With over a billion monthly users in 2022, Instagram is one of the most popular social media channels. For businesses and individuals looking to build their brand, it’s essential to have a strong presence on Instagram.
If you are looking for ways to grow your Instagram followers, you’re in luck. There are plenty of things you can do to increase your following and help you get more people on Instagram interested in what you have to say.
In this article, we’ll discuss 15 of our top ways to help you get more Instagram followers.
- Step 1: Decide what your goals are for your IG account
- Step 2: Develop a content strategy
- Step 3: Design your profile for maximum reach and engagement
- Step 4: Share photos that are interesting and targeted to your audience
- Step 5: Write long and engaging image captions for your posts
- Step 6: Use popular and relevant hashtags
- Step 7: Create a consistent posting schedule
- Step 8: Find and follow your target users
- Step 9: Grow your audience quickly by ‘buying’ followers.
- Step 10: Become an active member on Instagram
- Step 11: Collaborate with other users or brands on joint projects
- Step 12: Host a contest or giveaway
- Step 13: Run Instagram ads to reach a larger audience
- Step 14: Share your Instagram profile with your offline customer
- Step 15: Review what’s working and what’s not so you can continue to optimize your profile
What is Instagram and how has it evolved?
Instagram is a platform that allows users to share photos and videos. The app has been incredibly popular since it launched in 2010, and it now has over one billion active monthly users.
Instagram has evolved in a number of ways over the years, adding new features such as Instagram Stories, Reels, live videos, and shopping.
The platform has also been increasingly focused on curating content for users, rather than relying on them to find content themselves. This has led to a more diverse range of content being available on Instagram, making it an even more essential tool for both individuals and businesses.
As Instagram continues to grow, it will be fascinating to see how the platform further evolves.
Step 1: Decide what your goals are for your IG account
The first step in growing your following is to decide what your goals are for the social network.
Are you looking to build your brand? Drive traffic to your website? Sell products or services? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start developing a content strategy to get you to your goals.
Here are some example goals:
- Increase brand awareness
- Reach a wider audience
- Generate leads
- Drive sales
- Build loyalty and relationships with customers
- Collect customer feedback and insights
- Launch a new product
The important thing here is to set a goal. Without having a plan from the start, how will you measure the effectiveness of your results?
Step 2: Develop a content strategy
Now that you know what your goal is, it’s time to develop a content strategy. This will help you determine what kind of content you should be sharing on your account.
Your content strategy should take into account a number of factors, including your ideal customer, the platform you’re using, and your business goals. You’ll also need to think about what kind of tone you want to set with your content.
Note: If you need some ideas on how to increase your presence online, here are a few to get you started. How can I increase my online presence in 2022
Here are some ideas to get you started.
- If you’re a business selling products, you’ll want to share photos and videos that showcase your products in use. You can also share behind-the-scenes content, product info, or special offers.
- If you’re looking to build your brand, you’ll want to share content that tells a story about your brand. This can include photos and videos that highlight your company’s culture, values, and mission. You can also share customer testimonials, case studies, or interviews with industry experts.
- If you’re looking to generate leads, you’ll want to share content that will capture people’s attention and get them to sign up for your email list or contact you for more information. This can include blog posts, eBooks, whitepapers, infographics, or webinars.
- If you’re looking to drive sales, you’ll want to share content that highlights your products or services and makes it easy for people to buy from you. This can include product photos and videos, links to your website or online store, or coupon codes.
Step 3: Design your profile for maximum engagement
Once you know what kind of content you’re going to be sharing, it’s time to design your profile for maximum engagement. This means creating a profile that is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Here are some tips:
- Choose a profile photo that represents your brand or business. If you’re a personal brand, you can use a headshot. If you’re a business, you can use your company logo.
- Use relevant keywords in your Instagram bio to help people find you when they’re searching for those terms. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, you might use the keywords “wedding photography” or “wedding photographer.”
- Include a call-to-action in your bio to encourage people to take the next step, whether that’s visiting your website, signing up for your email list, or following you on another platform.
- Use hashtags in your posts to make it easier for people to find your Instagram content. They can also help you reach a wider audience.
- Make sure your website URL is included in your bio. This will make it easy for people to find your website when they’re looking for more information about you or your business.
Making your profile interesting and clear is what will allow your followers to find and engage further with you or your brand.
How to craft an impactful Instagram bio for business
There’s more to a great Instagram photo than just taking a snapshot with your phone. If you want your photos to stand out and attract an engaged audience, there are a few steps you can take to up your game.
First, think about what kind of message you want to communicate with your photo. Are you trying to show off your new product, share a behind-the-scenes look at your business, or promote an upcoming event? Keep your audience in mind as you compose your shot – what will they be most interested in seeing?
Next, take some time to consider the aesthetics of your photo. A well-designed Instagram grid is visually appealing and can be achieved by using consistent filters, colors, and compositions. Pay attention to the details in your photo – from the angle of the shot to the background – to create a cohesive look.
Finally, don’t forget to add some personality to your photos! Whether it’s a playful caption or a creative hashtag, a little bit of individuality will help you connect with your followers and make your brand more memorable.
