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How do you grow your instagram account


Get More Real Instagram Followers in 10 Steps

Instagram is the foundation of so many brands’ social presence. The platform is proven to drive traffic, support sales and engage customers.

And that’s why 59% of marketers plan to up their investment in Instagram this year.

But if you’re not thrilled with your Instagram growth and engagement, you’re not alone.

Competition on the platform is fierce as more and more brands get on board. Thing is, taking steps to grow your audience is absolutely worth it. That’s because the bigger your audience, the more opportunities to delight your customers.

Ready to tweak your presence to attract authentic and organic Instagram followers? This post breaks down how to make it happen.

10 ways to increase Instagram followers

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, this post is about building an organic following.

And yes, the distinction matters!

Some brands want to take shortcuts when it comes to trying to get more Instagram followers. We don’t pretend that pay-for-play sites exist.

That said, these services aren’t worth it for brands long-term. The Instagram algorithm weeds out low-quality accounts and phony engagement from paid bots.

But we’ll bite: there’s definitely some legwork involved in growing your audience authentically.

Doing so it worth totally worth it, though. Below are our ten best tips for getting more Instagram followers the right way.

1. Optimize your Instagram account

Before you worry about how to get followers, consider how your Instagram account is set up first.

Ask yourself: does your profile “look the part?” For starters, consider your:

  • Your Instagram bio (including your slogan, tagline and/or a branded hashtag)
  • Your profile picture
  • Your bio link (and where it points to)

These details define your brand identity on Instagram. More importantly, they impact your account’s discoverability. Building a follower-friendly account means:

  • Having a search-friendly username. Stick to either your brand name or whatever’s closest to your existing social handles. If your name is too long, shorten it to a variation your audience would recognize (ex: Cold Stone Creamery’s account is @coldstone).
  • Making your profile picture professional. An appropriately-sized logo is ideal. Any text in your profile picture should be legible on a smartphone screen.
  • Minding where you point your bio link. This is crucial for turning Instagram followers into meaningful traffic or customers. It’s your only way to funnel social traffic to your site and promotions.

Linking to your homepage is fine but not always ideal. To encourage more meaningful interactions, a social landing page that points to multiple links can help.

This gives your audience total control of how they engage your business next. That means a better experience for your followers.

The best way to optimize your account is to follow a proven Instagram marketing strategy. Download our free guide to get started.

2. Keep a consistent content calendar

Momentum matters on Instagram. In other words, you likely won’t get followers on Instagram if you post at random.

Creating content and providing value is what builds your audience. Doing so consistently is what helps you keep them. Don’t let your Instagram account gather cobwebs.

That’s why sticking to a regular posting schedule is crucial.  In terms of when and how much to post, you don’t have to stick to a set-in-stone number. Most brands post daily or near daily. This tracks our own research on how often to post as well.

For reference, below is a breakdown of the best times to post to Instagram.  “Optimal” engagement is during the mid-to-late morning and early afternoons during the week.

If you’re worried about your posts not getting seen enough, we get it. Consider how features like Stories can get more eyes on your content if it wasn’t seen the first time.

3. Schedule Instagram posts in advance

There’s no denying that brands are at the mercy of the Instagram algorithm for reach. Still, posting at the right times can still give your posts more visibility. Anything you can do to maximize engagement is a plus.

This speaks to the value of scheduling Instagram content. With Sprout’s newest tools, brands can schedule Stories, Carousels, Reels and Posts.

Scheduling content in advance ensures control and organization. Instagram scheduling tools ultimately help you hit that cadence we mentioned earlier. The ability to crosspost content from other networks helps here, too.

You can also use Sprout’s ViralPost feature to nail down your timing, too. Our platform analyzes your engagement history and identifies the best times to post.

Perfect your Instagram content plan with Sprout Social

In addition to scheduling a complete picture of your Instagram content calendar, Sprout offers even more features to perfect your brand’s feed.

Share IG-approved visuals with your team using our Asset Library, or test out our grid preview feature to make sure every aspect of your presence is true to your brand style.

Get a hands-on look at these features and more with a 30-day free trial of Sprout.

4. Engage with customers, brand advocates and influencers

Figuring out how to get more Instagram followers means engaging your audience.

And one of the best ways to do that is through responding to and republishing their posts.

Enter the power of user-generated content. UGC campaigns build social proof by showing followers you’re invested in them. For example, Drunk Elephant regularly regrams their followers’ posts. They gather content with their #BareWithUs and #DrunkBreak hashtags.

Partnering with influencers with an established following is another way to grow your own audience. Content creators can get your brand in front of your target audience and build ongoing awareness for your products.

5. Avoid fake Instagram followers

There’s a big difference between fake and legitimate followers on Instagram.

We get it, too. For the sake of quick growth, it might be tempting to purchase followers.

But the drawbacks outweigh the benefits 100%. Why? Because fake Instagram followers…

  • Confuse your potential organic followers. An inactive, low-engagement account with a big following is suspicious. This can be a turn-off for fans that’d otherwise follow you and engage.

  • Provide no monetary value to your business. Think about it. Your bot followers can’t buy your stuff, can they? 

  • Generate no buzz: If you have 10,000 fake followers, how many are going to engage with your posts? Does it really even matter if your posts are brimming with spam comments?

Real people have the ability to share, like, comment and engage with your Instagram posts. Additionally, real followers actually appreciate the time you spend interacting with them. 

For example, Lush Cosmetics takes the time to answer questions and engage followers all the time. This results in customers regularly returning to share shout-outs and positive comments.

6. Showcase your Instagram everywhere you can

Don’t be shy about promoting your Instagram if more followers are your goal.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to promoting your ‘gram, either. Here are a few ideas:

  • Add social media icons to your website and marketing emails. Social media icons make it easier for people to find your business and help you connect with customers.
  • Feature an Instagram feed on your homepage or product pages. Many ecommerce brands have dedicated UGC feeds on-site (see below).
  • Reshare Instagram-specific content or announcements on other social channels. For example, you could talk about an upcoming IG Live via TikTok or Facebook.

7. Post content that followers actually want to see

Easier said than done, we know.

Filters. Captions. Content types. Post times. That doesn’t even scratch the surface.

There are so many variables to consider, right? It doesn’t help that Instagram’s algorithm is fickle. What works for one brand might not work for the next in terms of format and timing.

For example, some brands swear by Carousels. Others are all-in on Reels. Both approaches can work. You’ll quickly find on Instagram that some content performs better than others. This is why testing is so important.

Instagram’s native analytics are surprisingly powerful. That said, investing in Instagram analytics tools will take things to the next level.

For example, Sprout makes it easy to benchmark and analyze Instagram content across accounts. Rather than second-guess what’s working and what’s not, our reporting spells it out for you.

Be confident in your content strategy by analyzing those variables we mentioned earlier.

And if you’re unsure where to start, try analyzing your competitors. A staggering 90% of brands say that social media data helps them keep up with competing social accounts.

