The Authentic Instagram Influencer's Toolkit

The Authentic Instagram Influencer's Toolkit

HypeAuditor has conducted a survey among 1200 influencers to find out what tools they use to be more productive as an influencer.

You can see their answers below. Read the article and you will know exactly what tools Instagram Influencers use every day to be more productive and gain new followers.

What tools do you use to be more productive as an influencer?

Photo Editing Tools

What photo editing tools creators use the most

"I edit photos and try to write engaging captions." — Unknown Influencer

Key findings

  • The main content on Instagram is photos.

  • 70.3% of influencers use photo editing tools.

  • The most popular are Adobe Lightroom (29.30%), Adobe Photoshop Express (10%), and Snapseed (7.6%)

Photo editing tools description

  1. WePik.com offers a versatile and user-friendly online photo editor that empowers users to enhance and transform their images effortlessly. With a wide array of filters, editing features, and creative options, WePik makes it simple for anyone to retouch and customize their photos to perfection.

  2. Adobe Lightroom is a family of image organization and image manipulation software developed by Adobe Systems for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and tvOS. It allows importing/saving, viewing, organizing, tagging, editing, and sharing large numbers of digital images.

  3. Adobe Photoshop (Android & iOS) is a fast and easy photo editor used by millions of creative individuals. Edit pictures like the pros with this easy-to-use digital studio full of photo editing features on your mobile device.

  4. Snapseed (Android & iOS) is a photo-editing application produced by Nik Software, now owned by Google, for iOS and Android that enables users to enhance photos and apply digital filters.

  5. VSCO Cam is a photography mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The app was created by Joel Flory and Greg Lutze. The VSCO app allows users to capture photos in the app and edit them, using preset filters and editing tools.

  6. Canva is a simplified graphic-design tool, founded in 2012. It uses a drag-and-drop format and provides access to photographs, vector images, graphics, and fonts. It is used by non-designers as well as professionals. The tools can be used for both web and print media design and graphics.

  7. Adobe Photoshop Express is a free image editing and collage making mobile application from Adobe Systems Pvt. Ltd. The app is available on iOS, Android and Windows phones and tablets. It can also be installed on Windows desktop with Windows 8 and above, via the Microsoft Store.

  8. FaceTune is a photo editing application used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user’s iOS or Android device created by Lightricks. The app is often used for portrait and selfie editing.

  9. Picsart is an image editing, collage, and drawing application and a social network. PicsArt enables users to take and edit pictures, draw with layers, and share their images with the PicsArt community and on other networks like Facebook and Instagram. The app is available on iOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices.

  10. Color Story is a photography + technology company specializing in mobile imaging apps. A Color Story, is used by millions across the globe to make fresh, colorful photos and videos.

  11. Typorama lets you create amazing visuals by "automagically" transforming your text and photos into beautiful typographic designs. No design skills needed!

Post Schedulers

Most popular post schedulers

"Consistent posting of quality content at strategized times is my secret sauce" — Unknown Influencer

Key findings

  • On average Instagram Influencers publish 4 posts a week. Posting consistency plays a great role.

  • That's why Scheduling tools are on the second place in the Influencer’s toolkit. 26.8% of Influencers use Scheduling tools.

  • The most popular are Later (19.2%), Preview (12.8%) and Plannoly (8%).

Post scheduling tools description

  1. Later is cloud-based platform that helps you plan, manage and schedule your visual social media posts and marketing campaigns on Instagram.

  2. Preview is your visual planner for Instagram. Predict what your feed will look like before you post anything on Instagram. It has all the features you need in one app. No more switching between multiple apps.

  3. Plannoly: plan, and schedule your Instagram posts from your computer and mobile phones. Create a cohesive Instagram feed and manage multiple Instagram accounts.

  4. Plann: Instagram planning, scheduling, and analytics for beautiful brands.

  5. Buffer is a software application for the web and mobile, designed to manage accounts in social networks, by providing the means for a user to schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Instagram Stories, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, as well as analyze their results and engage with their community.

  6. Hootsuite: schedule and publish photos and videos directly to Instagram from Hootsuite.

Video Editing Tools

Most popular video editing tools

"I have started to produce IGTV pieces." — Unknown Influencer

Key findings

  • Video gets more engagement than photos.

  • 9.6% of Influencers use video editing tools.

  • The most popular are InShot (35%), iMovie (10%) and Spark (7.5%).

Video editing tools description

  1. InShot: HD Video Editor and Video Maker with all features, trim & cut video/movie, blur background and no crop, add music and video effects.

  2. iMovie is a video editing software application developed by Apple Inc. for macOS and iOS devices.

  3. Adobe Spark is an online and mobile design app. Easily create stunning social graphics, short videos, and web pages

  4. Final Cut revolutionizes post-production with 360° video editing and motion graphics, 4K HDR support, and advanced tools for color correction.

  5. Splice makes it easy to create fully customized, professional-looking videos on your iPhone, iPad. Imagine the performance of a desktop editor, optimized for your mobile device. Just tap to trim clips, adjust transitions, add slow motion effects and more to create beautiful videos you’ll love to share. It’s never been easier to edit like a pro on the go.

Grid Preview Tools

What grid preview tools creators use the most
"Just honest work and connection with my followers." — Unknown Influencer

Key findings

  • Some influencers believe that the entirety of Instagram gallery is more important than individual posts.

  • They post their photos and videos so that they form the specific structure: checkerboard, diagonal, tile and etc.

  • 4.9% Influencers use grid preview tools.