Now that you’ve learned how to create an overall theme for your Instagram posts, here are some resources that may help you do it:
Don’t forget to post with a purpose
Use original images: Your potential followers aren’t interested in stock photos. This is your chance to showcase yourself and your personality.
Make sure your photos are what your audience wants to see and engage with.
Always provide a call to action every time you post on Instagram. Now, this doesn’t have to be to ‘buy’ something necessarily.
It can be to respond, answer a question, sign up for your email, etc. But if they are taking the time to read your post, provide them an opportunity to engage further.
Don’t forget to use Geotagging to help with reach.
Geotagging is the process of adding location-based metadata to photos or videos. This information can include the latitude and longitude of where the photo was taken, as well as the name of the city, state, or country.
For businesses, geotagging can be one of the best ways to gain new customers. When potential customers search for businesses in their area, geotagged photos and videos will appear in the results.
This makes it more likely that they will visit your business, which can help you increase sales. Geotagging can also help you to connect with other businesses in your area.
By tagging your photos and videos with your location, you can connect with other businesses that are nearby and form partnerships or collaborations.
Here’s how to use it:
Step 5: Write long and engaging image captions for your posts
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on the written word
when it comes to your social media posts. In fact, crafting long and engaging image captions can be a great way to connect with your audience and give them a better sense of your brand.
Instagram allows up to 2200 characters, so take advantage of that to share something worth reading.
To write effective image captions, start by using keywords and hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Then, focus on creating captions that are both informative and entertaining, always including a call to action.
Above all, don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of captions to see what works best for your brand.
With a little practice, you’ll be writing image captions that are sure to engage and delight your Instagram users.
As any social media user knows, hashtags can be a great way to connect with like-minded people and join in on relevant conversations.
When it comes to promoting your business on Instagram, using popular and appropriate keywords is a key part of getting your content getting noticed by your audience.
They can help you reach new users who are interested in the topics you’re sharing, and they can also help you get featured in popular Instagram feeds.
To find the right hashtags for your business, start by searching for popular industry-related terms and relevant keywords.
Instagram Hashtags 2022: The Ultimate Guide
You can also check out what other businesses in your industry are using, and keep an eye on trending topics that might be relevant to your business.
When you use tags, make sure to use a mix of both popular and niche tags to reach the widest audience possible.
They can be used to categorize posts by topic, location, or event mood.
Here are a few other ways tags can be sorted:
- By brand or influencer
- By product
- By event
- By Community
While this may seem like a simple concept, there is more to using them effectively than meets the eye.
Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using tags on Instagram:
1. Use relevant, targeted tags. Don’t just use popular ones that are unrelated to your content – this will not help you reach your ideal customer. Instead, use tags that are specific to your niche or industry. For example, if you’re a travel blogger, you might use tags like #travelblogger or #wanderlust.
2. Use a mix of popular and niched tags. While it’s important to use targeted hashtags, you should also mix in some popular ones as well. This will help you reach a wider audience, while still appealing to those who are interested in your specific niche. For example, you might use both #travel and #travelblogger.
3. Data shows that even though Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, the sweet spot is 3 to 5 per post.
One way is to use the search bar. Simply type in a word or phrase that describes what you’re looking for, and Instagram will provide a list of related tags.
Another way to find relevant tags is to look at the tags that other users are using.
To do this, simply visit a profile that you’re interested in and take a look at the hashtags they’re using. Finally, you can also use third-party apps and websites to find popular hashtags.
These tools usually have databases of popular hashtags that you can browse through. By using these methods, you should be able to find plenty of relevant tags to use on Instagram.
Step 7: Create a consistent posting schedule
Posting regularly on social media is important for maintaining engagement with your audience.
However, it can be difficult to keep up with a consistent posting schedule, especially if you are managing multiple accounts. One way to stay on track is to create a social media calendar.
This can be as simple as a table with the days of the week listed across the top and the different platforms you use listed down the side.
Then, all you need to do is decide what content you want to post and when. Planning your content in advance will help to ensure that you are posting regularly, without spending hours every day scrolling through your feed.
It can also help you to mix things up and keep your audience engaged, by planning different types of content for each platform.
For Instagram, it’s suggested to post between 3-7 times per week at a minimum. Which includes posts, stories, and Instagram reels. Mix it up and do some testing to see what works best for you and your viewers.
Once you have some data, you’ll be able to schedule the best time to post for your audience and increase your Instagram engagement.
Step 8: Find, follow and grow your Instagram followers
The easiest way to find your target users is to take a look at who is following your competitors or brands in your industry.
First, do a search for one of your competitors that will be has a large following.
Once, you’ve got one, take a look at their number of followers and the engagement they are getting on their content.
These will typically be people that may be interested in the topic you both share, so the chances of them following you are increased.
Start following them. You should do this with multiple leaders or influencers in your niche.
Step 9: Another way that you’ve probably heard to grow your audience quickly is to ‘buy’ followers.
There are pros and cons to buying followers on Instagram. One pro is that it can help increase your visibility and reach.
If you have a lot of organic followers, people are more likely to see your posts and maybe even follow you back. This can help you gain new real followers organically.