You obviously shouldn’t copycat your competitors. That said, you can take notes on what they’re doing or posting that drives engagement.  Sprout’s Instagram Competitors report can provide a breakdown of what’s working in your industry. A little competitive research can go a long way.

Oh, and keep your ear to the ground with new Instagram trends. That way you won’t miss out on platform-wide opportunities to hop on trending content formats.

For example, Reels are popping off right now. Our data shows that 66% of consumers want to see more short-form videos from brands. In terms of trends, Reels should be on your radar.

 

8. Make meaningful conversation with your audience

Food for thought: 60% of marketers use Instagram as a service channel.

The platform is perfect for going back and forth with followers. Likewise, many popular post ideas center around asking questions and engaging in a dialogue for a reason.

Off-the-cuff questions, shipping concerns or praise for products are all fair game from followers. Check out how Cometeer responds to all of the above on their Instagram posts:

Being supportive and responding promptly shows people that you care.

You’d be surprised at how your Instagram followers increase once you start acting more personable. Our Index research shows that 89% of consumers will buy from a brand after following them on social. Every interaction counts.

Again, try to respond to as many questions or comments as possible. Doing so could make or break someone becoming a long-term follower or a customer.

9. Find hashtags where your followers hang out

Instagram hashtags have been a staple of the platform, like, forever.

That said, they don’t hold as much weight as they used to.

Dumping hashtags into your posts isn’t going to net you any new followers. Especially when there’s so much noise on the platform.

Be proactive by focusing on industry-specific hashtags relevant to your customers. For example, Lashify regularly posts content to the #LashEducation hashtag. Tags are less general and competitive than #beauty. Becoming more visible within these types of tags is meaningful for brands in the right niche.

Understanding how your hashtags perform on Instagram is critical. With Sprout Social’s hashtag analytics tools, you have direct access to in-depth performance and usage data. Figuring out which hashtags to use is just a few taps away.

10. Take steps to delight your Instagram followers

When you make your Instagram followers happy, you’ll see the payoff in audience growth. The best Instagram accounts have fans and communities (hint: not just followers).

The tips below are the building blocks for a follower-friendly account. Put them into practice in a way that aligns with your brand voice and values. Avoid coming across as needy,  solesy sales-driven or robotic at all costs.

So much of how to get Instagram followers for free is about creating an authentic community. For many accounts, this means building customer relationships. Content that highlights your personality and the humans behind your brand is a plus. This includes:

  • Inspirational content
  • Humorous content
  • Re-sharing UGC with unique captions
  • Storytelling posts
  • Behind-the-scenes photos and videos
  • Posts that raise awareness for social causes

How to get more Instagram followers (the wrong way!)

Disclaimer: Sprout Social does not endorse purchasing Instagram followers. We don’t recommend services that sell followings or “Likes.” 

As the social space becomes more crowded and competitive, brands are willing to take risks for the sake of instant results.

We’ll say it again: brands shouldn’t buy Instagram followers. Nobody should!

Why you shouldn’t buy followers on Instagram

Here are some reasons why buying followers to grow your account is a serious mistake.

Your real followers know what fake followers look like

Social consumers are getting savvier. Privacy concerns and social scammers have made people hyper-aware of weird activity. In short, people today are spam-detectors.

A sudden follower spike is a red flag. Not to mention having bots stink up your account with endless spam followers. This all damages your reputation and keeps you from growing an authentic Instagram following.

Fake followers bring nothing to the table

You’re probably worried about your Instagram metrics and understandably so.

That said, your follower count doesn’t mean much if your “followers” don’t drive engagement. You might look “bigger” at a glance but who cares? Consider how your engagement rate on the platform will suffer if your follower count is inflated.

If nothing else, buying Instagram followers violates TOS

No surprises here.

Consider how Meta has taken direct action against buying engagement in the past. They’ve gone as far as to shut down companies that sell likes. That’s because this practice violates the platform’s terms of service:

Help us stay spam-free by not artificially collecting likes, followers, or shares, posting repetitive comments or content, or repeatedly contacting people for commercial purposes without their consent.

Platforms for buying Instagram followers

You shouldn’t risk your account or organic followers for the sake of boosting your numbers. But if you’re dead-set on trying an Instagram followers app, we can’t stop you.

Here are some options:

Path Social (Web)

Path Social’s platform is intended for influencers looking to grow their following. Touting “no bots, no fake users” and an AI-powered platform, the tool markets itself as being legit.

Followers & Unfollowers (Android)

This Android app identifies mutual followers and non-followers. This makes it easier to go on following and unfollowing sprees. Of course, doing so can be a red flag to Instagram.

Reports + Followers Tracker IG (Apple)

This Apple app has a similar function as the one above. In short, you can track mutuals and non-followers in one place.

How are you growing your Instagram following?

Listen: getting more followers on Instagram isn’t going to happen by accident.

And despite what you might have heard, there’s no silver bullet solution for making it happen.

The tips above can help you build the foundation for an organic following that actually engages with you. Putting these tips into action is so much easier with a powerful publishing and analytics tool like Sprout.

Want to see our suite of tools in action? Start a free trial today and see for yourself!

12 Tactics for Instagram Growth

Summary

Read on to find out the 12 best tactics (with tools and examples) that could help you grow a bigger, more engaged audience for your business on Instagram.

You will learn

  • The best practices to help you grow your Instagram audience
  • The importance of a unique brand voice on Instagram
  • How to post consistently and at the right times to grow your audience

You spend hours planning and creating content for Instagram. For a brief moment after you hit “Share,” all is right with the world. You’re confident you published something great.

Then, radio silence. Or a few likes and comments from your handful of followers. But how do you get more followers on Instagram if not by publishing great content?

There’s no step-by-step guide for Instagram growth. But there are best practices that will help you reach a wider audience and win over new followers.  

Here are 12 ways to get more followers on Instagram.

💡

Schedule your Instagram posts, carousels, stories, and reels with Buffer
Visually plan your content calendar and make your profile a "must-follow" with Buffer's suite of Instagram scheduling and analytics tools.

1. Optimize your bio

Make the most of those 150 characters. Your Instagram bio tells potential followers who you are, what you’re about, and what action you hope people will take after visiting your profile.

Your Instagram bio should include:

  • A clear description of what you do
  • Touches of your personality
  • A call to action (shop, read more, contact us, etc.)
  • A link

Your in-bio link is your only clickable link on Instagram, so use it wisely. Some businesses include a standard link to their website, while others change it regularly to reflect recent posts. But if you want to make it easier on yourself, take advantage of link-in-bio tools such as Start Page that allow you to turn a single link into a catalog of links.

CoolStays includes all the important aspects of a great Instagram bio.

Consider including a branded hashtag as well. For example, we encourage our fans to use #BufferLove when they talk about our products. Adding the branded hashtag to our bio tells people which hashtag to include to catch our attention. Plus, when anyone taps on the hashtag, they’ll see posts from fans who have used it.

