Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps and a smart place to market your business. If you’re looking for ways to grow your Instagram following, attract new customers, and get leads using this platform, then follow our 10 easy tips below!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Understand the importance of visual content for Instagram. |
| 2. Master the use of hashtags to increase post discoverability. |
| 3. Engage with followers through comments and direct messages. |
| 4. Utilize Stories and Reels for engaging short-form content. |
| 5. Leverage Instagram Insights to measure campaign effectiveness. |
Step 1. Use Hashtags In Every Post
Using hashtags is a great way to get your content seen by a larger audience, as well as connect with other users and find content that you would be interested in.
Hashtags are also a good way to get the conversation started. If there’s something that you want people to know about or discuss, try adding a hashtag at the end of your post.
Finally, hashtags can help increase clicks on your posts by providing extra ways for people to interact with them (and thus see/click on them).
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Step 2. Talk To Your Followers
Now that you have your first post up and running, it’s time to get to work building a following. To do this, you need to engage with your followers as much as possible.
This means responding to comments and asking questions (like “What are you guys doing this weekend?”), talking about what you are doing or thinking (for example, “I’m so excited for the new season of Game of Thrones!”).
Talking about what you are reading and watching (“The other day I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins”), sharing things that interest them (like products they might like), and interacting with others in the community.
Step 3. Use Hashtag Stickers And Mention Stickers
Hashtags are a great way to get your content in front of a wider audience. Using hashtags on Instagram can help you connect with people who share a common interest, which makes it easier for you to promote yourself and get your brand out there.
If you don’t already know how to use hashtag stickers and mention stickers, here’s what they are and how they work!
Hashtags are used by users when they want others to see their posts. For example: if I post something about “Minimalism” and tag it with the hashtag “#minimalism”
Then search results will show any other posts tagged using that same #minimalism hashtag and maybe even some more posts not tagged at all!
This means that if someone searches for #minimalism but doesn’t find me right away, they might discover my post because another user has shared something similar (or because our hashtags overlap).
It’s important not only that you use relevant hashtags but also how many times per photo/video/post etc. since this is where most marketers go wrong!”
Step 4. Interact With Accounts Larger Than You
When you’re just beginning to build your brand, it can be intimidating to reach out to bigger accounts. After all, you don’t want to come across as desperate or unprofessional.
But if you’re able to get in touch with someone who has a larger Instagram following than yours, consider yourself lucky. Many times these influencers will help promote your account for free because they want more people on their platform too!
If the person doesn’t have a ton of followers or isn’t active on their account, this tactic won’t work for them. They may not even see the message until much later or at all and by then it’s too late because they’ve already unfollowed you!
Don’t worry about reaching out directly either: there are services like Instagram that help connect small businesses with larger ones so everyone can benefit from community-building efforts like this one!
Mastering Instagram’s marketing landscape requires knowing the right strategies. Our article on 15 Tips for Marketers Using Instagram offers insights that can help your business stand out and thrive.
Step 5. Post Often, But Not Too Often
The best frequency for you will depend on your audience, content, and goals. If your goal is to get more followers, then posting consistently will help build a fanbase of people who enjoy what you have to offer.
However, if your goal is monetization (i.e., selling products or services) it may be better served by posting less frequently than other accounts in the same industry – because they’ll be more likely to take action when they see something enticing!
Generally speaking, we recommend that brands post once per day at a minimum – with two or three posts per day being ideal for most businesses looking to grow their follower base organically without relying on paid ads every time they want new eyes on their content.
Step 6. Repost User-Generated Content (UGC)
Reposting UGC is another great way to engage with your audience and create a community. It can also drive traffic to your website, which means more followers and likes!
If you’re going to repost someone else’s content, make sure that their profile is already full of engagement so that their post will show up in the feed.
Step 7. Engage With Influencers In Your Industry
Once you’ve identified the influencers in your industry and have followed them, it’s time to engage with them. The best way to do this is through direct messaging (DM).
Here are some reasons why engaging with influencers can help grow your business:
Engaging with influencers can help you grow your audience by giving you new followers and views.
Engaging with influencers will help expand your reach, which means more people will see what you have to offer. This can lead to more sales or make people want to follow in their footsteps by purchasing from a brand they trust.
Building relationships or friendships through DMing will improve the way others see yours or other businesses’ social media pages because it shows that there’s a human side behind those accounts – not just some bot posting ads all day long!
Becoming a true Instagram marketing expert takes practice and knowledge. Dive into our comprehensive Guide to Being an Instagram Marketing Master to uncover advanced tactics and secrets to dominating this dynamic platform.
Step 8. Run Instagram Ads
Instagram ads are a great way to grow your audience. Instagram ads allow you to target the audience that you want to reach, including interests, location, demographics, and more.
