Instagram serves as the backbone for numerous brands’ online presence. Marketing on Instagram has been shown to boost traffic, enhance sales, and engage customers effectively.
However, if you find yourself dissatisfied with your growth and engagement on Instagram, rest assured you’re not the only one.
The competition is intense on this platform, and deciphering Instagram’s algorithm can be challenging.
Nonetheless, taking immediate actions to expand your audience is undoubtedly worthwhile, as a larger audience means more chances to please your customers.
This article will introduce you to five impactful strategies to enhance your presence and attract more followers on Instagram. Let’s delve into them.
5 Essential Strategies for Gaining Followers on Instagram (at no cost)
Before diving into the specifics, this article focuses on cultivating an organic following.
And indeed, this distinction is crucial!
Some brands look for shortcuts to boost their Instagram followers. While we acknowledge the existence of pay-for-play services,
these options aren’t sustainable for brands in the long run. The Instagram algorithm efficiently filters out low-quality accounts and artificial engagement from paid bots.
Building your audience organically yields results that genuinely matter for your business: brand visibility, revenue generation, and customer loyalty.
Watch the video below or read further for our top recommendations on acquiring more Instagram followers (the right way).
1. Enhance Your Instagram Profile
Before worrying about acquiring followers, it’s essential to assess your Instagram business profile. Ask yourself these questions:
- Does your profile come across effectively?
- Is it easily discoverable by your audience?
- Does it inspire them to take action?
Here’s how to maximize your Instagram profile for optimal effectiveness.
Select a Professional Profile Image
Your profile image is an integral part of your brand identity on Instagram.
For businesses, a clear and properly sized logo works best. Ensure that any text in your profile picture is readable on mobile devices.
Incorporate Keywords into Your Name, Handle, and Bio
If you desire more followers, your profile must be easily discoverable by your target audience.
Start by integrating the right keywords into your account. There are three crucial areas to concentrate on:
- Your username (or handle)
- Your profile name
- Your bio (description)
To create a search-friendly username, stick with your brand name or the closest option to your existing handle.
If your name is lengthy, shorten it to a recognizable variation (e.g., Cold Stone Creamery’s account is @coldstone). You can always include the full version in your profile name.
Your bio is the next important area. Use this to incorporate relevant keywords associated with your niche, industry, products, or services. Check out Peach Slices’ Instagram bio for inspiration.
By naturally including these keywords in the description, their account is more likely to appear for search queries such as “k beauty,” “skincare,” and “acne.”
Organize Stories as Highlights
Have you ever created a fantastic story that you wished could remain on your profile indefinitely? With story highlights, it can.
Highlights are collections of select older (expired) stories. You can categorize them by theme or topic, such as Q&As, tips, or events, simplifying relevant story discovery.
Story highlights are located at the top of your profile, which increases the likelihood of users viewing them first before exploring your posts. Think of them as a curated portfolio showcasing your brand’s best features.
Include Your Location and Relevant Links
Adding location details improves your profile’s ranking in search results for local viewers.
This is particularly crucial for businesses aiming to reach nearby customers or drive foot traffic to a physical location (like restaurants).
Business accounts can add multiple links in their bio, essential for converting followers into significant traffic or customers. On Instagram, bio links serve as your sole method of directing social traffic to your website and promotions.
While linking to your homepage is acceptable, it may not always be ideal. To foster more meaningful interactions, include links to specific product pages or even a social landing page pointing to multiple links.
This provides your audience with full control over how they engage with your business next, resulting in a superior experience for your followers.
Publicize Your Instagram Wherever Possible
Don’t hesitate to promote your Instagram if gaining more followers is your objective.
There’s no universal method for promoting your Instagram either. Here are a few suggestions:
- Incorporate social media icons on your website and emails. Social media icons facilitate easier access to your business and help connect with customers.
- Feature an Instagram feed on your homepage or product pages. Numerous e-commerce and consumer brands include dedicated UGC feeds on their websites (see Sony’s example below).