At Buffer we include our #BufferLove hashtag in our Instagram bio.

2. Find your best time to post on Instagram

Notice how we didn’t say find thebest time to post on Instagram? The truth is, there is no universal answer for when to post on Instagram to reach the highest number of people. But there are ways to figure out the ideal times for your followers.

First, use Instagram Insights to figure out when your audience is online. Tap the “Insights” button from your Instagram business profile, scroll to “Your Audience,” then tap “See All.” From there, scroll to the bottom to find your audience’s most active times.

Instagram Insights will help you find your best time to post.

You should also consider when your content will be most relevant. For example, a step-by-step recipe video might perform better outside of work hours because people are more likely to be cooking. A coffee shop post, on the other hand, might do well around 2 p.m. when people go through an afternoon slump. Experiment with different posting times and track engagement.

If you're looking for some extra guidance on when to post, Buffer's Answers feature provides you with three posting time suggestions for maximizing your reach on Instagram.

Buffer's Answers feature uses data from your previous posts and followers' activity to calculate your best times to post.

Find more in-depth guidance in our article, How to Find Your Best Time to Post on Instagram.

3. Post consistently

A 2021 study of 14 industries shows that businesses share four Instagram posts per week, on average. But we recommend posting at least once a day.  Brands that get into a regular flow with Instagram posts tend to see the best results. According to a Tailwind study, profiles that post daily gain Instagram followers faster than those that post less frequently.

With Instagram’s algorithmic timeline, consistency is a key element to getting your posts seen. If your posts are shared on a regular basis and picking up good engagement, Instagram’s algorithm will likely show your posts near the top of your followers’ feeds.

Of course, quality is always more important than quantity. Posting more often doesn’t necessarily translate to higher engagement rates. Focus on creating content that will resonate with your target audience—more on that in section 9: Engage with your audience.

Instagram scheduling tools allow you to post consistently without having to worry about posting directly from the app every day. Take a look at How to Schedule Instagram Posts to Save Time and Boost Engagement to discover our favorite  Instagram scheduling tools (free and paid) along with scheduling tips.

4. Learn how the Instagram algorithm works

Many Instagram users initially panicked about the switch from a chronological feed to the ranked timeline. However, since the change, the average post is seen by 50% more followers than before. So, forget about learning how to beat the Instagram algorithm. Instead, focus on learning how to use the system to your advantage.

There are six factors that determine what shows up in each person’s timeline:  interest, timeliness, relationship, frequency, following, and usage.

Here’s a quick rundown of what each of those factors refers to:

  1. Interest: How much Instagram thinks a person will like the post based on previous activity
  2. Timeliness: How recent the post is
  3. Relationship: Accounts a person engages with on a regular basis
  4. Frequency: How often a person uses the Instagram app
  5. Following: Posts from the accounts a person follows
  6. Usage: How much time a person spends on Instagram

Instagram’s algorithm aims to surface the best content for each individual user. So, while six separate factors may seem like a lot to worry about, the best thing you can do is create high-quality content consistently.

We dig into each ranking factor in more detail in How the Instagram Algorithm Works in 2021: Everything You Need to Know. We also include guidance on how to create content that caters to each factor and share tips on how to use the Instagram algorithm to your advantage.

5. Experiment with different content types

Instagram is so much more than photos. Over the years, the app has introduced many ways to share content on the platform. Mixing it up with different content types is one of the best ways to gain more followers on Instagram because it gives you the chance to reach and connect with a wider range of people.

Remember: The algorithm looks at interest and strives to show people the content types that they interact with most often. So, if one person likes and comments on Instagram Reels more often than other post types, they’re likely to see more Reels in their Instagram feed. However, if another person interacts more frequently with carousel posts, they’ll see more of that content type in their timeline.

Each type of content has advantages. For instance, Instagram Reels have an edge because they’re the newest content type and Instagram always pushes new features. Since launching Instagram Reels in 2020, the app has moved the Reels button to the center position in the menu bar and made Reels appear larger than photo posts on the Explore page. Considering 200 million people check the Explore page every day, that additional visual real estate can make a big difference in how many people you reach.

Instagram TV (IGTV) videos also appear 4x larger than photos on the Explore page. And, since IGTV videos can be as long as 60 minutes, this type of content is ideal for long-form video.

Instagram Reels and IGTV take up more real estate on the Instagram Explore page.

Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours, but they have their benefits as well. Fifty-seven percent of brands believe thatStories have been “somewhat effective” or “very effective”as a part of their social media strategy. Plus, if you have a verified account or at least 10,000 followers, you can add Instagram Swipe Up links to Stories to drive traffic to specific pages.

Meanwhile, carousel posts—a series of up to 10 images/videos in a single post—boast the highest engagement rates of all post types. Think of carousels as a mini-story or teaser to a longer-form piece of content, such as a blog. You can use text images, photos, video, or a mix of everything all in one thematic post.

DLC Anxiety uses a carousel post to explain how to reframe anxious thoughts.

Confused by all the arguments for different post types? People like what they like. So, while studies can tell you what the average engagement rate is for each content type or argue for one over the other, the best strategy is to use a variety. Mixing up your Instagram content allows you to reach people with different preferences, and that extended reach helps you boost your Instagram followers.

6. Find your brand voice and create unique content

People don’t follow your business on social media so they can see sales pitches. They follow your brand because they enjoy your personality and the content you create.

What works for one business might not suit your branding—even when you’re in similar industries. For example, Juggling Daisies Hobby Farm and Such and Such Farm both consider themselves to be unique farms. Juggling Daises is all about fun stories, cute photos, and wholesome content. Meanwhile, Such and Such Farm has a more rough-around-the-edges style that includes curse words and humor.

Ask yourself what you want your tone to be. Funny? Informative? Playful? Cynical? Your personality should also reflect what you’re passionate about. Such and Such Farm believes in sustainably grown produce, so many of their Instagram posts talk about their farming practices. What topics do you address with your Instagram content? Everything you share on your business account should show off your brand’s personality and beliefs.

Juggling Daisies shows off its unique personality in its bio and in Instagram posts.

Think of your business account as a person. Design a personality for the account and create branding guidelines so you can stay consistent. Branding guidelines should include notes on tone, style, and values along with your brand’s colors and fonts.

7. Write great captions

Nice photos catch people’s attention—great Instagram captions keep it. Captions give you a chance to provide more context or details about the photo or video you’re sharing. Plus, using keywords in captions can help you appear in search results on the app.

Instagram captions can be up to 2,200 characters. Of course, not every caption needs to read like a blog post. Play around with different lengths. Some photos pair nicely with a short, quippy caption with a couple of emojis, while others might benefit from something longer and more reflective.

