How get more likes and followers on instagram
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 followersBefore 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 accountBefore 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 calendarMomentum 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 advanceThere’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.
4. Engage with customers, brand advocates and influencersPerfect 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.
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 followersThere’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…
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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.
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Provide no monetary value to your business. Think about it. Your bot followers can’t buy your stuff, can they?
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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 canDon’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.
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 outInstagram 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 followersWhen 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.
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!
How To Get More Followers on Instagram [5 Simple Steps]
Starting fresh on social or just trying to build your online brand? You’re probably wondering how to get more followers on Instagram.
And no, we don’t mean buying followers or using bots. Those tricks might boost your follower count for a short time, but they won’t do you any favors long-term.
That’s because the only truly valuable Instagram followers are real people who care about and engage with your brand.
Check out our in-depth guide to learn how to grow Instagram followers organically.
Step 1. Lay the groundwork
Step 2. Create great content
Step 3. Make yourself findable
Step 4. Engage with your community
Step 5. Keep learning
Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.
How to get more Instagram followers for free
No time to read the whole guide? Check out the video below for what you need to grow on Instagram this year:
Otherwise, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Step 1. Lay the groundworkHave a thoughtful Instagram marketing strategyIf you want to be effective on social, you need a clear plan.
Getting more Instagram followers is a great starter goal. But followers alone won’t create a successful Instagram account. Your goal needs to be part of a larger plan that connects to your business strategy and social marketing objectives.
Think about the reasons why you want more Instagram followers. What do you really hope to accomplish? Maybe you want to:
- increase brand awareness
- boost product sales
- drive traffic to your website.
Staying focused on these business-oriented goals will help keep your Instagram account consistent. It will help you tell a compelling brand story that appeals to new profile visitors and helps build (and keep) a loyal following.
Define your target audienceAsk yourself some questions about who you’re trying to reach:
- Where do they live?
- What do they do for work?
- When and how do they use Instagram?
- What are their pain points and challenges?
The answers to these questions will help you craft content to connect with the people on Instagram who are most likely to give you a follow.
They will also help you consistently deliver content that will keep your audience engaged for the long run.
Create a consistent brand story and aesthetic
Maybe you want to show off how your product is made. Or humanize your brand by sharing an employee’s perspective. An aspirational brand might showcase the lifestyle or achievements of your customers.
No matter what you’re going for, it’s important to maintain a consistent brand voice, personality and look.
Your posts should be easily recognizable at a glance. Think of your Instagram grid as one cohesive unit. You can always use Instagram Stories to share content that doesn’t quite fit with the look and feel of your main feed.
Your products don’t have to look the same, either. You can use styling to give your grid a consistent look and feel, like @themillerswifecustomcookies does:
Source: @themillerswifecustomcookies on Instagram
Use keywords to appear in searches
Before people can follow you on Instagram, they have to find you. But not all text on Instagram is searchable. Only two fields on Instagram contribute to search results: name and username.
Your username is your Instagram handle. It should be consistent with the handle you use on other social networks since this also makes it easier for people to find you. Use your brand name or a variation of your name that people are likely to use when searching for your brand.
Your name can be anything you like, up to 30 characters. You don’t want to keyword-stuff, but including your most relevant keyword in the name field can make you easier to find.
For example, travel writer Claudia Laroye (@itsclaudiatravels) includes the keyphrase “travel writer” in her Instagram name. Now, she’s more likely to be found by people looking for travel content or writers.
Source: @itsclaudiatravels on Instagram
Optimize your Instagram bio and profileTwo-thirds of Instagram business profile visits are from non-followers. If your bio and profile convince them to click the follow button, those visitors may become followers.
Your profile includes your name and username fields (mentioned above), your website and your bio.
Your bio can be up to 150 characters, so make the most of it. Convey your brand identity and show new visitors why they should follow you. What kind of content can they expect?
This bio from @abstractaerialart sums up the account’s purpose and promise in a quick, easy-to-digest way:
Source: @abstractaerialart on Instagram
If you have a professional account (business or Creator), you can include extra info in your profile, like your contact information, type of business, and location.
Step 2. Create great contentDesign a gorgeous Instagram gridSure, this might seem obvious, but it’s critical when thinking about getting followers on Instagram. Every post on your Instagram grid must be high-quality and visually engaging.
When new users visit your profile, the content should make them want to see more (and click Follow).
