Instagram was bought by Facebook for a cool one billion dollars. That’s a one with nine zeros behind it… Wowza! Since then, the company has hit their stride with just about everyone and their mother jumping onto the growing platform. With the increase of users on Instagram, many are seeking ways to use it as a marketing platform and grow their following.
There are many ways to do this, but it takes a plan to grow a following effectively:
Tip #1: Good impression starts with your profile
We all know how important first impressions are in real life, whether we’re meeting a new person or doing a job interview. A bad first impression can be disastrous: it can close doors and narrow your opportunities. On Instagram, the first impression can make the difference between somebody stopping to check out your content and giving you a follow, or passing on you entirely. So, how does one make a good impression? The answer is with your profile. You profile is the very first thing that anybody sees when they visit your page. This includes your name, profile picture, and bio. You want to make sure these areas are as polished they can be.
Tip #2: Embedding Instagram posts in Blogs
A great way to entice your website visitors to follow you on Instagram is by embedding your Instagram posts onto your website or blog. This allows your visitors to see your post and interact with it right on your page. And by clicking the Instagram logo on the post, they’ll be taken to Instagram where they can check out your other content…and potentially follow you.
Tip #3: Organize Stories into Highlights
Whenever a potential follower lands on your profile, you have a short span of time to convince them to follow you. One way to do this is by using the “Highlights” feature on your profile to organize your Instagram Stories in a way that communicates what your account is about. Since Stories have a 24-hour lifespan, Highlights can be used to give them a second-life and entice others to follow you so they don’t miss out on more Stories in the future.
Tip #4: Use geotags for Local Discoverability
This is particularly important if you want to attract local followers. When you geotag your photos, other users who have also geotagged their photos with the same location are more likely to see your posts (and to potentially follow you). It will also mean your posts show up when someone searches for that location, giving you greater exposure and helping you build up your local follower base.
Tip #5: Use Instagram Analytics
One of the key ways to grow your Instagram following is to post high-quality content that your followers like and would engage with. How do you know what your followers like? Again, Instagram Insights provides the data for you to understand which posts your followers like the most:
In the Instagram app, tap on your profile photo.
Tap on the Instagram Insights (bar chart) icon.
Scroll down to the “Posts” section and tap on “See more”
Here, you’ll see your top posts sorted by impressions. You can tap on the sentence at the top of the page and change the filters according. For example, you could instead see your top videos in the past three months sorted by comments.
Tip #6: Always Leave Thoughtful Comments
Liking other people’s photos is great. But leaving thoughtful comments is even better. As you interact with people’s content, they’ll be more inclined to interact with you and to want to know more about you. Don’t leave comments asking people to follow you. Instead, leave a comment that says what you like about their photo. This will make your comment stand out from all the cookie cutter remarks and generic likes.
Tip #7: Promote your Instagram Channel on other Social Accounts
Spread the word about your Instagram channel as far as possible. For instance, promote your Instagram account on Facebook by making an announcement on FB with a clickable link to your Instagram page. You can also exploit Instagram’s auto-post and cross-promotional tools. The cross-promotional tools allow you to instantly post from Instagram to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more, bringing followers together from across your social networks.
Conclusion
When it comes to Instagram for your business or brand, organic is the way to grow. It may take a little longer than buying followers, but rest assured, organic growth will yield better results in the long run. To really help foster organic growth, remember these key points:
Have an identity: A clear profile pic, bio, and a distinct style in your feed will all help get you noticed and garner follows.
Connection is key: Engaging with your followers and other accounts in your niche is one of the most effective ways to grow organically.
Help people find you: Using hashtags and adding your location to posts can help Instagram users find your account.
At QQSumo, we can help you make your social media goals become a reality in a realistic and sustainable way. We’re committed to helping you determine the best practices and approach for your specific brand so that you can grow Instagram followers fast!
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