The average length of Instagram captions is on the rise, but most brands still don’t go anywhere near that 2,200 character limit. In 2020, the average was projected to be 405 characters, up from 142 in 2016.

OnlineDrea uses both short- and long-form captions on Instagram.

So, when do you go long, and when do you keep it simple? There’s no hard-and-fast rule. Just like with content types, it’s best to mix it up. Take a look at these two posts from Andréa Jones of OnlineDrea. One post has a short caption, while the other specifically directs you to the caption for a longer explanation.

8. Research and use hashtags

We’ve explored hashtags a lot on the blog, but it seems that nowhere on social media are they quite as important as on Instagram. The right hashtags can expose your image to a large and targeted audience, and Instagram users don’t seem to get hashtag fatigue in the same way they might on other networks.

Start by finding hashtags that would appeal to your target audience. Free Instagram tools like Display Purposes and AutoHash help you find relevant hashtags for your Instagram posts. For instance, with Display Purposes, you simply type in a few words about your image, and it will recommend the top hashtags to use.

If you want to gain more Instagram followers, hashtags are essential. Using hashtags makes your content discoverable via search or filtering when people tap on the same hashtag from another post. People can even follow their favorite hashtags so that top content with that hashtag will show up in their Instagram timeline.

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but don’t tack on extras just to hit 30. TrackMaven recommends nine hashtags for maximum engagement. Just make sure you don’t use the same nine hashtags over and over again. Instead, group your go-to hashtags by category so you can quickly add a few relevant hashtags to each post.

With Buffer Hashtag Manager, you can create and save groups of hashtags. Then, you can select from your pre-saved groups and add hashtags to your scheduled Instagram posts.

Hashtag Manager helps you build a library of hashtag groups so you can get more reach for every Instagram post.

9. Engage with your audience

Engagement is crucial for growth on Instagram. Many brands make the mistake of focusing on likes and comments without considering the people behind those metrics. If you really want to get more Instagram followers, you need to engage your fans in a conversation.

Keep in mind that just because someone sees your content, that doesn’t mean they currently follow you. If you have a chance to interact with a potential follower, you should take it. Every comment is an opportunity to gain a new follower (or keep a current one), so make sure you respond to each comment you receive. If your hands are already cramping at the thought of tapping away on your phone, don’t worry. With the Buffer Engage tool, you can reply to comments from your desktop.

But don’t just wait for your followers to start the conversation. Create engagement opportunities. Use Instagram stickers such as open-ended questions and polls in Instagram Stories. Ask questions in your photo captions. Encourage people to tag friends in the comments with prompts such as “Tag your BFF who you’d invite on this cruise!” or “Tag your wine-loving friend who you’d do this wine tasting with. ”

Need more ideas? Take a look at our Instagram engagement tips to learn how to get more followers on Instagram by increasing engagement.

10. Collaborate with others

Another great way to gain Instagram followers is to collaborate with others through partnerships or influencer campaigns.

Our brand spotlight with Blume is a great example. Blume gets access to Buffer’s followers through the original Instagram Story and the accompanying Highlights. Meanwhile, Blume will share the spotlight with their fans, which brings their audience to Buffer. It’s a win-win.

Instagram Highlights spotlight featuring Janice Ayan of Blume

Influencer marketing is another way to grow your Instagram following. If you have the budget, you can pay content creators to promote your brand. But if you’re hoping to keep it simple (and low-budget), micro-influencers (1,000–10,000 followers) can be very impactful.  In fact, content from micro-influencers has higher engagement rates than content from larger accounts. You can seek out micro-influencers to set up collaborations or simply re-share user-generated content (UGC).

Remember those branded hashtags we talked about in Section 1: Optimize your bio? One tap on your branded hashtag, and you’ll have an entire catalog of content to choose from.

When we first launched Buffer’s Instagram, we encouraged fans to use #BufferStories and #BufferCommunity. We used those hashtags to find and re-share user-generated content. Within one year, we increased our Instagram followers from 4,250 to 21,000.

We discovered Jon Woon through our branded hashtag and re-shared the content on our own account (with permission of the original creator).

Why is UGC so popular? "It relays authentic experiences about a brand’s products or services from previous customers, which boosts brand credibility," says Ramon Berrios of Trend.

Collaborations are also a chance to show off your values and personality through association. The businesses and people you align with and support say a lot about your own brand. Partnerships can be especially powerful for local businesses, too. Consider partnering with your neighbors so you can reach a hyper-targeted audience.

Make it easy for people to find your Instagram. No one should have to hunt through pages of your website to find your Instagram profile.

We use our website footer to link to Buffer's social accounts.

Add your Instagram account link to:

  • Email footers
  • Your website’s footer and/or sidebar
  • Bios on other social media platforms
  • Social media posts from team members

12. Analyze your results

One way to figure out how to get more followers on Instagram is to look into what your current fans respond to. You can monitor several Instagram metrics directly in the app with Instagram Insights or through third-party analytics tools such as Buffer.

Don’t obsess over vanity metrics such as likes and comments. Instead, think about what the metrics tell you. For example, if you’re testing out a new hashtag, metrics such as new followers and reach will tell you more about the value of that hashtag than likes from your current followers will. However, if you’re experimenting with different posting times, impressions can give you an idea of when your content is most likely to be seen. Your end goal will determine which metrics matter the most.

Analyzing your data can help you to spot trends and understand what content resonates with your audience. 

Watch for trends. Does a specific type of image get more impressions or engagement? Post more of those images and see how your followers respond. Do certain hashtags result in more likes from people who don’t follow you? Use those hashtags more often and keep an eye on new followers.

Read our Instagram Analytics guide to learn more about Instagram metrics and how to use them to fuel your marketing strategy.

How do you manage your Instagram marketing?

If you want steady Instagram growth, you have to give your target audience quality content on a regular basis. While piecemeal social media is fine for personal accounts, businesses need to be more strategic. All of the tactics we covered will help you gain more Instagram followers, but they’re not boxes you can check off once. Staying on top of your social media content strategy is crucial.

It takes time to plan and schedule posts. And managing engagement can be a challenge as well. With Buffer, you can manage every aspect of your Instagram marketing strategy, from scheduling through analytics, right in one platform. Get started for free.

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9 ways to promote your Instagram

1. The key is patience

It takes a lot of time, work and diligence to build any kind of platform. Of course, you can look at the giants of the industry with a huge number of subscribers and think that success came to them in an instant. However, many of us forget that in order to achieve these results, they put in their best efforts and spent a lot of time.

YouTubers like PewDiePie, Casey Neistet and Lilly Sing have been in the industry since 2010, Jackfilms even since 2006. Twitch streamer Richard "Ninja" Blevins has been a professional gamer since 2011—seven years have passed. nine0005

Don't expect instant success.

2. Give value

Why do you follow people? Because they post photos you like - they give you value.

