7 Secrets to Getting More Instagram Followers
As you have probably discovered, expanding your reach on Instagram is not as easy as it sounds. There is more to it than posting cool photos, liking a few others, and hoping that people somehow notice you and decide to click the “follow” button. Instead, you need to do things like comment on other people’s images, share videos, follow and unfollow the right people, post at strategic moments, produce content that is original yet on-brand, and more. It’s a headache that you didn’t expect—so is there any way to make the process easier? There are multiple, so here are seven secrets to getting more Instagram followers:
1. Post content that resonates with your audience
As they say, content is everything. Why should people follow you if your posts are boring or obnoxious? No one wants to scroll through their feeds and find something unworthy of their attention.
Your content needs to give people something they are looking for, such as laughter, behind-the-scenes looks, or new information. It might take the form of a video, a photograph, an infographic, an interview, or something else, but it should be enticing and valuable.
2. Publish at the right times
Use tools like Instagram Insights to see when your audience is most active on the platform. They might check their phones when they wake up, while they are bored at work or school, when they get home, or before they go to bed at night.
When you know when a sizable portion of your audience is about to log on, it’s advantageous to post around those times to maximize the likelihood of them seeing your content. If you publish at a random time during the day, your post might drown amidst an ocean of other content. Learn to work with Instagram’s algorithm so that you put your material in front of people when they are ready for it.
3. Use helpful automation tools.
Between liking, commenting, following, and other actions, managing an Instagram account can be tedious and time-consuming. There are available tools, however, that make these processes much smoother because they leverage the power of automation. Wouldn’t you like to use a tool that can comment on other people’s content, like their posts, and know when it’s time to follow and unfollow people on your behalf?
There are multiple Instagram automation resources, so conduct sufficient research to determine which one is right for you. Check out what past users are saying about each: for instance, SocialCaptain reviews mention that though the tool is new, it is growing quickly thanks to artificial intelligence techniques.
4. Interact with your followers.
One of the most important things you can do is interact with your followers. Instagram success is not necessarily measured in followers; it is measured in engagement. People want to see intriguing content, yes, but they also crave recognition.
Respond to comments, answer questions, tag people in posts, follow some of your audience members back, like their posts, and share user-generated content (which is material they create that is pertinent to your brand). Acknowledge your followers and let them know you appreciate them.
5. Partner with other users.
Partnerships are effective ways of tapping into already-existing audiences. You might decide to hire an influencer to promote your brand for a fee, or you can ally yourself with another company and offer joint privileges or marketing strategies.
When an influencer or brand talks about you, they bring you to the attention of all of their followers—and it happens quickly, instead of targeting these people individually or getting yourself featured on Instagram Explore (which is a worthwhile thing in its own right).
6. Approve photo tags.
Here’s a lesser-known technique you shouldn’t neglect: approving photo tags before anything appears on your profile. It’s fantastic when people tag you in their posts, but sometimes they tag you in junk or are trying to “troll” you.
It will harm your image if other people see that you are tagged in a variety of offensive posts. So, go to “Options,” then to “Photos of You,” and select “Add Manually” so that you can filter out what tagged posts display on your profile.
7. Cross-promote.
Your audience on one platform might be different than another, so don’t shy away from letting them know about each other. Tell your Facebook and Pinterest followers about your Instagram and link to your various channels on each platform. If people find you through Twitter or LinkedIn, make it easy for them also to find you on Instagram. Calls to action are essential, too—once people are done reading your posts, let them know what you want them to do.
Executing an effective Instagram strategy is not as straightforward as you would believe, but there are a few tricks you can use to attract potential followers. What are your secrets for gaining followers on Instagram?