Want to Become a History Influencer?
Here are my Top 10 tips for becoming a successful History Influencer on Instagram
Yesterday morning I was overjoyed to discover that I had been named as one of the Top 45 UK History influencers of 2025! To say that I was over the moon was an understatement. Never in a million years did I think my Instagram profile would be placed alongside so many talented historians and bloggers; many of whom inspired my love of history, and continue to do so to this day. If you haven’t already done so, then I highly recommend that you check out the other forty-four influencers who are listed - believe me, you won’t be disappointed!
Within the midst of the chaos which was COVID-19, I decided to set up my Instagram profile ‘historic_leigh_speaking’ purely on a whim. I had attempted to set up other history-themed pages in the past, yet I soon ran out of steam and deleted them after uploading two or three meagre posts.
But this time was going to be different - I could feel it in my bones! I promised myself that I would remain committed to this profile, not matter how downcast or unmotivated I felt. I planned to engage with as many history lovers as possible, as well as share my love for the past with anyone who would give me the time of day. It was daunting to say the least, but I’m proud to say that five years later ‘historic_leigh_speaking’ is still going strong, and being acknowledged for my perseverance makes all the hard work and self-doubt pay off!
Of course, being a social media influencer isn’t always a piece of cake. I have encountered many challenges over the years, and continue to learn and develop as I delve further into the social media world. There have been many occasions where the ‘delete’ button has looked very tempting.
Yet I’m so glad that I never listened to the little devil on my shoulder, who encouraged me to give up and believe in my inadequacies, because the benefits have certainly outweighed the negatives. I have connected with so many incredible people; have sparked a love of history in others, and enjoyed so many opportunities which wouldn’t have been possible without the aid of social media.
Therefore, if you’re thinking of setting up your own history-inspired social media page, here are my top ten tips on how to overcome the obstacles, attract a following, and ultimately flourish as a badass history influencer in your own right! I am by no means an expert, nor the best in the field, but if these insights into my own experiences can help in any way then I’m more than happy to share.
Pick your passion
This one sounds pretty obvious, but I cannot stress it enough! If you’re thinking of starting a history page on Instagram then please, please, please focus on something you’re passionate about. Discussing subjects which don’t interest you will rub off on your audience. In other words, if you find your content ‘meh’, then they’ll find it ‘meh’ too!
For instance, military history isn’t really my thing, so I leave that topic for the experts. On the other hand, women’s and popular history is my jam, so unsurprisingly, these topics make up some of my post popular posts. If I want to attract people to my content, then I have to upload posts which I’m enthusiastic and knowledgable about. What’s more, because maintaining an Instagram page takes up a considerable amount of time, I want to enjoy creating the content I make. If you try to produce content which doesn’t particularly interest you, then you’ll soon become incredibly bored and that delete button will appeal to you pretty quickly!
My dissertation research into the portrayal of Kathryn Howard in popular culture had me hooked! So naturally I posted about it a lot on my Instagram page, which sparked many fascinating conversations with other history fans.
2. Plan in advance
Ok, so you’ve picked a historical subject which you’re immensely passionate about and you’re all riled up to go! That’s great! Just hold your horses for a moment and take a breather. Believe me, as much as you consider me a party-pooper right now, you’ll thank me for this later…
Maintaining a successful social media page takes an awful lot of time, dedication and effort, especially if it’s a history page which involves a lot of research. Now I’m not saying that you’ll be reading academic articles and writing mini essays every week! But regardless of your passion or expertise, you’ll find that a history-based platform requires an awful lot of reading and research for you to remain up-to-date and inspired for new content.
To avoid a burn-out, I highly suggest that you plan posts in advance before setting up your profile. That way you will have pre-prepared posts available to simply submit, for whenever you want to take time out and focus on other important things in life, whilst also continuing to update your page regularly. When life gets in the way and other factors take precedence, then planning in advance takes the stress away and allows you to take a step back when the enthusiasm you’re feeling now slumps a little.
3. Post regularly… but not too much!
Yes, I’m aware that this is another annoying tip! It’s contradictory and confusing I know, but hear me out.
It’s great to upload new content at least once or twice a week, as it keeps your followers interested and proves to them that you’re reliable; it implies that you’re worth a follow, and helps increase awareness for your site. Consider it as an exchange, where followers boost awareness for your profile through likes, comments and shares, in return for fun, entertaining and regular historical uploads.
However, try and maintain a timetable which suits you. Intending to post every day is unrealistic and encourages burn-out. Make sure you enjoy life away from social media and don’t pressurise yourself into maintaining to an unmaintainable schedule. Your followers wouldn’t turn against you if you take a little longer to post - they just want you to enjoy sharing your passion with them, so make sure that your enthusiasm doesn’t become a burden.
4. Learn from, engage with, and encourage others
Interacting with my followers has been one of the most rewarding experiences of being a history influencer. I’m forever grateful to everyone who takes the time out to like my work, comment on my page, or share my profile with others. Whether they’re historians, enthusiasts or amateurs, your followers can be some of the most encouraging and supportive people you’ll ever meet on your influencer journey.