Photo: Unsplash

To attract any audience, you must create valuable content that will be interesting to others. Therefore, selfies are a poor option for attracting followers, due to the fact that the only people who are interested in such photos are yourself and your friends. nine0005

3. Main theme

One should stick to a certain niche. Take Chris Howe for example. He is a travel photographer, his niche is to take interesting photos in interesting places. Let's say a person stumbles upon one of his posts and goes to their profile to decide if it's worth following. When he sees his photos in the "grid", he notices one constant theme - high-quality travel photos. Now that a person knows what this photographer is doing, he can decide whether to subscribe to him. He knows what to expect. nine0005

Do not think that this limits the flight of imagination and creativity. Just remember that social media should be treated like a business.

Photo: Unsplash

There's nothing wrong with using Instagram and other social media just for fun, if that's what you want to do. If you want to post 25 selfies a day and 7 videos of your dog, please. But if you're going to do this for business, you need to act accordingly. nine0005

You can be creative and creative by simply uploading content relevant to your niche.

4. Hashtags

Every article, every video discusses the same question: how many hashtags under a post are effective? 7? eleven? thirty? Personally, I adhere to the rule that under each of my photos there should be 30 hashtags - the maximum number that Instagram allows.

Think of it like this: every hashtag is a digital market, in every market users are looking for different content, and you want to maximize the number of people who see your photo. If you have the opportunity to place content in 30 different markets, you will take advantage of it, right? nine0005

So how do you find relevant hashtags? First, it's best to start with the biggest ones. If you took a photo with a Canon camera, you can use the #canonphotography hashtag, which will show you 8.5 million posts. Through big hashtags, you can find smaller, narrower ones.

Photo: Medium

Click on all nine top posts, and select the best hashtags below them - go through them, evaluate their quality, number of posts and activity. If you see for a particular hashtag that the last posts were posted one or two weeks ago, don't include it. nine0005

Personally, I use hashtags that contain up to one million posts, because the larger the hashtag, the higher the chances that your photo will be lost somewhere.

Photo: Medium

Clicking on the second picture, I saw the hashtag #canonlover (96k posts), high quality photos and the right number of shots, so I'll take that as well. Now I have two hashtags, 28 left. Repeat these steps one more time.

Photo: Medium

It's also important to remember that your post will appear alongside all the others, so ask yourself: do you want your content to be next to these images? Do they reflect what you are aiming for? nine0005

I would suggest limiting the number of large hashtags (more than one million posts) to two or three per photo. Focus mainly on average hashtags - from 3,000 to 800,000 posts. You can choose smaller ones if you like. Also, I think it's helpful to create your own hashtags as well.

5. Hierarchy of hashtags

Now I will talk about what I do. It doesn't have any practical purpose, just aesthetics: I place hashtags in alphabetical order, and my own hashtag comes before all the others because it's not just content, it's my content. nine0005

When people click on a photo, they first see the caption, after they click on "more" there are 15 dots leading down and then hashtags. I don't want to litter the photo caption with a lot of blue words.

6. Diversity

If you're growing Instagram or any other social platform, you have to do something else to reach a wider audience. Start writing articles, make YouTube videos, tweet, facebook; do something. Your work doesn't have to exist in a vacuum. For example, I am currently writing an article on Medium and I hope that it will attract a new audience to my Instagram account. nine0005

Photo: @brandonwoelfel

It's very easy to sit still, upload content to the platform effortlessly, and wait for everything to magically come. The situation will only change when you take control of the platform.

Start thinking like an entrepreneur: don't look for an opportunity, create an opportunity.

7. Grid

What is it? This is how all the photos in your account look as a whole. It may seem like something unimportant, but in fact it is one of the most significant aspects of Instagram. Remember: Instagram is a visual platform, your photos not only need to look good on their own, they need to look good together. nine0005

Let's look at some examples of good accounts:

  • Simone Girtz
  • Peter McKinnon
  • Amelia Zelenak
  • Jessica Kobeissi
  • Chris Howe
  • Bodil Jane
  • Chris Schnuwer

All these people create different content. The only thing they have in common is that their work looks good both separately and together.

Some Instagrammers, like Vigo Kramins, create the grid in a very unusual way. Its content is focused on one topic and its catalog looks almost identical. It all depends on what you are striving for. After all, why should anyone look at something (on a visual platform) if it's ugly? nine0005

Photo: Unsplash

8. Multiple Accounts

Instagram has a standard feature that allows users to switch accounts quickly and easily. Perhaps you are a creative person in many aspects of life and can regularly produce good content from several sources at once. If you can do it, go ahead.

However, if you are new to Instagram, it is best to learn the platform first before creating additional accounts, otherwise you will waste a lot of time and get very worried. Especially if the profiles do not grow. nine0005

9. Dating

Don't fall for the romantic idea that one person just worked hard while others doubted him, and all of a sudden success came to him. It is not true.

The point is that everyone who is successful is either very good at networking or has been introduced to key people. And, of course, a pinch of luck didn't hurt.

Networking in business means getting to know the right people, making a good impression on them in the hope that you can convince them to invest in your idea. nine0005

Photo: Unsplash

Learn how to be a good salesperson - luckily we have the internet and it's easy to do.

How does all this relate to Instagram?

You have to think about how to make friends on Instagram. This can be done via direct. Before you start writing to someone, I would suggest that you upload at least ten photos to showcase your skills and niche. Otherwise, you will simply be ignored, because no one wants to interact with an account that does not have any photos and is a few months old. nine0005

Post something every day. Use relevant hashtags. Follow people who motivate you. Account not growing? Take a look at your content and see if it brings value to people. If not, change it.

@petermckinnon Instagram feed

Another option is to use branded hashtags and tags. First, what's the difference? Hashtags are pure categorization. You put a hashtag like #canonphotography under the post and the photo will show up in the "recent" hashtag section. If people like it, it will get to the top. nine0005

Brand hashtags like #beautyoftechnology allow brands to view the photos below them and see your work. Once you get sponsored, you will very often do this for every brand you partner with. The more you do this, the more you will earn.

Photo: Medium

Tags are a whole other level when you tag someone in your post. There are no restrictions on the number of tags on Instagram. When you tag a person or brand in a photo, their account gets a notification. If you find sponsors, you will tag them and use their hashtags. Everyone can see who you've tagged by simply clicking on the post. nine0005

Photo: Medium

If you want to be an Instagrammer, you have to be critical of your work. Thinking like an entrepreneur means loving what you do and at the same time looking at it objectively. Try to give 100%. Start right now and you will be surprised by the results.

Source.

Related content:

How to create an Instagram content plan that will get you a lot of followers

“I make more money on Instagram in one day than in two months of teaching in college”

11 tips on how to become an Instagram blogger and start making money

10 essential tools for working with Instagram


The complete guide from A to Z don't know how? Or maybe you already have a blog, but are not satisfied with it? What about earnings? Is your profile bringing in enough customers or would you like more?