Give commercial photographer @nelsonmouellic a round of applause for this visual feat.
Write compelling, long captionsInstagram is a visual social media platform, but great Instagram captions help you get more reach and engagement.
Here are some key strategies to keep in mind:
- Put the most important words up front. If the caption is more than 125 characters long, users must tap “more” to see the whole thing. Make the most of those first words to inspire that extra tap.
- Ask a question. This makes it easy for your audience to leave a comment. That increased engagement will help make your account visible to more people.
- Use emoji. Emoji add a bit of variety and can make your caption more enticing. Just make sure you use those emoji correctly!
- Try different caption lengths. Our data shows that long captions are more likely to improve engagement, but ultra-short captions can also be very effective when the visuals speak for themselves.
Will Tang of Going Awesome Places posts great photos with detailed captions that tell the story behind the shot. His Insta bio calls him a “creator of ridiculously detailed itineraries and guides.” That means this caption approach is very on-brand.
Post content that’s meant to be re-sharedView this post on Instagram
A post shared by Will | Going Awesome Places (@goingawesomeplaces)
Your audience wants to engage with content that’s useful and inspiring. So when planning your posts, think about types of content that other people might like to share.
People love sharing infographics. Feed that desire by supplying your followers with your expert insights. If someone embeds your Instagram posts in their blog, you’re exposed to a whole new audience of potential followers.
People can also re-share your posts in their Instagram Stories. These posts are clickable, so anyone who wants to know more can click through to your original post. It’s another easy way to expand your reach to new audiences and potential new followers.
For example, here’s how a Hootsuite post about LinkedIn demographics looks when shared to my Instagram Story.
Embrace Instagram StoriesIf you want more Instagram followers, you need to use Instagram Stories. Half a billion Instagram accounts use Stories every day, and 45% of the most-viewed Stories are from businesses.
People who use Stories are highly engaged. Plus, you can use the hashtag and location features in your stories to expose them to people who do not already follow you.
Make the most of Stories highlightsPut a lot of effort into an Instagram Story and not quite ready to say goodbye after 24 hours? Pinned Stories highlights are a great way to introduce your brand to people who visit your profile. So pack those highlights with great info and content to show new visitors why they should follow you.
Don’t forget to customize the cover photos on your highlights, too. Supplement company Vega keeps things on-brand and plant-friendly with their custom green highlights.
Source: Vega on Instagram
Post consistentlyYour existing followers want to see content from you. That’s why they followed you in the first place. So give them what they want!
When users interact with your posts, those engagements tell Instagram’s algorithm that your content is valuable. Those interactions will then boost your reach. So giving your existing followers something great to interact with can help bring in new Instagram followers.
How often should you post? According to our analysis, between 3-7 times per week.
Post at the right timeInstagram uses an algorithm, not a chronological feed. But timing is still important to the algorithm.
Hootsuite’s social team found that the best time to post on Instagram is between 8 AM -12 PM PST or 4-5 PM PST on weekdays.
But your audience might have different habits than ours. A tool like Hootsuite Analytics can show you the best time to post for your audience based on past engagement, impressions or traffic.
Source: Hootsuite Analytics
Try Hootsuite for free. You can cancel anytime.
Start testing various times and measuring results. For example, if you’re a retail brand, you might want to test posting during lunch
Schedule your posts and storiesWhat if the best time to post to your account is 3 AM? (Hey, it happens.) Use a desktop-based Instagram tool like Hootsuite to schedule and publish directly to Instagram.
Scheduling your Instagram posts in advance allows you to plan a cohesive grid that tells an overarching story. It also allows you to dedicate time to creating excellent captions rather than trying to come up with something witty on the fly.
You can also use Hootsuite to schedule Instagram Stories and Reels.
Step 3. Make yourself findableUse relevant hashtags to reach new usersSadly, the text of your Instagram posts isn’t searchable. But your hashtags are. Using hashtags thoughtfully can be a good way to get followers on Instagram for free. You can even create your own branded hashtags.
Relevant hashtags can help people find your content. Instagram users can even follow hashtags. That means your hashtagged content may appear in the feeds of people who do not yet follow your account.
You can include up to 30 hashtags in an Instagram post, but don’t go overboard. Instead, do some experimenting to learn how many hashtags work best for your particular account.
Avoid hashtag gimmicks such as #likeforlike, #tagsforlikes, or #followme. These may give you a temporary boost in followers. But those people aren’t interested in what makes you and your content special. They’re not going to help you build a meaningful, engaged audience on Instagram.