As well as supporting my profile through likes, shares and follows, followers on my Instagram page have proven to be an infinite source of knowledge. I have learned so much from them, whether it be historical facts or how to improve my social media content. Becoming a history influencer isn’t a one-way street - your audience can enlighten you as much as you enlighten them, thus making you a better historian and content creator. Don’t ever take them for granted, and if you can encourage and promote their work too, then please do so! The history community on Instagram is so welcoming, that you’ll soon be making friends with history lovers around the world!
5. Proofread and edit
I always make mistakes in my posts, especially when typing on my phone. Predictive text is the bane of my life, as well as the best thing since sliced bread! Therefore, I highly encourage you all to proofread your posts before uploading them, to correct any spelling mistakes or typos which are bound to worm themselves into your writing (it happens to us all!). The odd mistake isn’t the end of the world, but constant errors in your writing can put viewers off.
If however, you find a little cheeky error after publishing then don’t stress! The beauty of Instagram is that you can edit your posts after they go public, so if you or one of your readers encounter a lil slip-up, it can be remedied in a flash. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to use this feature - it’s a lifesaver!
6. Acknowledge and learn from your mistakes
No historian is perfect! We all get facts wrong sometimes, because believe it or not, we’re only human. So sometimes we post things which aren’t 100% accurate, despite our attempts to avoid this. I remember posting about Blackpool Tower after it was reported to be on fire… only to be told by many of my followers that I had jumped the gun, and that the supposed flames was merely orange netting blowing in the wind. How hilarious and mortifying at the same time! I quickly had to change my tune and admit my mistake, which was hugely appreciated by my readers. If you find yourself in a similar situation, then don’t be afraid to hold your hands up and admit that you got it wrong. Your followers will actually respect you for it, because it proves that you listen to them and are willing to take their suggestions on board to improve your work.
The supposed ‘burning’ of Blackpool Tower in 2023, which was thankfully just orange netting blowing in the breeze… (BBC News).
7. Be approachable
Not only is it good to learn from your followers and grow your knowledge and expertise through them - it is also hugely rewarding to engage with them and thank them for their support. I appreciate that it’s harder for more popular historians and influencers to keep on top of audience engagement, as it’s unreasonable to expect them to reply to thousands of comments and DMs every day.
However, if it’s possible to do so, then I highly recommend that you respond to as many comments and messages as possible, especially if it’s to complement your work, make a suggestion, or ask a question. Not only do you build strong connections to your followers by regularly communicating with them, but you also build a more loyal fanbase, because who doesn’t appreciate someone who goes out of their way to thank them for their support? Any responses from you proves to your audience that you don’t take them for granted, and that you appreciate their interactions on your page.
8. Block the haters
Sadly this is one of the pitfalls of social media. Trolls and haters are an unavoidable factor when posting on the internet, with many keyboard warriors making it their mission to undermine and pull people down - even towards historians who just want to inspire, educate and entertain others. Whenever you encounter a nasty internet troll, don’t be afraid to block and/or report them straight away! You’ll probably find that they’ve targeted other historians too, or have randomly targeted you because they don’t have a life, so don’t give them the time of day and don’t let their spitefulness get to you. No horrible criticism or comment will ever define you as a historian, or as a person. For every one internet bully you’ll encounter, I can assure you that you’ll find a million others who will champion, applaud and appreciate your work. So don’t let the haters bring you down, and use the power of the blocking feature whenever you need to.
9. Take time out and don’t do everything for the likes
As I’ve kinda hinted at earlier, there will be times when your social media profile needs to take a back seat - and there is no shame in that! If anything, I highly encourage all history influencers to always prioritise their physical and mental health, and go on a little hiatus if needs be. There have been many occasions where life has become a little chaotic for me, and maintaining a social media presence just hasn’t been a priority. It is absolutely fine to take time out and go offline for a while. Your followers will still be there to welcome you back whenever you feel ready.
Similarly, don’t feel that every book you read, every event you go to, or every historical site you visit has to be featured on your Instagram page. If anything, please read a book or visit a site without posting it on social media. Sometimes the pressure to post new content can be all-consuming , with the pressure to read and review a book on time, or photograph every angle of a historical building to share online, quickly dampening my enjoyment of what made me fall in love with history in the first place. So read a history book because you want to! And visit a museum without whipping your phone out every five minutes! In other words, don’t always do it for the likes - do it for you, because you want to.
10. Don’t give up!
This tip is a given, but it is the most important. The biggest challenge I faced when setting up a history profile was my insecurities and self-doubt. I was forever telling myself to give up and delete the page, especially during the early days when tumbleweed rolled through the comments section and I received a like a month. I felt like I was posting into a void, which strengthened by belief that no one wanted to engage with my content. And you may feel that too - but please don’t give up! Keep going and keep believing in yourself! You’ll get there eventually, and soon enough your confidence and audience will grow. By maintaining the passion, knowledge, positive attitude and right balance, you too will find yourself listed as one of the top history influencers.
Many thanks for your interesting article, Leigh! I would be interested to hear why you choose Instagram & Substack as your tools for communicating & whether you see yourself as an "influencer" or not 😀
I think in some aspects the term 'influencer' has negative connotations. I actually had to come of IG as it wouldn't stop pushing OF models. I wish there was more people like you on there actually educating and inspiring. Thankfully I found substack. And I'd say you're definitely an influencer, but a positive one ☺️