of this, she also runs a blog and a Youtube channel. Lucy has released a community app for her followers to get over 600 recipes, workouts and track their results. This means her fans will benefit from a more personal community where they can interact with one another and directly with Lucy!
Emily Skye
Emily Skye is a fitness influencer as well as being a mum. Her instagram account, with 2.6 million followers, follows both her family life and fitness routines. She’s become an inspiration to mums who work hard to balance the two. Not only does she have a beauty account, but also a fitness app and a sportswear shop. Women’s Health magazine praised Skye for projecting truthful, positive body image messages for her followers. These include posting about her spots, cellulites and even cheat days. The influencer stays true to the message to just be yourself.
Meghan Rienks
Rienks is a lifestyle influencer from California. She runs a blog, has a podcast and you can even preorder her book on her website. Youtube helped her launch her career as she gained 1.6 million followers on the platform by posting lifestyle, fashion and beauty videos. From there she opened an Instagram account where she became an even bigger influencer. Her audience became hooked when she focused her online presence on her story of growing up as an awkward teenage girl in a social media crazed world. This allowed her to connect with girls who related to her story. Her influence has resonated with many teenage girls across the world.
Murad Osmann
Murad Osmann is a photographer and a film producer. He is based in Moscow but his posts follow his travels around the world with his wife and receive around 200,000 likes each. His series ‘Follow Me’ went viral in 2012 and led him to gain recognition for his incredible photography. On top of this, Forbes named him one of the top three travel influencers in 2017, spiking his number of followers even higher. Osmann has become one of the most influential photography and travel accounts on Instagram.
Gee Family
Or as they are better known, The Bucket List Family. This family of five sky rocketed to fame with their Instagram account. They’re an example that there is no set mould for influencers. You can follow their journey all over the world through their social media accounts. In three years they visited 65 countries as a family. They have now settled in Hawaii but this has not put a stop to their travelling. This adventurous family has gained influence through their incredible approach towards a spontaneous life while still maintaining a happy, healthy family.
Chris Burkard
Burkard is an American photographer who is based in California. He’s a landscape photographer who travels around the world chasing beautiful, eye-catching locations. Not only is he an Instagram influencer but he is also a professional photographer for surfer magazine. Thanks to his large following, he is able to continue with his passion.
Zoe Sugg
Better known as Zoella, Sugg is an all-round influencer. She started off on Youtube and has now dominated Instagram as well with 9.7 million followers. Her brand focuses around herself as an enthusiast of everything ‘fashion, beauty and life’. She became one of Youtubes first stars and has remained on social media ever since. Her influence has allowed her to branch out beyond Instagram. For example, she has a line at boots where she sells stationary, cups and even slippers. She is one of the most well-known UK based Instagram influencers and continues to grow every day.
Zach King
An American Vine star turned into Instagram sensation, Zach King has raked up 20.3 million followers on Instagram alone. He mainly makes funny videos and posts them on his many popular social media accounts. His Instagram is largely composed of videos and his bio says ‘stories can make people smile’. King is praised for posting online for over a decade and continuing to create engaging content. He is without a doubt one of the most prominent influencers who has been around for a while and shows no signs of slowing down.
How to monetise your content as an influencer?
All 15 of those influencers have successfully monetised their content. If you have a large following and the platform to back it, then why not?
1. Paid subscription
For example, Lucy Mecklenburgh, has a community app that charges a subscription fee. This means that all her hard work pays off. She has created a happy community but is also able to benefit from it as well.
2. Sponsored content
This is another way to monetise your content. You can pick brands you want to support and post them on your Instagram to share it with your followers!
3. Physical Purchases
Once you have a following you can create your own merchandise! Personalise it and give it your own personal touch.
4. Events and activities
This is the best way to connect with your followers! Get them together so you can get to know your community, everyone loves a party.
If you want to learn more about easy ways to monetise your community, you can read the following article.
Mike Harrower in
15 September, 2021
10 min read
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