Instead, focus on using highly targeted hashtags specific to your photo, product, or business, like stylist Dee Campling does in this #wfh shot.
Tag your locationView this post on Instagram
A post shared by Dee Campling (@deecampling)
If the location of your post or Story is clear, it’s worth adding a location tag. It’s another easy way for people to find your content on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Instagram’s @Creators (@creators)
If your business has a physical location, tag it and encourage customers to do the same. Users can then click on that location and see all photos and Stories posted from your store, restaurant, or office.
For example, here’s what you get when you search for the location of Van Wonderen Stroopwafels in Amsterdam:
Source: Instagram
If you’re posting from a conference or event, adding your location can help you connect with other attendees. This will expose your account to a highly relevant group of new potential Instagram followers.
Tag relevant usersIt’s easy to tag Instagram users featured in your photos. Just use an @-mention in your caption or Instagram’s tagging functionality within the post.
Users are notified when they’re tagged, so tags encourage them to engage with and share the post. Your post will also appear on the Tagged tab of their Instagram profile.
You can also tag users in your Instagram Stories. Then, they can post shared content to their own Story with just a couple of taps. If they do so, their viewers can click through to your account.
Be careful, though. Tagging someone just to get their attention isn’t a great idea. Instead, only tag users featured in your photo or relevant to your post’s content.
Some potentially relevant users to tag might include:
- Customers
- Suppliers
- Other relevant businesses
- Colleagues or employees
- Someone who taught you a skill or told you about something you share in the post
- Anyone who appears in the photo
Another way to introduce your Instagram account to a new audience is to ask other Instagram users to tag you. When they tag you in a post, their audience sees your handle and can click on it if they want to learn more.
Your bio is a great place to ask people to tag you on Instagram.
For example, Visit the USA asks Instagrammers to tag them for a chance to be featured on their account.
Source: @visittheusa on Instagram
Cross-promote your Instagram account on other networksIf you want to get followers on Instagram for free, you need to make it easy for people to find you.
Your Instagram profile should be easily discoverable. If you’ve already built a following on another social network, let those fans know about your Instagram account.
Share a link to your Instagram profile and give your existing social followers a reason to check it out. (Like an Instagram-exclusive coupon code, event, or contest.)
When BlogHer hosted Jameela Jamil for an Instagram Live, they made sure to promote it on their Facebook Page as well.
If you’re just starting your Instagram account, make sure to post some content before you promote the account elsewhere. Aim for a minimum of 12 posts.
You could also highlight some of your best Instagram posts on your other social channels. Consider boosting these posts with paid advertising so your other social followers can find and follow you on Instagram.
Embed Instagram posts in your blogYou’ve already seen some embedded Instagram posts in this blog. These clickable posts allow users to head directly to the relevant post or Instagram profile.
Embedding your own Instagram posts in your blog is an easy way to share your content and drive traffic to your profile. Every new visitor to your Instagram profile is a potential new follower.
For example, say Hootsuite wanted to announce our mascot’s makeover. Sure, we could share a few pictures of Owly’s new look.
But we could also embed an Instagram post, like this:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Hootsuite 🦉 (@hootsuite)
Any time you’re sharing visual content like photos, charts, or infographics in your blog, there’s an opportunity to embed an Instagram post with that content instead.
Share your Instagram account in other communicationsThink beyond your social channels when sharing your Instagram account.
You can link to your Instagram account on your website, in your email signature, and in your online newsletters. The link doesn’t have to be big, either. You can use a small Instagram icon.
If you’re promoting a new Instagram account, a quick email blast is a great way to get free Instagram followers fast.
And don’t forget about your offline materials. You can include your Instagram handle on coasters, posters, packing slips, business cards, or packaging. It’s a simple way to drive more free Instagram followers to your account.
Use Instagram QR codesYour Instagram QR code is a scannable code that allows other Instagram users to follow you instantly. It’s another easy way to promote your account on physical materials like packing slips, signage, and product packaging.
Your QR code is also a great way to get new followers in real time at networking events and conferences. People you connect with in person can scan your code to follow you without having to type out your handle. Try printing it out and tucking it into your namebadge holder for easy access.
Find your Instagram QR code by tapping on the three lines icon at the top right of your Instagram profile and selecting QR Code .