You are reading the complete guide on how to start blogging on Instagram. In this article I talk about what points to pay close attention to in maintaining an account. Consider everything:

  • niche selection,
  • target audience,
  • competitor analysis,
  • account registration,
  • useful applications in profile management,
  • writing posts and publishing stories,
  • paid promotion methods

In almost every block you will find links to more detailed articles. I recommend reading each, in them I tried to answer all possible questions.

In this article you will learn:

What do I need to do before starting an Instagram account?

Look, there are hundreds of happy wives, needlewomen, fitonies and knitters, knitters, photographers, trainers on Instagram. If you write about the same things they write about, then you will simply drown in a mass of similar blogs.

You need your own chip, and instagram doesn't need another blog .

Start maintaining your account the right way with Lecture "The Content Engine" .

As a result of the lecture, you will receive a scheme that will help you sell more on Instagram without constantly posting stories.

Bonus - ready-made content plan for an expert for a month!

Read more

Start with market analysis

Before you learn how to run Instagram, you need to start with market analysis . I'm not talking about serious marketing analysis, you just don't have the resources and experience to do it. I encourage you to see what people are searching for in your niche with:

  • Yandex Wordstat,
  • Google Trends,
  • Comments on forums and competitor accounts.

Before the advent of the iPad, there were PDAs (personal pocket computers) on the market. However, they were not popular with people: it was expensive, incomprehensible, ugly. And in 2010, Apple presents its first iPad, which combines the functions of a laptop and a smartphone.

Company saw the potential of niche, adjusted to expectations and people's requests and released product .

To start from scratch correctly, answer the question “ What do people need? »

For example:

Beginner confectioner Masha saw in Yandex.Wordstat a demand for birthday cakes for boys and girls. Based on this, Masha decided to make two main products: a birthday cake in the form of superheroes for boys and a birthday cake in the form of princesses for girls.

Use Yandex.Wordstat and Google Trends to find your niche. nine0005

Make an analysis of the target audience

It has already been said and retold about the target audience, but still I meet a bunch of comments in the style: “I don’t know who my target audience is.”

Target audience is a group of people united by some sign. This includes not only existing customers, but also potential ones.

Thanks to the analysis of the target audience, you know:

  • What a potential buyer is watching, reading, listening to . When developing texts and advertising, you take into account their slang, traditions, religious or political beliefs, ways of obtaining information, etc. All this increases the effect of advertising. nine0088
  • Audience needs : What does your client need? what problems he faced and what he can offer her. This will allow you to make the most targeted offer. As one cliché says: An offer you can't refuse .
  • What the audience breathes . You also know the people they listen to. This is especially true when buying ads from bloggers.
4 steps to define your target audience

A little reminder for those who don't know or have forgotten how to define their target audience. For this:

  1. Draw a general portrait of target audience . Here, describe gender, age, geography, income level, possible professions, marital status (if it is important).
  2. Divide the overall portrait into segments . If you develop a profile on Instagram, then we reduce the age of our target audience. According to official data, the average age of Instagram visitors is 18-34 years old . Agree, at 18 and at 34 there may be different needs, and this is important - this is point number 3.
  3. Study the needs of the target audience . To do this, go to Google, rummage through forums, VK groups, competitor profiles and write out your assumptions in a mind map.
  4. Refine product or positioning . Remember, you cannot change the habits and pains of your target audience. But you can change your product to solve the pains of the target audience.

It's like in the story about Vasya and Petya:

Vasya first made a product, and then he didn't know who to sell 1000 units of his product to. nine0005

Petya found out what people needed, made a product that solves their pain and sold everything without a trace.

Be like Petya.

For a successful start, get to know your competitors

For some reason, many associate work with competitors with struggle, conflicts or even war. Let's agree, from now on, to consider our competitors as colleagues from whom you can learn something or build up against their background. It seems to me that this point of view is more suitable for constructive affairs. nine0005

Why analyze competitors?

  • adjust their own development strategy .

    • Competitor analysis is a great way to find out the pains of a client . Go to the comments under a useful post and see what questions people are asking. nine0005

    Competitors are:

    Key - companies whose actions can significantly affect sales (both upward and downward).

    Direct - companies that sell a similar product in a similar market and work with your target audience.

    Indirect - companies that sell a product with different characteristics or a completely different product, but work with your target audience. ⠀

    “But how is it, Zarina. Does that mean you have to keep an eye on everyone? And when to work?

    Of course, you don't have to keep track of everyone, you won't physically have time to do it. Therefore, remember the algorithm of actions:

    1. Make a list of possible competitors on Instagram.
    2. Divide this list into direct, key and indirect.
    3. Analyze the profiles of direct competitors: profile header, avatar, content, what they offer, how much it costs, the number of subscribers, profile activity. nine0088
    4. Think about where you can offer the best conditions, how you can distinguish yourself, and what ideas you can borrow.

    How to start Instagram

    After you have figured out your niche, target audience and competitors, you can move on to the account itself. In order for readers to notice your profile, it is important to format it correctly. This means that you need to make a header, think over the visual, write a content plan and start promoting your profile.

    Decide on the type and theme of the blog

    To start blogging, decide on the type of blog. On Instagram, it is customary to divide any accounts into 3 large groups: a business account, a personal blog, and an expert blog.

    Business account

    You will get a business account if you want to create a shop, studio or salon page. Such profiles are monetized by selling their services and products.

    In terms of content, everything is simple: selling and informational posts (for example, about the benefits of your product) + rare entertaining posts or videos for engagement. There can be no personal content in the feed of a business account. nine0005 An example of running a business account (shop, salon, studio)

    Personal blog

    A personal blog is any profile whose author maintains an Instagram and does not provide any services. The authors of such blogs often shoot funny and not so funny videos, comment on world events, express their opinion on topical issues in posts and stories. They also broadcast their life, relationships, sports results, nutrition, hobbies. They earn, as a rule, by selling advertising integrations.

    Personal blog example (humor, travel, food, fashion)
    Expert blog

    Expert blogs are ideal for promoting your services. For example, if you are a makeup artist, copywriter or photographer. It is important for the authors of such blogs to work with the loyalty of the audience, increase their expertise, and engage them with interesting and useful content.

    Expert blogs are monetized by selling services and training (courses, marathons, master classes).

    An example of an expert's blog

    Absolutely any field can be a topic for a blog. If you don't know what blog to start, here are two tips for choosing an account theme:

    1. Blog about topics that are close to you and that you understand. If you have no idea what to write about skiing, don't write about skiing.
    2. Niche and find your audience.

    Let me explain the second advice. Let's say you're a psychologist. Yes, you can write about everything and a little, this area is limitless in terms of ideas for posts. But it would be much better to choose a narrower direction and better reveal each topic. This will increase your expertise and average check. For example, you can write about problems with children, relationships, or emotional burnout (the latter is a direct scourge of the 21st century, which I also faced). nine0005

    Think about visual design

    An example of a good profile visual: high-quality photos with different angles. On the left ribbon is my profile in warm colors, on the right - a profile in cold colors. If text is used, then it is readable, and the font is the same everywhere.