Another pro is that it can help you build social proof.
If potential followers see that you already have a lot of real Instagram followers, they may be more likely to follow you as well. They’ll think, “If all these other people are following them, they must be worth following.”
On the other hand, there are some potential negative consequences of buying fake followers on your business account. One is that it may make you look desperate or spammy.
If people notice that you have a lot of fake or inactive followers, they may be less likely to follow you. Another con is that it could hurt your engagement levels.
If most of your followers are fake, they’re not going to interact with your content (likes, comments, shares).
This could cause Instagram’s algorithm to decrease the reach of your posts, making it harder for genuine followers to see your content. So, there are pros and cons to buying Instagram followers.
Now, there are also tons of different Instagram growth services out there, and many of them work great. You just want to make sure you understand ‘how’ they plan to help grow your profile and if the followers are fake, what could be the long-term consequences from it.
So weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision like this for your account.
Step 10: Become an active member of the community
First, take the time to engage with other users. Like and comment on their photos and videos. This is a great way to start and get to know others in the community.
Second, share your own photos and videos regularly. This is how you’ll build up your following and become known in the community.
Third, be active in the Stories feature. Build engagement with others and share what’s going on in your life.
Fourth, use hashtags. They are a great way to connect with others who have similar interests.
Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to other users directly. If you see someone whose work you admire, send them a message and start a conversation.
Start small and work your way up to more and more engagement. You’ll find your Instagram community will grow and so will your audience.
Step 11: Collaborate with other users or brands on joint projects
When it comes to getting more followers on Instagram, partnering with other Instagram Influencers is a great way to get there.
By partnering with other users, you can tap into their following and funnel it into yours. Cross-promoted content is highly effective for a few key reasons: first and foremost, we trust the recommendations of our peers.
Secondly, we rely on consensus and the opinions of others to influence our actions – including purchase decisions and who to follow online.
When users see that someone they trust has recommended your account, they are much more likely to follow you.
So if you’re looking to jumpstart your Instagram growth, partnering with other users can be a way to go!
Step 12: Host a contest or giveaway
If you want to grow your account quickly, you may be considering giving away a freebie. While this can be an effective tactic, it requires some strategy and preparation to be successful.
First, you need to decide what kind of freebie you will offer. It should be something that is relevant to your brand and that your target audience will find valuable.
- Who is your target audience?
- What kind of freebie would they be interested in?
- How will you promote the contest or challenge?
- And most importantly, how will you choose a winner?
Next, you need to create a plan for promoting the freebie. This includes things like coming up with a catchy hashtag, posting eye-catching graphics, and promoting the giveaway on other social media platforms.
Finally, you need to make sure you have a system in place for selecting a winner and delivering the prize.
With some careful planning, giving away a freebie can be a great way to attract new followers and grow your Instagram account quickly.
Step 13: Run Instagram ads to reach a larger audience
If you’re looking to reach a larger audience on Instagram, sometimes the best course of action is to simply pay to get in front of new people.
By running ads on Instagram, you can tap into Facebook’s massive user base and get your content in front of a whole new group of potential customers or followers.
And because Instagram is now owned by Facebook, running ads on the platform is as easy as using Facebook’s ad manager tool.
If you’re not familiar with how to use the ad manager, don’t worry – you can learn everything here: Build your business on Instagram.
So many business owners forget that there is a great opportunity to connect their online and offline marketing efforts for a wider reach.
If you’re not taking advantage of this, you are missing out.
So why not take advantage of it by adding your Instagram handle (or another social media platform) to the packaging?
This way, if someone likes your product, they can easily find you online and follow you. You could also add a QR code that links to your Instagram profile.
Another offline interaction that you can leverage is in-person events.
If you host or attend an industry event, make sure to bring along some branded swag like stickers, buttons, or postcards.
You can hand these out to people you meet and connect with them on social media afterward. Just be sure to include your username or website URL so they can easily find you.
You could put up signs or flyers that list your social media handles or website URL. Or you could include this information on your packaging or receipts.
If you take steps like these, you’ll be surprised at how much your offline interactions can help grow your online presence.
Step 15: Review what’s working and what’s not so you can continue to optimize your profile
As anyone who has tried to market on Instagram knows, it is a constantly changing platform.
What worked to grow your following last week may not work this week. That’s why it’s important to track which methods are working for you and adjust your strategy as needed.
The best measure of success on Instagram is how engaged and loyal of a following you have. Having hundreds of thousands of followers who don’t take the time to interact with your content is pointless.
Pay attention to key performance indicators like click-through rate and engagement rate to see how effective your marketing strategy is.
You also want to make note of your follower growth to see which tactics and strategies are getting you the best results. You can view your Instagram insights on your dashboard.
With a little trial and error, you can grow successful Instagram marketing strategies that will help you increase your following.
Conclusion:
So, what can you do to start growing your Instagram following today? The tips we’ve shared in this article provide a great place to start. But remember, the most important thing is to be constantly testing and tweaking your strategy to find what works best for you.
By following these steps and paying attention to key performance indicators, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful Instagram account that attracts engaged and loyal followers.