Try to get featuredFeature accounts are Instagram accounts that curate and re-share content based on a hashtag or tagging. Some of these accounts have a huge following. If they share one of your posts (along with your handle), they can send a new stream of Instagram followers your way.
There’s a feature account for just about every niche and interest on Instagram, so start exploring.
For example, @damngoodstitch features embroidery posts. The account has more than 180,000 followers.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by DamnGoodStitch (@damngoodstitch)
Aim for the Explore page
The Explore page is what you see when you click on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the Instagram app. According to Instagram itself, this is where “you can find photos and videos that you might like from accounts you don’t yet follow.”
Half of Instagram accounts visit Explore every month. That’s a huge opportunity for brands looking to grow their audience.
Ending up on the Explore tab isn’t easy. Luckily, we’ve got an entire article dedicated to helping you get there.
You can also pay to get into the Explore feed by selecting Explore as an ad placement.
Source: Instagram
Step 4. Engage with your communityFollow relevant accountsYou should only tag people in an Instagram post when the content is directly relevant to them. But you can follow anyone you like. And when you follow a user on Instagram, there’s a good chance they will check out your feed and consider following you back.
Social listening is great for finding conversations and influential users (a.k.a. influencers) to follow.
Instagram’s “Suggestions For You” section is also a handy resource for finding relevant accounts to follow. These suggestions show up in your Instagram feed between posts, in between Stories, or on the right side of the screen on a computer.
Just remember not to follow too many other accounts too fast. Your follower ratio, or the number of people who follow you compared to how many you follow, is important for credibility.
And don’t follow people just to get their attention, only to unfollow after they follow you back. This is kind of a jerk move and will hurt your Instagram reputation.
Engage with existing communitiesLike all social media networks, Instagram is about the communities built within it. So make sure you’re participating in those spaces.
Get involved by liking, commenting on, and sharing content from other credible users in your community. Avoid generic comments (like “Awesome post!”) that look like they come from bots.
Engaging with other posts helps draw attention (and potential new followers) in two ways:
- People get notifications when you like and comment on their posts. They may check out your profile to return the favor.
- If others find your comments thoughtful or intriguing, they may check out your profile.
Here’s an important stat for anyone thinking about how to get more followers on Instagram: 60% of consumers say they’d follow a brand on Instagram after seeing it promoted by an influencer they trust.
If you’re not working with influencers now, then you should definitely consider it. Luckily, we’ve got a whole guide on Influencer marketing to help you out.
Collaborate with other brandsDon’t be afraid to reach out to other brands to see if there’s a way that you can work together on Instagram. The right kind of collaboration could help everyone involved get more Instagram followers.
Think about businesses you already collaborate with in other ways. Maybe you’re connected in a local business improvement association or shopping area. How could you work together on Instagram?
One common option is to host a contest featuring products from multiple companies, like Rocky Mountain Soap Company did with Annika Mang of @borntobeadventurous.
Try an Instagram Live collaborationView this post on Instagram
A post shared by Rocky Mountain Soap Company (@rockymountainsoapco)
Live video keeps getting more popular, and Instagram is a great place to take advantage of the trend. Users are notified when an account they follow starts broadcasting live, so a live video really grabs attention.
To get your Live video in front of a new audience, use the “Go live with a friend” option to co-host a live video with someone else in your industry. Ask the other person to host a Live video, then invite you as a guest. The two of you will appear in a split screen, introducing you to all of their followers.
For example, Design Emergency hosts a weekly Instagram Live to interview key figures in the design world.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Design Emergency (@design.emergency)
Likewise, Wine Spectator‘s Straight Talk series features interviews with industry insiders.
Use interactivity features in StoriesView this post on Instagram
A post shared by Wine Spectator Magazine (@wine_spectator)
Instagram Stories offer plenty of interactive features to engage users, like poll, question, and chat stickers. These stickers are a simple, low-stakes way for your audience to engage with your content.
Polling stickers increased three-second video views in 90% of Instagram’s beta campaigns for this feature.
Source: Instagram
If users come across your Story from a hashtag or location page, they can engage right away. It’s a great way to make them want to learn more about your brand by giving you a follow.
Pin your best commentsOne of Instagram’s little-known features is the ability to pin up to three comments for each post.
