Instagram is a platform where you can advertise your business to the world for free and get noticed, but how do you do this effectively? Growing your Instagram account organically can be tricky, and you might not know where to start.
When it comes to how to grow followers on Instagram, timing is everything. Yes, there is a set of activities that you can do to increase your following. However, it is not that easy to build your Instagram presence and gain followers overnight. It is a process that takes time, but with a little help, you can see the results faster. Here are tips for getting more Instagram followers that are genuine and relevant for your brand.
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Reels, Instagram’s newest video feature taking center stage of the new main navigation bar, is a way to record up to 30-second video clips set to music on Instagram.
Similar to TikTok videos, Instagram Reels have the chance to go seriously viral. Instead of users only seeing Reels from the accounts they follow, users will see Reels from all accounts. This is a major game-changer.
Sharing your Reel to both your feed and the Explore Page is an incredible way to increase your reach way beyond your followers — and possibly go viral doing so!
Even if you’re just trying Instagram Reels out, it’s important to have some good content ideas and clear goal in mind— whether that’s reaching a wider audience, giving back to your engaged social community, or showcasing your content and products to your followers.
#2: Optimize Your Profile for Search
Take advantage of your bio by changing your Name field to something relevant to your brand or business. It’s a great way to improve your chances of appearing in the top results if anyone searches for your target keywords.
In order to boost your following, you need to get found on the platform. This is the trickiest part because Instagram SEO is a bit different from the regular Google SEO you’re used to, so it takes a little getting used to.
What Makes Instagram SEO Different?
The Instagram search function works a bit like Google in that it delivers the most relevant profiles based on your search term. According to Instagram, the search results depend on several factors including the accounts you follow and are connected to.
Also, the posts you like on Instagram have a major influence to determine relevance. In addition to this, keywords also play a critical role.
So it helps if you can optimize your Instagram profile with keywords to show up in relevant searches. Here’s how:
Name and Username – Incorporating a primary keyword in your name and username is a good way to improve your chances of showing in relevant searches. For instance, see on the image below how a search for the keyword “interiors” brings up profiles that have the keyword in their name, username, or both
For usernames, this may not always be possible as you typically have to stick with your official brand name. But you might be able to find a way to play around with the profile name in your bio as is the case with @socialsenseimarketing.co above.
Bio – Your bio is also a great place to add in keywords that you want to rank for. You can use this space to describe your business with relevant secondary keywords. For example, let’s say you want to target the keyword “salon,” then you could also include secondary keywords like “styling,” “makeup,” or “makeovers” in your bio.
#3: Create an IGTV Series
IGTV is not one of the highest engaging platforms that have ever existed, but here’s the thing: It’s directly connected to Instagram, which does have higher-than-average engagement and an extremely enthusiastic user-base. When you’re using the integration to its fullest potential, you can finally see some of that momentum.
Creating an IGTV series is a creative way to connect with your community while also casting a wider net to reach new audiences.
When you’re using series, it encourages users to keep watching to see other related content, especially since the series videos will play one after the next, just like a playlist.
It also gives your channel a purpose, which is valuable for both your direction and for branding purposes. And once users are invested in your content, it increases the likelihood that they’ll keep coming back.
#4.Work with Micro-influencers
What are micro-influencers?
Microinfluencers are a great way to connect with a highly niche audience. These social media leaders have smaller, but very highly-engaged followings. When you identify the right ones, you can hire them to promote your business or product — often for much less than it could cost to hire a celebrity or macroinfluencer.
Why Work With Micro-Influencers
Micro-influencers have personal contact with the audience, which makes them perceived as “people like me.” They have many times more Conversations than a typical user because they are passionate about their niche and can choose the most argumentative topics to engage the followers.
Their audience is more targeted and dedicated to the influencer’s identity, which makes them more attractive to potential sponsors than the big names in the niche. In other words, working with micro-influencers can affect your lead generation by far.
Micro-influencers are more affordable than experts or celebs with millions of followers. They charge less for promoting a product, and they agree to collaborate only if the product meets their values and the needs of their audience.
#5: Write Longer Captions
Photos and videos have always come first on Instagram but, oftentimes, it’s the caption that makes or breaks a post.
That’s because the “story” you tell on Instagram is just as important as the images and videos you share – it provides context, adds personality, and can even inspire your followers to take action.
Captions are a powerful tool that can be used to encourage likes, comments, and even visits to your website. And if your post gets enough engagement, it might even end up on the Explore page! It is also a huge opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your audience. For brands and influencers, lengthy captions that champion story-telling and authenticity are driving great results.
Of course, what you put in your caption (including how much you write) really depends on the content you’re sharing, the occasion, and your brand.
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#6: Go Live on Instagram
Instagram Live lets users stream live videos to their followers through their Instagram Stories. It’s great for building engagement, connecting directly with your users, sharing news, and establishing your brand.
Live videos on Instagram can last for up to an hour, and followers may get a notification when you go live so they can tune in and interact with you during the broadcast. It bumps your content to the first position in Stories at the top of user’s feeds.
The best thing about this is that the followers who haven’t turned off Instagram Live notifications will get a message telling them when you go live. While you’re live, you can pin a comment for everyone to see or turn comments off altogether. This can be a great way to get insights and feedback directly from people who matter to your business
This notification can be a huge help in exposing your broadcasts to more of your followers.
#7: Create a Viral Instagram Challenge or Game
Instagram challenges have become increasingly popular as a way to not only increase your engagement but also your social media following.
This is because challenges provide fun for users while also creating a digital footprint through expanded reach and impressions.
One of the main reasons that games and challenges have been so popular with brands is their capacity to go ‘viral’. Challenges contain a direct call to action which organically encourages users to share and promote branded content or hashtags across their channels – a level of exposure that is invaluable to brands.
Typically a brand will share a brief and ask people to create and share photos alongside a particular hashtag. Some challenges are open-ended; however, it’s common for some to have shorter lifespans than others. Challenges are typically an opportunity for people to have fun, think creatively, and connect with others, but some competition-style challenges may reward prizes in order to encourage participation and thank users for their submissions.
Picking the right hashtag is one of the most important parts of creating an Instagram challenge. Make sure the hashtag includes either a brand or product name and is easy to remember. It should also briefly summarise what the challenge is about.
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Leverage the power of influencer marketing to grow your Instagram followers organically
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We guarantee account safety, so you never have to worry about your Instagram account being banned or action blocked. The best part? Your success is our success, so if you don’t see the numbers you expect for your followers list, we will continue working for you until you do.
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