- Re-share Instagram-specific content or announcements on other social media platforms. For instance, you could announce an upcoming IG Live on TikTok or Facebook.
Pro tip: Utilize Sprout Social’s scheduling and publishing features to effortlessly coordinate posts across various social media platforms from a single dashboard.
2. Establish a Robust Content Strategy
Success on Instagram doesn’t occur randomly. It necessitates a clear strategy that highlights your brand’s uniqueness and enables you to create engaging content. When you master this, engagement rises, your community strengthens, and new followers arrive.
Let’s explore the tactics that make this strategy effective.
Schedule Instagram Posts Ahead of Time
Brands often find themselves at the mercy of Instagram’s algorithm regarding reach. Nevertheless, posting at optimal times can still enhance your posts’ visibility. Any effort to maximize engagement is advantageous.
This underscores the importance of scheduling Instagram content. With Sprout’s latest features, brands can schedule Stories, Carousels, Reels, and Posts.
Planning content in advance grants you control and organization. Instagram scheduling tools ultimately help you maintain the desired posting frequency we mentioned earlier. The ability to cross-post content from other networks is beneficial as well.
You can also utilize Sprout’s ViralPost feature for optimal timing. Our platform evaluates your engagement history and identifies the best posting times.
Maintain a Regular Content Calendar
Momentum is vital on Instagram. In simpler terms, you’re unlikely to gain followers if you post sporadically.
Creating content and delivering value is what builds your audience. Doing this consistently will help you retain them.
This is why adhering to a regular posting schedule is significant. Regarding when and how often to post, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Most brands post daily or nearly every day. This aligns with our research on posting frequency.
As a reference, here’s a breakdown of the best times to post on Instagram. “Optimal” engagement typically occurs during mid-morning to early afternoon during weekdays.
If you’re concerned your posts aren’t gaining enough visibility, we understand. Features like Stories can help garner more attention if your content initially goes unnoticed.
Establish a Strong Brand and Instagram Aesthetic
With over 200 million businesses on Instagram, the competition is significant. To differentiate yourself, it’s essential to have a robust and recognizable brand presence on the platform.
Consistency in colors, aesthetics, and posting style can aid users in recognizing your brand and your content at a glance. Take a look at Canva’s approach.
Notice how their story highlights and posts maintain a cohesive style.
Why is strong branding crucial? Because it significantly impacts revenue. Research from Marq (formerly Lucidchart) indicates that brand consistency can boost revenue by 10-20%.
Capitalize on Short-form Video Content
Data from Sprout reveals that 66% of consumers wish to see more short-form videos from brands. Therefore, Reels should be on your radar.
Reels are entertaining, quick, and algorithm-friendly. Consider creating tutorials, showcasing products, or offering brief behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Since you have mere seconds to capture attention, get inventive. Utilize built-in tools like stickers, cuts, filters, music, voice-overs, and transitions to create trendy and captivating Reels.
As an added bonus, these brief videos can be effortlessly cross-promoted on platforms like TikTok, allowing you to reach new audiences and gain more followers.
Post Content That Followers Truly Want to View
Easier said than done, we acknowledge.
Filters, captions, types of content, and posting times – this barely scratches the surface.
There are numerous variables to contemplate, right? It doesn’t help that Instagram’s algorithm can be unpredictable. What proves effective for one brand might not necessarily work for another in terms of format and timing.
For instance, some brands swear by Carousels while others rely heavily on Reels. Both techniques can yield positive results. You’ll soon realize on Instagram that certain content gains more likes than other types. This underscores the importance of testing.
Instagram’s inherent analytics are surprisingly powerful. However, investing in Instagram analytics tools will elevate your insights.
For instance, Sprout enables you to benchmark and analyze Instagram content across multiple accounts. Instead of second-guessing what works and what doesn’t, our reporting clearly delineates the outcomes.
Have confidence in your content strategy by analyzing those discussed variables.
If unsure where to begin, start by examining your competitors. An astounding 90% of brands report that social media data assists them in keeping track of competing accounts.