You can also use Instagram ads to drive traffic to your website or send people directly into the app store where they can download your app.
Step 9. Host A Giveaway Or Contest
Social media is all about engagement, and that’s why giveaways and contests are a great way to get your audience involved in the conversation. They allow you to engage with your customers, grow your Instagram following, and build brand loyalty.
How? By offering an incentive for them to follow along on social media and engage in the conversation with you!
A giveaway or contest gives people something tangible that they can win such as a product or service and it gives them a reason to come back again and again.
It also creates an opportunity for you to showcase what makes your brand special while encouraging others to share their experiences with others too (through sharing photos of themselves using said products).
Step 10. Post Video Content
One of the most effective ways for businesses to reach their target market on Instagram is by posting video content. A study from Facebook found that posts with video tend to get twice as much engagement as photos and other types of content.
Post videos that are relevant to your brand: You want your followers to know what they’re clicking on when they view one of your posts;
So make sure the video is relevant or helpful in some way, like a tutorial or how-to guide. This will help increase user loyalty and brand awareness.
Use videos as storytelling tools: You can use a series of short clips to tell an entire story from beginning to end in visual form instead of having someone read through the text on screen (which some people find boring).
Try using this method if you want people involved with what’s happening right now! It’ll keep them engaged longer because there will constantly be something new popping up every time they check back again later on down the road,” said McConkey.”
Step 11. Utilize Captions Properly
There is a multitude of ways to use captions. To start, one can include hashtags in their caption or mention someone by using @mentions or tagging them with #hashtags.
If you’re unsure what hashtags are, they’re words that will help people find your posts when they search for them on Instagram.
It’s kinda like searching Google but instead of typing “how to make rice” into the search bar and getting articles that give step-by-step instructions on how to cook rice, you type “how to make rice” into the Instagram app and get pictures of food that have been made using (or served with) rice
If you’re new to Instagram marketing, these ideas will be your launching pad. Explore our list of 15 Ideas to Get Started with Instagram Marketing and kickstart your journey toward successful brand promotion.
These Tips Will Help You Grow And Engage Your Audience On Instagram
Hashtags are an essential part of Instagram’s algorithm. Searching for hashtags and adding them to your post will increase the number of people who see them.
Interacting with followers is another great way to grow your following on Instagram. Not only does this show that you care about their opinions, but it also lets them know they’re important to you (and thus more likely to stay engaged).
You can also get more people following you by engaging with larger accounts—they’ll be impressed by how cool and professional your account looks, which may make them want to follow back too!
Reposting user-generated content (UGC) is another great way out there: if someone posts something that resonates with you or relates well with what’s happening in the world right now, feel free to re-posting it under their username so everyone knows where this came from!
Elevate your Instagram marketing strategy with the right tools in your arsenal. Discover the must-have tools in our article on 18 Essential Instagram Marketing Tools that will streamline your efforts and drive impressive results.
Conclusion
While there’s no one way to get started with Instagram marketing, these tips will help you find your footing. Remember that it takes time to build up a following, so don’t be discouraged if your first few posts don’t get much engagement.
You’ll want to keep working at it and being patient until people start to notice what you’re doing.
Further Reading
HubSpot’s Guide to Instagram Marketing: Explore HubSpot’s comprehensive guide to mastering Instagram marketing and learn effective strategies for brand promotion.
Neil Patel’s Instagram Marketing Tips: Neil Patel shares valuable insights and tips for maximizing your Instagram marketing efforts to reach a wider audience.
Simplilearn’s Instagram Marketing Strategy Tutorial: Simplilearn offers a detailed tutorial on creating a successful Instagram marketing strategy that yields tangible results.
FAQs
How do I get started with Instagram marketing?
Getting started with Instagram marketing involves creating a compelling profile, defining your target audience, and planning engaging content that resonates with your audience’s interests.
What types of content perform well on Instagram?
Visual content, such as high-quality images, short videos, Stories, and Reels, tend to perform exceptionally well on Instagram due to the platform’s emphasis on visual storytelling.
How can I use hashtags effectively for Instagram marketing?
Using relevant and trending hashtags in your posts can help increase the discoverability of your content. Research popular hashtags in your niche and include them strategically in your posts.
Is engagement important for Instagram marketing success?
Yes, engagement is crucial. Responding to comments, interacting with your followers’ content, and participating in conversations within your niche can boost your visibility and credibility.
How can I measure the effectiveness of my Instagram marketing campaigns?
Instagram Insights and third-party analytics tools can provide valuable data on metrics like engagement, reach, and follower growth. Monitor these metrics to assess the success of your campaigns and make data-driven improvements.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.