    Instagram is a social network where the main content will always be photos and videos. Your useful publications will remain unread if the profile or post does not attract attention.

    An example of what not to do: stock images, different font on the photo, it is unreadable on some photos, there is no single direction in color design. In the left tape on none of the 9there is no photo of the author, but this is an expert blog.

    Visual design includes a profile header, an avatar and a photo of posts in the feed. Trends are constantly changing and what was relevant in 2020 has already gone out of fashion in 2022. Therefore, I will not tell you about visual trends, but I will suggest general principles that you can follow.

    1. Look at the description of the target audience . Your visual should be close to those we want to attract. For example, if you sell an expensive service and are looking for solvent people, then you will never attract them if you publish a photo against the backdrop of a Soviet carpet. nine0088
    2. Post quality photos . And now I’m not only talking about professional photo shoots, although they are also needed for the blog. Choose clothes, accessories and surroundings to take good photos.
    3. Watch the balance of light and darkness . The photo should not have highlights or, conversely, too dark fragments.
    4. Choose different angles . Do not post only selfies or only portrait photos. Make sure that different angles alternate in your feed: details, medium, long-range and ultra-long shot. nine0088
    5. Edit photos . You can use presets for Lightroom or edit images in other photo apps.

    YouTube is full of video guides on mobile photography and editing. Look at them, it will make it easier for you to create photo content.

    Design features

    Each type of blog has its own design features.

    Which image answers the question "What does the profile sell" faster?

    The best solution for avatar business account will be the product photo. You can put a store logo on the avatar only if you are Nike, Adidas or the logo contains an image of what you are selling. In other cases, with a 99% chance, your logo will be almost impossible to make out, and you will lose your avatar as an advantage.

    • In the header write down the addresses of your shops/studios, current discounts, calls to action and a link to the website/taplink.
    • Alternate product photos from different angles and plans. nine0088
    • Avoid foreign objects in the photo, unless they "enhance" your product.

    The author of personal blog must be recognized, so we put 100% of our face on the ava in close-up, maximum to the waist.

    • In the profile header, write what you can interest the audience, why it is worth subscribing to you.
    • Keep the design of the ribbon natural. Fill it with bright "live" images. Avoid the same type and fuzzy photos. Photos should convey emotions and attract to the reading of the post. nine0088

    For the blog of the expert, it is appropriate to use both a personal photo and a photo of the result of your service. A copywriter, for example, cannot show a photo of his service, just like a psychologist. Therefore, for such experts, a personal photo is the best option. Again, close-up or to the waist. A photographer can post a personal photo with a camera, a confectioner can post mouth-watering buns or cakes.

    • The header should hook a person from the first words, so place the most important things in it: the key phrase in the name, USP and call to action. nine0088
    • The visual should be combined with each other both in color and in content.
    • To make it easier to navigate your blog, you can place post titles on photos. This will allow the person to immediately understand what the post is about, or find the right one in your feed.

    Install applications

    This item may seem strange, they say, why install applications when there is an insta. The built-in tools are not enough to schedule the tape, do the necessary processing, and even more so glue the video. I have compiled key Instagram apps that make it easy for me to work with content. nine0005

    The Preview application

    Preview allows you to schedule a tape and get the same profile "in the same style." For basic tasks, the free version will be enough for you.

    The app has a clean interface, photo editing tools and a font pack that you can use in your posts or bio. With Preview, you can create a grid layout, rearrange photos, and get the best version of your feed.

    The app also has a post planner and analytics tools, but I don't use them. Internal analytics from Instagram is enough for me, and if necessary, I schedule posts for free through delayed posting on the Facebook website. nine0005

    Photo editors

    I'll tell you how to process photos easily and easily, what editors to use to get beautiful photos and likes:

    Lightroom is a cool visual photo editor. You can find many presets that make works of art from ordinary photos. Here you can change the saturation, brightness and hue separately for each color. It is convenient to crop the photo and change the contrast. The free version is enough to work.

    Snapseed - basic editor. It differs, perhaps, in speed. Very fast loading, exporting images. Suitable for removing unwanted objects in the photo, quick color correction and cropping. The application is also free, with an intuitive interface.

    Available tools in Snapseed

    PS Express - where without it. Photoshop is the father of all photo editors. Also free. In it I use only the “Restore” tool to delete objects. Photoshop does it best, I recommend it. nine0005 My favorite tool in PS Express

    Video editors

    Some blogs consist entirely of video posts. And now that Instagram has rolled out Reels, you absolutely need a video editor to keep up. I use it myself:

    InShot is an excellent mobile editor, many people know it by its watermark. In it, you can glue a clip from several videos, trim where necessary, add music, text, change the speed of the video. All basic tools are free to use, but your videos will be watermarked. You can get rid of it by purchasing a subscription for 349₽/month, 1150 ₽/year or for 3290 ₽ forever. I take an annual subscription, because. videos are not the main content type in my account.

    Pay attention to the same watermark in the right corner of the preview. You can remove it for free once a day.

    Videoleap is also a video editor, but I keep it only because of one useful difference. Here you can work with several tracks, as in a full-fledged editor. InShot loses in this regard, there is only one track and you cannot overlay one layer on another. nine0005 You can overlay both images and audio tracks.

    iOS Basic Video Editor - 360-degree video rotation is now available after the latest update. It helps a lot if you suddenly took something at the wrong angle. Free, available by clicking the "Edit" button in the upper right corner.

    Start writing posts

    You figured out the type of blog and theme, installed everything you need, filled out the header, what's next? Tell the audience who you are and how you can be useful, write a post-acquaintance. nine0005

    Maximum post length 2200 characters , but Instagrammers have long learned to bypass this limitation. There are two ways to publish something that does not fit in the post:

    1. Text on the photo in the carousel . In addition to the first photo, you have 9 more slides in the carousel, where you can write what did not fit in the post. Do not forget to write in the post that the continuation can be read in the carousel.

    Make an entry in a text or photo editor, save it, add it to the carousel to the post. nine0056 2. Comment under post . Fewer people use this method, but it is still alive, so I will write about it. Each comment can contain up to 1000 characters, and if not less than this figure, write a comment. Don't forget to pin it so it's right below the post so people don't have to look for a sequel. To pin a comment, you'll have to post it as a different account.

    For each type of publication, you can come up with and find a lot of topics for posts. Depending on the content and purpose, posts are distinguished:

    Sellers . The purpose of such posts is to sell a product, product, service. These are posts where you directly encourage readers to buy something from you.

    Informational . Delivering information to the audience. This may be an up-to-date price list, information about a change of address or the opening of a new branch. We also include useful posts on the topic of the account.