Today we’re rolling out pinned comments everywhere. 📌
That means you can a pin a few comments to the top of your feed post and better manage the conversation. pic.twitter.com/iPCMJVLxMh
— Instagram (@instagram) July 7, 2020
There are a couple of ways you can use this feature as part of your plan to get more followers on Instagram.
- Use pinned comments to extend your caption beyond 2,200 characters by continuing the story in the comments. This lets you take on more detailed and in-depth storytelling, which may be a fit for some accounts.
- Pin your favorite comments from other users, especially if they are creating a lot of engagement.
This feature can help you manage the conversation on your posts and create more opportunities for engagement.
Step 5. Keep learningCreate an AR filterAR filters for Instagram Stories are photo effects Instagrammers can use to modify photos taken through their mobile phone’s front and back cameras.
Those posts with puppy ears? Those are done with an AR (Augmented Reality) filter. Those “which [vegetable/pizza/emoji/etc.] are you?” posts? Yup, those use AR filters too.
Any Instagram user can now create an AR filter. The filters you create live in their own section of your Instagram profile.
Source: @paigepiskin on Instagram
If your filter is not promotional or branded, it will also appear in the Instagram Stories effects gallery, where any Instagrammer can find it.
How does creating an AR filter help you get more Instagram followers? Your account name appears in the top left corner whenever anyone uses your AR filter. It’s clickable and can drive more new visitors to your profile.
Source: @gucci on Instagram
Run contestsContests on Instagram are a great way to help you get more followers. Just make sure your entry process involves asking people to follow you and comment on one of your photos by tagging a friend.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Hotel Casa Amsterdam (@hotelcasa_amsterdam)
Tagged friends will also see your post and may choose to follow your account as well.
Encouraging user-generated content as part of your contest can also help you reach more people. People will learn about your profile from posts their friends create. This is an effective way to build trust with new followers and get more eyeballs to your page.
Consider advertising on InstagramOkay, this isn’t exactly a way to get free Instagram followers. But Instagram ads can be a powerful way to reach new followers fast by getting your content in front of people who would otherwise not see it.
And unlike buying followers, using Instagram ads is a totally legitimate and effective way to get more Instagram followers quickly with a small investment.
Target your audience by location, demographics, and even key behaviors and interests. You can also create a lookalike audience based on the people who already interact with your business.
Besides the feed, you can advertise in Instagram Stories and the Explore feed. For all the details on creating and posting an Instagram ad campaign, check out our detailed Instagram ads guide.
Learn from Instagram Insights
Instagram analytics tools will give you data on impressions for each post, along with reach, engagement, top posts, and more. You can also find demographic information about your followers, including gender, age, and location.
Regularly reviewing this data can help you identify areas where you can adjust your strategy to hel p you get more followers on Instagram.< >
Keep an eye on what time of day your followers use Instagram, so you can post when people are most likely to see and engage with your content. Data nerds who want to go deeper may want to consider a social media management tool like Hootsuite. These tools can show you the best times to post based on impressions, engagement, and traffic. They’ll also give you a bunch of other helpful performance metrics, like your follower growth rate.
Get more Instagram followers using Hootsuite. Schedule content for the most optimal times, streamline engagement, track your performance, and more—all from a single, easy-to-use dashboard. Try it for free.
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TOP 16 ways to get likes on Instagram: fast, free, a lot
Likes on Instagram are one of the main goals of any account, from a simple user to an online store. But why? Likes are an indicator of coolness, success, if you like. Companies that promote their products and services need likes to earn money, win an audience and brand loyalty. For bloggers, a large number of likes helps in promotion and popularity, as well as in attracting potential advertisers.
Therefore, without preludes - I have collected for you the most popular ways to get likes on Instagram with and without services.
how to get likes through services
Another way to get likes is cheating. But, we do not approve of this method, because apart from a beautiful figure you will not get anything. And besides, this beautiful figure will resolve within a week. As a result, all the cheated subscribers will either run away or simply lie dead weight, bringing absolutely nothing to your account.
In the first table, we have collected the TOP of proven services that you can safely use.
Service | Free version | Cost |
TmSMM | Yes | from 0.19 ₽/like |
Likemania | No | from 0.14 ₽/like |
TapLike | No | from 0.5 ₽/like |
LikeInsta | No | from 0.40 ₽/like |
PrSkill | No | from 44 ₽/1000 likes |
In the second table you will find exchanges that will help you not only get likes on comments and posts, but also earn money on them.
