When you first start out on Instagram, it is tough to know exactly how to grow your Instagram following. It can be overwhelming, and yes, a little bit defeating to visit accounts that have tens of thousands, or even millions of followers. How did they get there? What are their secrets? What strategies work best to organically grow on the platform each and every day?
Don’t worry. It doesn’t happen overnight. The Instagrammers who have thousands of followers were in your shoes once too. Like anything else, Instagram is a learning process.
Before I started implementing growth strategies on my Instagram account, my follower count was pretty stagnant. I realized I needed to change my approach or it would likely always stay the same. By implementing the strategies below, I was able to quadruple my Instagram following in 6 months, plus it’s still growing.
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A larger Instagram following can lead to more views on your blog, a more engaged community, and an increase in brand sponsorship opportunities. It’s definitely a platform worth investing your time and energy into! Take a look at 8 steps you can take to grow you Instagram following in less than 30 minutes every day.
1. Giveaways
Hosting a giveaway is one of the best ways to get your Instagram account noticed and grow your following. You can do a giveaway on your own, or link up with other bloggers or businesses to put one together.
Depending on your blog’s niche, you can give away anything from a gift certificate to a product to a service. Giveaways usually come with rules such as having to follow your account and the other blogger(s) or business(es) you collaborate with. People love the opportunity to win things for free, so giveaways can be amazing for growing your following!
2. Reposting
There are a few exceptions, but many accounts love when other repost their content. As long as you give credit to the account, reposting shows that you are a fan of their Instagram feed and want to share it with your followers.
You never know, perhaps they will do the same for you in the future. Reposting also gets your name out there. If you repost a photo from an account you admire, they are more likely to engage with you, which is sure to grow your audience.
3. Create a Hashtag
Why not create your own hashtag? Use your creativity to come up with a unique hashtag that isn’t already being used. Just make sure it has something to do with your blog, so that it isn’t totally random. For example, blogger Helene in Between created the hashtag #PhotosInBetween, and Darling Magazine created the hashtag #ThatsDarling.
Starting your own hashtag is a great way to get your readers and followers to engage with you on a more regular basis and create a strong sense of community around your blog. It also makes it more likely that other people who aren’t your followers will see the tag, be intrigued, and want to get to the source of the hashtag (you!). Once people start posting with your hashtag, you can repost their photos (with credit) to make them feel special!
4. Instagram Takeover
Instagram takeovers allow you to take over another blogger’s or company’s Instagram account for a certain amount of time. It could be a day or maybe even a week. By cross-promoting your account, both collaborators can grow their audience.
Let’s say you are a beauty blogger and you do an Instagram takeover for a makeup brand you love. Perhaps you’ll help promote a new product launch, or show behind-the-scenes insight in the day in the life of a beauty blogger.
5. Photo Contests
Growing your Instagram account will come easy if you implement interactive tools like photo contests. With a photo contest, you ask people to take photos of something specific- perhaps they’re favorite coffee shop, or their pet in the snow, or their best holiday photo, and hashtag it with a tag you create. You will choose the winner of the contest, who will receive a prize which you announce at the beginning of the contest.
The prize is motivation for people to join in, so make sure it’s valuable to your target followers! When others see people posting photos with your contest hashtag, they are likely to join in as well and may become one of your newest fans! Make sure to include a timeline for the contest as well.
6. Collaborate
One of the best ways to get your name out there is reaching out to a popular blogger or Instagrammer within your niche to see if they will collaborate with you. Perhaps you guys can start an Instagram challenge together, or promote each other’s blog posts. If you are successful in your collaboration, you are sure to grow your following alongside the more popular user!
7. Instagram Stories
When the platform rolled out Instagram stories, it was a total game changer. Instead of bloggers heading over the Snapchat to send video clips to their audience, they could now do it all in one place. Genius.
Instagram stories give your followers a glimpse into your everyday life. You can give them pep talks, show them where you’re eating lunch, snap a video of your newest blog post, and it will all disappear after they’ve watched. When people feel like they can connect with you on a more intimate level, they are more likely to follow along on your journey.
8. Promote on You Other Social Accounts
Just because one person is following you on Twitter, doesn’t mean that they are following you on Instagram as well. Use your other social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, to promote your Instagram account. Share a quick tweet prompting people to follow you over on Instagram, and make your Instagram account easy to find on your blog home page! You may be surprised how these little tricks can grow your following!
If you’ve been struggling to grow your Instagram following, try these 8 tips for booming growth. In less than 30 minutes a day, get ready to see amazing results!
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