  • The most popular tool for grid preview is UNUM (53%).

Grid preview tools description

  1. UNUM is the all-in-one app for visual planning, data-driven insights, and publishing capabilities for digital content.

  2. Garny: if you're dreaming about a perfect Instagram profile, trying to select the best photo to be harmonious and consistent with your Instagram content, Garny will help you achieve it! You can preview your photos before posting them on Instagram with Garny.

Other tools

What tools influencers use

"I have a team of 4 people working for me. Photograph, filmmaker, driver and agent" — Unknown Influencer

Iphone 11 Pro (10.10%) is the leader in Other tools those Influencers use to be more productive. It is interesting that other phone brands were not mentioned in the survey.

Other tools description

  1. Iphone 11 Pro: a transformative triple‑camera system that adds tons of capability without complexity. An unprecedented leap in battery life. And a mind‑blowing chip that doubles down on machine learning and pushes the boundaries of what a smartphone can do. Welcome to the first iPhone powerful enough to be called Pro.

  2. Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as "tweets".

  3. Pinterest is an American social media web and mobile application company. It operates a software system designed to enable saving and discovery of information on the World Wide Web using images and, on a smaller scale, GIFs and videos.

  4. Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet app that lets you create and format spreadsheets and work with other people.

  5. When To Post will tell you when is the best time for you to post your latest photo on Instagram.

  6. Viral Post Finder is the #1 Application for viral content finding on The market get viral videos, photos, gifs and links from Facebook with the unique application designed for that.

  7. Mailchimp is an American marketing automation platform and an email marketing service.

  8. Meme generator is the Fastest Meme Generator on the Planet. Easily add text to images or memes.

  9. Picodash: export and analyze Instagram data on spreadsheet rather than scrolling on phone screen

  10. Repost for Instagram makes it easy to #Repost your favorite photos & videos on Instagram while giving credit to the original Instagramer.

  11. Unsplash is the internet’s source of freely usable images. Powered by creators everywhere.

Hashtag Analyzers

What hashtag analyzers creators use the most

"Good friendship for my Followers, wrote about good things. Post often. Good energy." — Unkown Influencer

Key findings

  • Hashtags are important. Hashtags create great visibility for a campaign, and help you reach your target audience by using relevant hashtags that you know your audience is already following.

  • 2.9% Instagram influencers use Hashtag analizers.

  • The most popular are Focalmark (11.79%), Hashtagstic (5.89%) and IQ hashtags (5.89%).

Hashtag analyzers description

  1. Focalmark's algorithm filters through thousands of hand-collected hashtags for each category of photography, design or other miscellaneous topic, and ranks the hashtags in order of reach and authenticity. The hashtags are continually updated and checked through the algorithm to ensure they are not update the tags to ensure not hidden by Instagram (shadow-banned) and have an appropriate audience for your image. The aim of Focalmark is to truly allow for authentic sharing of images, and to connect together communities of like-minded people—we'd love for you to be part of the community.

  2. Hashtagstick is arguably the most powerful Hashtag Scanner in the Game. Stop trying to grow on Instagram and actually grow on Instagram. Hashtastic goes above and beyond and leverages the power of AI to identify the most powerful hashtags just for you.

  3. IQ hashtags let you search for the most suitable hashtags in our dynamic database of over 67 million records.

  4. Smarthash enables you to split test your hashtags to Discover which tags are performing for you on Instagram Engage and Reply to Your Audience with the Best Commenting experience available. Schedule your Posts and get notified when it's time to Publish on Instagram

Stories Editing Tools

Most popular stories editing tools creators prefer

"My sexyness and more Stories." — Unknown Influencer

Key findings

  • Instagram Stories has only been around for a few years, but it already managed to gain huge popularity, enjoyed by more than 500 million daily.

  • Stories are extremely important to make stronger connections with your audience. 2.5% of Influencers use Story editing tools.

  • The most popular tools are Unfold (41.24%) and Mojo (17.62%).

Stories editing tools description

  1. Unfold: create your story with 150+ templates from collections like Film Frames and Ripped Paper. Use advanced text tools with curated fonts and add unique stickers. Capture your content with the Unfold Camera and edit with 10 filters and effects. Export your stories in high resolution for seamless sharing to other platforms.

  2. Mojo: to create stunning Video Stories, all you'll need is to choose an animated template, add your media + texts, and customize it to your liking.

Facebook Creator Studio

Creator Studio is a valuable tool and you can access it if you switch to a Creator account. It allows you to track and manage content performance, even across different Pages if you manage many. The inbox view allows you to manage comments and messages directly from within Creator Studio. 2.5% of Influencers use Facebook Creator Studio.

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Want to partner with influencers who will be right for your brand?
Find the best creators with HypeAuditor Influencer Discovery and its 137.6M+ account database.
Nick is a marketing and research specialist at HypeAuditor, with a passion for exploring social media trends and uncovering insights to help businesses make informed decisions, recognized by leading publications and events for his expertise in influencer marketing and dedicated to driving innovation in the dynamic world of social media.
Topics:Instagram Building your personal brand
December 17, 2019
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Nick is a marketing and research specialist at HypeAuditor, with a passion for exploring social media trends and uncovering insights to help businesses make informed decisions, recognized by leading publications and events for his expertise in influencer marketing and dedicated to driving innovation in the dynamic world of social media.
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Want to partner with influencers who will be right for your brand?
Find the best creators with HypeAuditor Influencer Discovery and its 137.6M+ account database.