Service | Free version | Cost (per like) |
Socpublic | No | from 0.2 ₽ |
Unu | No | from 1 ₽ |
TaskPay | No | Non-fixed |
VKserfing | Yes | from 0.1 ₽ |
Buy a small number of actions. It is better to spread the process over several days. This will protect you from blocking and suspicion from subscribers.
Important. Using wrapping, you do not see the real picture of which post is entered and which is not. You just create the illusion that everything is super in your account. Therefore, do not abuse, but look for real problems and solutions.
how to get likes yourself
Likes cheat services are an easy method, but not the only one. There are other ways to get likes on Instagram without cheating. But they are more likely to help attract an audience to your profile and at the same time increase the number of followers on Instagram. The rest already depends on how you manage it: the quality of the content, expertise, design, etc.
1. Quality content
Content quality is the first thing you should worry about if you want to collect hundreds or even thousands of likes. It is not only about a beautiful picture, but also about the text. It should be informative, without water and, of course, it should attract the eye and desire to read everything to the end. If you lack writing skills, then you can hire a copywriter whose job is to write quality posts.
As for the visual, the opinions of Instagram experts differ on this matter: some believe that the photo and text in one post should be inextricably linked, others argue that the main thing is that the photo does not stand out from the overall picture of the profile. In any case, the photo should be aesthetic, eye-catching, but not pretentious.
2. Keywords and hashtags
Another way to attract an audience and, accordingly, likes, is to use keywords and hashtags. But first things first.
Keywords are the very words by which potential subscribers can find you. For a clothing store, these are "dresses", "shoes", "suits". For a flower shop, this could be words like "bouquets", "flowers", etc.
Previously, it was enough to clearly define the topic of the blog, write who you are and what you do, what the blog is about, and so on. However, it is not suitable for beginner bloggers. You need to come up with a capacious description that will make your account unique and evoke emotions. Do not get carried away with writing in a hat, be brief, but understandable. In addition, Instagram only skips 150 characters.
On the left is an example of how not to fill out a profile header, on the right is an ideal profile headerAs for hashtags, their use will help increase coverage, “fly in” recommendations and, of course, attract new subscribers. Of course, this will work if the hashtags are relevant to the topic of your post.
Do not overuse high-frequency tags: your post will be lost among thousands of others. It is advisable to use low-frequency tags, under which there are at least 10 thousand tags and mid-frequency - from 10 to 500 thousand. They belong to niche search and are more likely to attract the target audience.
Thematic hashtags3. Geotags
Geotag all your posts. On the map, this will look like a place of interest that can be visited for several reasons. For example, you sell your services there. Geotags can also be placed by your clients (not necessarily bloggers) who maintain their Instagram pages for friends and acquaintances. The person will see the mark on the map, read the post, look at your profile and, if he likes it, subscribe.
Even if you don't have a business, geotagging still makes sense. They help users who are interested in the life and blogosphere of the city. But the main factors determining whether a person subscribes or not remain the thematic niche of the profile and the quality of the content. Subject to all these conditions, this is a great way to gain targeted followers on Instagram for free.
An example of a geotag in a publication4. Time of publication
The question is quite broad. However, we can say that the timing for publishing content directly depends on your audience. What are we talking about? To determine the best time to post posts, you must form a portrait of your target audience: gender and age, geolocation, what she is interested in, and so on.
For example, you own an online cosmetics store. Your target audience is mostly girls from 18 to 24 years old, students. It is logical that they will not be active in the morning, which means that there is simply no point in publishing content at 9 or 10 am: the coverage will be minimal.
Based on your target audience, the optimal time for publishing posts can be considered the period from 17:00 to 22:00, since at this time the audience will be most active. If your audience is quite wide - mothers on maternity leave, students, teenagers, etc., then the only way to find the right time is to experiment. Post at 12:00 one day, post at 17:00 the next day, and so on. Then track the activity in the profile statistics and choose the best time to post.
Related:
Instagram statistics: how to see + 52 metrics5. Posting in different formats
So that your subscribers do not get bored, dilute your feed with different post formats. You will see that the activity on your publications will increase.
- Carousel
Why is it necessary to do it now? Yes, just to keep the user on the page longer and show Instagram, they say, look at what good content I have, they spend a lot of time on it.
The Instagram carousel allows you to break the boundaries of the standard social network image format and, as it were, expand the screen. Thus, you can upload panoramic photos and they will not look cropped.
