Instagram has become the cornerstone of business social presence. It’s a unique platform that allows for building an engaged audience, boosting conversions, and improving your overall bottom line. The larger your audience grows, the more opportunities you’ll have to grow your brand, enhance brand reputation, and outperform your competitors.
If your Instagram presence isn’t as robust as you’d hoped, it might be time to learn a few tips and tricks for increasing your followers.
Establish a Visual Identity
Having a well-planned feed with coherent and visually appealing aesthetics can help you grab the users’ attention and convert them into followers. First, choose a theme that best represents your brand and story. Then, plan the post and ensure they relate to each other and provide real value to your followers.
Optimize Your Account
Optimizing your account is important when trying to get Instagram followers. Use the same handle and profile image across other social media platforms to establish a brand identity. Also, write a compelling bio that communicates what your brand is about and what makes you stand out from the competition. You can also include one link, so make sure it drives traffic to a relevant page. Since the bio allows only 150 characters, consider organizing your past Stories into Highlights to showcase important information about your brand.
Post at the Right Times
The Instagram algorithm shows users more content they like. However, posting at the right times can still guarantee more visibility by boosting the overall engagement they receive. Analyze your posts’ performance to discover when is your audience more active and engaged. Consider scheduling the posts in advance to streamline the process and maintain a consistent content flow.
Use Hashtags to Your Advantage
Using relevant hashtags can help people find your content easier when searching or after clicking on a hashtag from another relevant post. Users can also follow hashtags which is another excellent opportunity to reach a new audience. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, so you need to choose them wisely. Go for those that aren’t overcrowded and focus on niche hashtags related to your brand.
Showcase Your Account Everywhere
Creating visibility and awareness is one of the top ways to get noticed. If you want to increase your following, make sure people know where to find you. Add social media buttons to your website and blog to prompt people to check your Instagram account and promote social shares. Additionally, leverage other social media platforms to direct users to your IG account. Lastly, add a link to your account in the email footer or signature.
Tap Into Reels
Instagram Reels are captivating videos that can help you express your brand’s personality. Reels also appear on the Explore page, offering a vast potential for reaching new audiences. To create successful Reels, you should focus on simplicity and uniqueness. Always strive to provide value and be relatable to your audience. Even if you hop on an existing trend, offer a fresh perspective or a unique twist to increase the chances of going viral.
Collaborate With Others
Collaborations are a perfect chance to attract a hyper-targeted audience. Instagram introduced the feature called Collabs, which lets you co-author posts. If you hope to keep the collaboration low-budget, consider micro-influencers. They have a more engaged audience than larger accounts but a more affordable price tag. Another budget-friendly option is brand ambassadors. These people already support your brand and would share it with their followers for a small incentive.
Post Shareable Content
Instagram users tend to re-share high-quality and relatable content. If someone embeds your posts in their blog, you can reach a whole new audience. Additionally, anyone can re-share your feed posts to their Story. This is clickable, so people may click through to the original post and potentially start following you. So, take time to curate original and appealing imagery for memes, infographics, or educational posts.
Run Contests
Many popular brands use Instagram contests to gain more followers. Existing users who tag a friend for a chance to win anything will attract new users who you may be able to convert into followers. To organize a successful Instagram contest, offer a product or service that appeals to the target audience, and write a caption that encourages them to tag other relevant users who may be genuinely interested in what you have to offer.
Final Words
Growing your Instagram opens the door to more opportunities for reaching your overall business goals. Focus on building long-term relationships with your followers by posting high-quality and relatable content and optimizing your IG presence. The key is to be true to your brand and provide real value.
