Instagram is a great social media site, as long as you don’t overthink the strategy. It offers so many options: Photos and videos which can be shared in the main feed, as a Reel, in your Story, in a Carousel post. Navigating what to post and in what form can be frustrating, and you might want to cut a few corners to grow your followers. As many of us know, cutting corners can backfire. If you want to grow, you have to do the work. Here are five ways you can grow Instagram following organically:
1. Don’t buy followers. I feel like this should go without saying, but it’s an inexpensive thing to do. This will actually decrease your engagement over time, because they tend to be fake accounts, so they don’t interact with content. Since they are bought and fake, they aren’t going to buy your product, listen to your music, or go to your event. It’s also against community guidelines, so your account could be removed.
2. Post meaningful content. Your content should be personally relatable, on-brand but not always in “sales mode.” Keep track of important holidays and dates to help you think of relatable content. The easiest way to be meaningful is to tell your story, or tell other’s stories (with permission.)
3. Keep a content calendar. Plan your posts, and work on building a backlog of photos/videos over time. I tell all my clients to experiment with times and content. The beauty of social media is how fluid it is. If something doesn’t work, tweak it and try it again on a different day or time. Having a content calendar will keep you organized and consistent.
4. Use relevant hashtags. Yes, they do still matter. Your posts will reach a larger audience. Search for hashtags in your industry, or what followers are using in their posts. You can also find trending hashtags to boost your content even more. When you search for one hashtag, Instagram will show you many others you can experiment with.
5. Interact with your followers. Like those comments left on your posts. Share and Repost them if you are able to. Follow other accounts within your business scope or people who use your products. Follow those who follow you. Engage with them on their posts, and repost their content in your Stories. This reminds your followers that you are a real person, not just a business. And everyone appreciates when efforts are made, whether the business or the consumer. The musician or the fan.
These are a few ways you can grow your Instagram following over time. If you ever want to chat about your brand or business specifically, get in touch. I’d love to help!