An example of a seamless carousel on Instagram- Video
And in general, the approach to video content. Agree, they noticed behind themselves: they stumbled upon a video - even in an unfamiliar account - and froze. Why? Because it's beautiful, cool, cool transitions, bright shots, etc. So if you really care about how to get more likes - invest in this business: hire a specialist and do not spare money. Or read about how to edit video on Instagram.
- Reels
Facebook on Instagram has its Tik Tok analogue - Reels. In this section, you can post videos lasting from 15 to 60 seconds. Track trends, participate in challenges. Here you will find an audience and draw attention to the blog.
Instagram seeks to promote a new content format. The algorithms of the social network are more favorable to videos made in Reels and display them more often in recommendations.
Reels section on Instagram6. Target
Targeted advertising is a useful tool that allows you to target an audience that may be interested in your product or profile. We will not talk about targeted advertising in detail here, we have already written articles about this.
I can only say that in order to get a bunch of likes, you can promote your photos, and select transitions to the profile as the target action. So users will like your other posts.
Related:
Targeted advertising: 5 types + description (instruction)When setting up a target on Facebook, do not forget to clearly indicate the terms of the advertising campaign and limit the budget. Otherwise, FB will drive you into debt, constantly writing off funds for advertising.
Note. If you will set up different targeted advertising, I recommend doing this through the service Getuniq . The passage of moderation is easier, and there is also a bonus when replenishing the budget. But about this shhhh
7. Advertising with bloggers
Native advertising format is now popular, when a blogger does not directly talk about you, but reposts any of your publications or leaves something like a post-review, where he mentions your profile . Blogger subscribers rely on his authority and go to the specified account. And they like it, of course.
Life hack. If you want a guaranteed result, then discuss the terms of cooperation and submission with the blogger in advance. But before launching an ad, be sure to request the blogger’s up-to-date statistics and check him for cheats, for example, in LiveDune.
8. Repost posts in stories (and old ones too)
A very useful way to collect more likes is to repost posts. This will work effectively: some subscribers may simply not notice your new post due to Instagram algorithms, so it is useful to duplicate the post in stories.
Reposting old posts will not hurt either: it will help to collect additional likes from your new subscribers and increase the coverage of publications.
9. Cross-posting
If you want your brand to be on several platforms at once, but there is no time to create original content, then cross-posting will come to your aid. To make it clearer, cross-posting is the automatic or semi-automatic placement of one message on several sites and services.
Example of cross-posting in social networksHow else can you get likes?
Ways to get likes are not limited to a standard set of points, so below I have selected for you methods that are no less effective than those that we have already listed.
1. Hype, trends
Follow the news and build your posts based on them, express your position. If you react quickly, you can collect the asset in your account.
Kings of Hype Oksana Samoilova and DjiganLife hack. No need to “build happiness on someone else’s misfortune”: be constructive and don’t hype on tragedies. Ask subscribers to express their opinion with likes and comments.
2. Audience Engagement
The good old "like like a brother" or "repost please" has not gone away and still remains one of the easiest ways to raise an asset. In the end, there is nothing wrong with asking your audience for help in case your asset sank. Just in case, I leave for you an on-duty phrase that works with a bang: "Support me with a like if ...." ;)
3. Bloggers commenting
about publications in order to respond quickly and have time to check in during the active time of the post. Read it and write your opinion on the topic.
Life hack: Use subtle humor in the comments, it always works well for the audience. In addition to the post itself, comment on the opinions of other users to draw more attention to yourself.
4. Mailing in Direct
To purposefully attract the attention of your audience to the post, you can use sending messages in Direct. The content of the messages can be different: ask people to like or describe your offer. Newsletter can be done both manually and with the help of services. We wrote about all this in detail in the article.
Related:
Direct mailing: 30 services + 4 steps how to make Direct mailingJust don't get too carried away with such mailings. Firstly, quickly discourage users from yourself, and secondly, for non-compliance with the limits, you run the risk of flying into a ban. Per day from one account it is permissible to send 70 letters to subscribers and 50 letters to users who are not subscribed to you.
Interesting. You can optimize communication with customers on Instagram using MyBotan. The chatbot will automatically send a welcome message, talk about promotions and reply to messages. And also, save data about the client and his applications. Agree this will facilitate the work in the social network? Click and test 3 days for free -> MyBotan
5. Contest
Try running a contest among your subscribers. Play a gift, and indicate likes as conditions for participation. By doing this, you will well increase the involvement among your subscribers and will be able to attract new ones.