    Involving . Such posts are aimed at engaging existing subscribers to leave comments and communicate with you. Here you can discuss procedures and products, hold competitions. nine0005

    Entertainment . Posts of good mood and increasing loyalty. Humor brings you closer to your readers. Entertainment content includes funny memes and videos, curiosities and polls.

    Of course, you can't cover the topic of blog copywriting in one post. Therefore, I give 7 rules for a good post for Instagram:

    1. Write for your target audience . Use the same words, terms and slang. If you write for moms, then greet them: “Hello, mufflers!” at least indecent. nine0088
    2. Make text varying in length . Write both short posts and long ones. There is no universal recipe here, test it.
    3. Write the way you speak . Some people, sitting down to the text, for some reason, begin to fence complex constructions.
    4. Follow the logic . First, Anna Karenina fell in love and only then threw herself under the train. Not vice versa. ⠀
    5. Follow structure . Attract attention with a headline (if you practice captions on pictures) or the beginning. Then talk about the benefits of the product and end with a call to action. nine0088
    6. Divide text into paragraphs, spice it up with emoji .
    7. Write every day . Regularity is the key to success in copywriting.

    Post Stories and Reels

    Stories examples: lifestyle, questions, polls

    In Stories tell us about yourself, personal insights, how your work day went, share achievements. Emotional content brings the blogger closer to the audience. It is very important to publish stories daily so as not to get lost from the feed of subscribers. nine0005

    business accounts can post current promotions, new products, arrange interactive questions and answers about products or services. This will increase coverage and find out what is interesting to the target audience.

    Owners of personal blog I advise you to conduct more live communication: polls, voting, situations from everyday life, breaking news.

    Blogger-expert can share the results of work or achievements of students in stories. Show subscribers customer reviews, tool or product reviews. Arrange an interactive with a vote or a request to evaluate the result in a before / after style. Don't forget to show the personal on the blog, it has a good effect on the reach. nine0005 Video examples in Reels: they can be both entertaining and useful videos

    Reels is a new feature from Instagram and it is also an attempt to move TikTok. It appeared in the world in August 2020, and in Russia it was launched only at the end of June 2021. It is a short video for 15-60 seconds. They are displayed on a special tab and do not disappear after 24 hours, like stories. The main difference between rils and stories is that they are shown not only to your subscribers, but also to random people in the feed. nine0005

    Track statistics

    Statistics are needed to understand what the audience is interested in and to properly promote your blog.

    I'll note right away that statistics are available only for business accounts and author profiles. To transfer an account to a business account, you need to connect statistics to Instagram. In it, you can see the age of the audience, their gender, location, periods of greatest activity by day of the week and hour.

    Pay attention to posts, stories and Reels that have received more reach, a lot of comments and likes. Analyze them and make similar content. Over time, you will find your recipe for fasting that will “get in”. nine0005

    How to start promoting on Instagram

    We have come to the final step in order to start attracting an audience on Instagram. Even the steepest profile will bend without advancing. So let's see what options we have.

    Free promotion

    The social network annually cuts this direction and it becomes more and more difficult to gain followers on Instagram for free.

    Geotags . Indicate in the posts the places where your target audience is. For example, if you photograph newborns, you can use the geo-tags of antenatal clinics, perinatal centers, maternity hospitals. nine0005

    Barter or Mutual PR (VP) . You advertise a blogger for free, he advertises you. Be sure to analyze the account with which you want to conduct the VP. Ask for statistics on stories, take a look at the percentage of likes and comments from the total number of subscriptions, it should be at least 6-10%. This method of promotion is appropriate if your blog has at least 1-2 thousand subscribers.

    Hashtags . It's good, but you need to know how to use it. Don't even try to post high frequency hashtags like #fit , #girl , #work . They will only work if you are a Kardashian with a billion followers who will bring your post to the TOP of the recommended with their likes. For young blogs, there is a chance to get into the recommended ones only with low-frequency hashtags. For example, #website text or #slimming workout .

    Spamming HF hashtags in a post is a useless thing and will not bring a loyal audience. Most likely, after such hashtags, stores, other fitness trainers and motivation blogs will subscribe to the author of this post. nine0056 SFS . Post a useful or not very useful post with a call to talk about your blog in your profiles. In response, you talk on your blog about the people who supported your account.

    This list used to have geo tags and hashtags for stories, but in 2021, Insta turned them off as well. Stories by geo-tagging are no longer available, which means that they cannot be used for promotion.

    massliking and massfollowing never go away, but I have always been against this method. You can do it manually better than with the help of services, albeit longer. nine0005

    But remember - there is always a risk of getting banned for using MF and ML, so think a thousand times if you are ready to lose what you have been gaining.

    Paid promotion

    In the vastness of the network, you can still find articles that contain the cherished phrase “... although there are no ads on Instagram …”. Right now, you can buy placements in Posts, Stories, Reels, and IGTV only in Facebook Ads. In addition, you can always buy ads from bloggers, bypassing the official advertising tools. nine0005

    Targeted advertising
    Examples of advertisements in the target: 2 ads in stories and 2 posts in the feed

    Target is a one-love for me. You can choose the goal of promotion: more visits to the profile, site or increase in the number of comments. Customize the audience: specify gender, age, location. Target will show your posts or stories exactly to those who could potentially become your client. Or it will remind people about you who have already visited your profile, saved posts, but for some reason did not subscribe. nine0005

    Advertising with bloggers

    A great way to increase the audience of your blog is to buy ads from bloggers. Choose to start microblogs with a small number of subscribers. The audience of such accounts is quite involved, and you can get more return on advertising in such a profile.

    You can use popular exchanges like Sociate, but I recommend always looking for handles and contacting blog owners directly for advertising.

    In addition, you can buy advertising in public. But here you need to analyze well and choose sites. See to it that the audience is alive and active. nine0005

    What is forbidden to post on Instagram?

    On Instagram it is forbidden to publish nude photos, posts that incite conflicts on religious, political or social topics. Plagiarism is not allowed - the social network is against content theft. For spamming in Direct and spamming comments, you may be subject to a permanent account ban.

    Also, the service may consider publication of several posts in one day as doubtful:

    • New profiles aged 2-4 weeks can publish no more than 3 posts per day .
    • profiles over 6 months old can post up to 25 posts per day .

    Instagram reacts sharply to any mass action. Numerous identical hashtags, comments and direct messages are perceived as spam. Endless likes, subscriptions, unsubscribes make the page activity suspicious. For various violations, insta can ban you for several hours, days, months, and even forever. nine0005

    Conclusion

    Now you know everything to start blogging on Instagram. This social network is a goldmine for business and self-expression. I hope you understand the algorithm of actions and this article will really help you in maintaining a profile.

    And do not forget that in order to develop an account, it is not enough to read some information. The main thing is to put it into practice.

    Questions?

    Questions and answers

    How to manage a group on Instagram?

    Group - this is the same blog that is dedicated to a specific topic.

    Learn more