You definitely shouldn’t mimic your competitors. However, you can glean insights from their practices or posts that drive engagement. Sprout’s Instagram Competitors report provides insights on what’s effective in your industry. Conducting a bit of competitive research can yield valuable insights.
Additionally, stay updated on new Instagram trends to ensure you take advantage of trending content formats.
Go Live on Instagram
Utilize Instagram Live sessions to engage with your audience directly. This approach facilitates real-time interaction and strengthens community ties.
Consider hosting virtual events such as product launches, quick tutorials, or simply having open discussions and Q&A sessions. If you own an e-commerce business, users can even shop your items during these sessions.
You can also share these Live streams as stories that last for 24 hours, allowing followers who may have missed it to catch up later.
3. Interaction with Your Audience to Build Relationships
When you prioritize the happiness of your Instagram followers, you’ll experience an increase in audience growth. The most successful Instagram accounts foster communities and loyal fans (hint: not just followers).
For many accounts, this translates to creating customer relationships.
Here are some approaches to engage your audience and build meaningful relationships.
Produce Content That Reflects Your Brand’s Character
Content that showcases your personality and the individuals behind your brand allows for deeper connections with your audience. This could involve:
- Inspirational material
- Humorous posts
- Re-sharing user-generated content with unique captions
- Storytelling posts
- Behind-the-scenes images and videos
- Posts raising awareness for social causes
Ensure your content aligns with your brand voice and values. Strive to avoid coming across as needy, overly sales-driven, or robotic.
Engage in Meaningful Conversations with Your Audience
Consider this: 60% of marketers leverage Instagram as a customer service channel.
The platform excels for interactive dialogue with followers. That’s why several popular Instagram post ideas focus on posing questions and encouraging discussions.
The conversation could center on casual questions, inquiries about shipping, or commendations for products. Observe how Cometeer addresses all these aspects in their Instagram communications:
Being supportive and timely in your responses conveys to people that you care. This principle extends to responding to brand mentions or direct messages (DMs).
You might be surprised by how your follower count increases as your interactions become more personable. Our Index research indicates that 89% of consumers are likely to purchase from a brand after following them on social media. Every interaction really matters.
Try to respond to as many inquiries, messages, mentions, or comments as you can. This effort could significantly influence whether someone becomes a long-term follower or a customer.
Engage with Customers and Brand Advocates
A highly effective strategy is responding to and reposting their content.
Here’s where the power of user-generated content (UGC) comes into play. UGC campaigns establish social proof by demonstrating your investment in your followers. For instance, Drunk Elephant frequently shares their followers’ content by collecting posts with their #BareWithUs and #DrunkBreak hashtags.
However, don’t merely wait for UGC to arise—motivate it! Encourage customers to craft content by providing them with a reason to share.
For instance, running a Reels contest where followers showcase your product in use could be effective. Rewarding winners with free merchandise and highlighting them on your page can also be enticing.
4. Employ Tags and Hashtags Wisely
Location tags and hashtags are powerful tools on Instagram, aiding your target audience in discovering your posts (and profile) more swiftly.
Here’s how to utilize tags for growing your followers.
Identify Hashtags Where Your Followers Engage
Instagram hashtags have been a mainstay of the platform for a long time.
However, they’ve lost some of their earlier effectiveness.
Merely flooding your posts with hashtags won’t guarantee new followers, especially with the vast amount of content on the platform.
Be proactive by targeting industry-specific hashtags relevant to your audience. For example, Lashify often promotes content under the #LashEducation hashtag. These tags are less broad and competitive than #beauty, making it more meaningful for brands to gain visibility within such specific tags.
Recognizing how your hashtags perform on Instagram is essential. Utilizing Sprout Social’s hashtag analytics tools gives you direct insights into performance and usage data. Identifying which hashtags to use is merely a few clicks away.
Utilize Geo-tagging to Attract Local Followers
Instagram reintroduced location stories last year. Now, users can locate them on a map. This feature enables people to search for top posts and stories in specific areas, like a café or a shopping mall.
