As one of the largest social media platforms, Instagram is not only a great way to connect with friends and family, but it has also become a powerful tool to grow a business. But growing your Instagram following quickly isn’t as easy as it once was.
Even though gaining new followers can be tough, there are still some proven strategies that successful businesses and marketing agencies use to quickly gain an authentic audience on Instagram. Discover these 8 proven techniques to acquiring more Instagram followers and start implementing them today.
Use Trending Instagram formats
In the ever-changing world of social media, a good growth strategy that worked a few years ago, may not necessarily work today. It’s important to stay tuned in to the changes social media platforms are making to be effective in your growth strategy.
If you have been paying attention at all to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, you would notice the increase in videos and Instagram Reels. Because of TikTok’s short-form video platform and its almost instant success, Instagram took notice and introduced Instagram Reels in 2019. Just as Instagram Stories was the platform’s response to Snapchat in 2016. But now it’s all about Reels.
Since then, Reels have taken center stage in growing your Instagram following quickly and effectively. Even to the untrained eye, anyone can see Reels are currently favored by the Instagram algorithm. Meaning if you post Reels, Instagram is more likely to feed your content to potential new Instagram followers than if you just posted a regular feed post.
To create Instagram Reels, it can be as simple as stitching some photos together with music and adding an eye-catching caption. Or a quick five-second video you took with your phone, paired with music can work as well.
The key here is to remember to always pay attention to changing social media trends. It may feel like jumping on the bandwagon, but the rewards for getting on are huge.
Posting Regularly
Posting consistently is probably one of the oldest, tried-and-true tactics to growing your followers on Instagram. Sticking to a consistent posting schedule keeps you top-of-mind with your followers, and your potential followers. Using a social media content calendar and an Instagram scheduling tool can help keep your posts consistent.
Optimize relevant #hashtags
Hashtags are still a great way to expand your online reach and appear in search results, which is important to any Instagram marketing strategy. Choosing relevant hashtags to use puts you on that hashtag’s page. So, anyone who clicks on that hashtag will see your post, even if they aren’t followers.
Plus, users can follow hashtags, so the hashtags they are interested in appear in their main feed. Even if they don’t follow you directly, a user may follow a hashtag relevant to your business, creating a highly targeted user that is more likely to follow your account.
When determining what hashtags to include, keep in mind that the most popular ones aren’t always the best to use. Instead, think of using highly targeted, niche hashtags and relevant keywords with a decent following.
Remember not to overuse hashtags. Keep your selection to branded hashtags, hashtags relevant to that specific post and a few popular general hashtags related to your business.
Engagement, Engagement, Engagement
Engagement is still key to growing your social media accounts. Instagram rewards those who don’t just post and walk away. They like to see users who post and interact with other accounts. This can be anything from liking a post or reel to commenting on and following other accounts.
Using engagement as a growth strategy is one of the best ways to grow Instagram followers organically. By engaging, you naturally bring attention to your account and in turn increase the chance of adding new followers. The more time you spend engaging with the right people, the faster your following will grow.
Remember, Instagram, above all else, is a social network. It was designed for its users to be social, to interact with one another. So, why not use the platform for what it was originally designed to do?
Host an Instagram account takeover
Collaborate with other creators, influencers, and businesses by hosting an Instagram account takeover. Find an influencer that speaks to your brand and have them take over your account for a short amount of time.
If the influencer’s followers are highly engaged and are true “followers” of the account, they will in turn, be “influenced” to follow your account. On the other hand, you can ask an influencer to take over their Instagram account and engage with their audience to promote your business.
Get on the Instagram Explore page
With Instagram expected to have almost 1.2 billion monthly active users, getting on the Instagram Explore page can increase your brand’s visibility exponentially. Nearly half of the platform’s users visit the Explore page daily, creating the potential to get in front of a lot of new followers interested in your content.
The Explore page is meant to display content relevant to what the user is searching for. So, your account has the potential to show up in front of those who are most likely to be interested in your content. Their interest is already there, meaning there is a greater chance you can turn those users into followers.
Tag relevant accounts
Another great way to grow your Instagram following is to tag relevant accounts. When you tag others in your posts, Instagram Stories or Reels, your content will then show up in that account’s tagged posts. For example, if you are a furniture design company and collaborated with a local interior design firm, tag them in your posts. Then their followers will come across your page when searching their tagged posts.
Promote your Instagram page
Yes, your business Instagram page promotes your business, but you also in turn should promote your Instagram page. If you have a company website, be sure to put a social link to your account page so it’s easy for them to find and follow you. Popular places to put this link is in your website’s footer or “About Us” page.
Business cards are another place to promote your Instagram page. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, promote following you on Instagram in person. Have a QR code they can use to directly access your account from their phones. This also works well if you are at a trade show, craft fair, or anywhere you may have a temporary brand placement.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to promote your Instagram account on your other social media platforms. If they are following you on Facebook or YouTube, most likely they will follow you on Instagram without even thinking twice about it.
Conclusion
Above all else, when planning your Instagram growth strategy be weary of advertisers claiming they can grow your followers overnight. Sometimes these can be fake accounts or accounts asking you to buy followers. While it isn’t illegal to buy followers, this often results in fake followers or inactive accounts. It’s best to avoid the shortcuts and stick to proven strategies that will attract authentic followers.
Remember, organic reach is still possible on Instagram. Your approach should be to maintain a balance of tried-and-true tactics and using current trends to your advantage. But always keep in mind to pay attention to what works best for your brand. Keep learning as you grow, and your followers will come to you.