So, how can you make your content appear on the map? Simply tag the location. Geo-tagging your posts and stories increases visibility to people nearby or to those browsing the location where your image or video was captured.
Curious about how to tag a location in your Instagram story? Just use the location sticker and type in the desired location.
5. Collaborate with Influencers and Brands
If you’re keen on increasing your Instagram followers, consider collaborating with others. Collaborations can lead to exposure to new audiences and help you build trust rapidly.
Here are two methods to extend your reach through partnerships.
Identify and Collaborate with Influencers in Your Niche
Influencers enjoy a faithful following who believe in their endorsements.
Partnering with influencers within your niche, particularly those with smaller yet highly engaged audiences, can significantly expand your brand’s reach and credibility.
Nevertheless, finding influencers that genuinely connect with your brand can be difficult. There are countless creators on Instagram, and not everyone aligns with your ethos or holds an authentic following (watch out for bots).
The silver lining: Tagger by Sprout Social simplifies this endeavor. Utilize intelligent filters to sift through vetted influencers that align with your brand vision.
You can also consult our free influencer database by industry rich with insights to help you strategize your next influencer marketing initiative.
Collaborate with Brands Similar to Yours
Strategic partnerships can significantly enhance your Instagram reach and engagement.
It also provides your content with a fresh perspective, creating an enjoyable experience for everyone concerned, including your audience.
Consider what your customers appreciate beyond your offerings when deciding partnerships. Seek brands that align with those interests without directly competing with you.
Ubereats, for example, partnered with Blueland (a sustainable home essentials brand) to allow users to order eco-friendly products directly via the Ubereats app.
They produced this Instagram Reel as part of their collaboration.
When reaching out to potential collaborators, emphasize mutual benefits. Propose concepts that would aid both brands in growing.
Initially, you might consider smaller endeavors, like co-hosting an Instagram Live or sharing each other’s content. As you observe positive results, you can collaborate on more extensive campaigns (just like Ubereats did above).
Approaches to Boost Your Instagram Followers (the Wrong Way!)
Disclaimer: Sprout Social does not condone the purchase of Instagram followers. We strongly advise against services that sell followers or “Likes.”
As the social landscape becomes increasingly crowded and competitive, brands often resort to risky measures for quick results.
We’ll reiterate: brands should never buy Instagram followers. No one should!
Why Purchasing Followers on Instagram is a Major Error
Here’s why obtaining followers through purchase is a significant miscalculation.
Your Genuine Followers Are Aware of Fake Followers
Social consumers are becoming increasingly discerning. Privacy concerns and social scams have heightened awareness of unusual behavior. Essentially, today’s users function as spam detectors.
A sudden influx of followers raises suspicion. Moreover, having bots clutter your account with continuous spam followers harms your reputation and obstructs your potential for building an authentic Instagram following.
Fake Followers Offer No Value
It’s natural to be concerned about your Instagram metrics, and rightly so.
However, your follower count holds little significance if your “followers” fail to drive engagement. You may appear “bigger” at first glance, but ultimately, who cares? Reflect on how your engagement rate on the platform will diminish if your follower count is artificially inflated.
At the Very Least, Buying Instagram Followers Breaches TOS
No surprises here.
Consider how Meta has actively penalized the purchase of engagement previously. They have even gone to the extent of shutting down companies involved in selling likes. This practice violates the platform’s terms of service.
How Are You Expanding Your Instagram Following?
Listen: elevating your follower count on Instagram won’t just happen by chance.
And contrary to popular belief, there’s no quick-fix solution to make it a reality.
The strategies outlined above can help you lay the groundwork for an organic following that genuinely engages with you. Implementing these suggestions is much simpler with a robust publishing and analytics tool like Sprout.
Curious to witness our suite of tools in action? Start a free trial today and explore for yourself!
The post How to get more followers on Instagram: 5 strategies to grow your audience originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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