Related:
Contests on Instagram: how to run + secrets of engagementLife hack. The time of the competition should be such that everyone has time to participate, but not too long, so that people do not get tired of waiting for the prize. Optimal 5-7 days.
6. Giveaway and Liketime
Giveaways are an activity when bloggers/shops gather, donate gifts to participants and raffle them among the most active. Budget and duration vary. To get the coveted likes, become a sponsor of the giveaway.
Life hack: Choose giveaways that guarantee no more than 25% of your current audience. This will save the engagement rate. That is, if you have, for example, 10 thousand subscribers, then the maximum give for you is with a guarantee of 2500 people coming. The organizers of quality giveaways can be found on Telegram.
Liketimes are often held by bloggers, and usually the conditions are as follows: like a certain number of publications, comment on the publication, go to the page of the one who commented before you and be active there.
Life hack: Participate only in those activities that take place at the moment. For example, the lighttime started an hour ago, the correspondence in the comments is active. You can participate. If a post with a like time was posted two days or a few hours ago, the chances of getting your likes in response will be less.
7. Activity chats
Activity chats - communities where people who want to get likes and other activity get together. You like - and you like in response. You can find them on Instagram itself, but it’s more convenient to do it through Telegram, there are many similar chats. Read more about activity chats in our article.
By the way, if you didn't know, you can still see who likes whom on Instagram
Related:
Instagram activity chats: how to find + FAQLife hack: Join chats with about 20-50 members. This increases the likelihood that people completing tasks will not be repeated, and you will receive likes from different users. And one more thing: do not join 20 chats at once. You simply will not have time to be active everywhere. Better choose a couple with simple rules without instant blocking.
Briefly about the main thing
In summary, we can say that the number of likes directly affects the life of your Instagram account. The more likes - the more popular your account, which means that the chance of being noticed by advertisers increases. The same applies to those who do business on the site - a lot of likes means trust and loyalty to the brand.
Accordingly, no matter what way you choose to collect likes, first of all pay attention to the content that you publish. Yes, the services will increase your likes, help you bring your publication to the TOP, and other ways will attract subscribers. But this will all have a temporary effect if you do not pay attention to the quality of your posts.
And here we come to the rescue again, read our articles, promote your profile and collect your cherished likes.
Related:
Get 1000 followers on Instagram: 16 waysHow to get more likes on Instagram: 30 tips for business
menu
Content
- 1 Improve content on Instagram
- 2 Promotion
- 5 How to get more followers on Instagram
A common story is that a business creates a profile hoping to sell their product or service on Instagram to the platform's 600 million users.
Fast forward a month - 10 company photos have only a few likes and no noticeable improvement in business.
This guide will help you achieve success with 30 ideas, strategies and tips that will teach you how to get more likes on Instagram. Let's start improving!
Improve content on Instagram
Content is the engine of progress, especially on Instagram, so you should start your promotion with it.
- Use Stories.
Stories is a direct competitor to feed posts. The Stories section allows users to post content that is stored for only 24 hours.
This is the less polished part of the Instagram platform - use it for lighter and more unplanned content.
Consider highlighting new promotions, your employees, or other interesting business details through stories. And the analysis of Stories statistics will help determine in which direction to change the content strategy.
- Post photos of clients.
Posting customer photos is a great way to connect more closely with the people who make money for your business.
These photos are not only more natural (photos with people tend to be more catchy), but they are also more attractive, meaning they get more likes.
Tagging people in photos in these posts increases the chances that they (and their followers) will see them, which means more interactions.
- Use single processing.
The same photo manipulation is one of the best ways to build a brand on Instagram. Using the same set of filters (one or two!) for all your photos will help create a beautiful Instagram feed. This makes the photos instantly recognizable in the post feed, increasing exposure and getting more consistent likes.
- Benefit from current topics.
There are always trending topics on the Internet. Whether it's the latest meme, a Facebook video, or a news story, each of these things provides an opportunity for businesses to leverage it and improve engagement on Instagram. Post trending content related to your brand to "be on the wave of hype".
- Interesting and unusual videos.
Other types of media are often more engaging than the photos that fill your Instagram feed. The first of these media types is video.
An important point to keep in mind is that many people view their Instagram feeds in places where listening to audio is not possible. Therefore, try to visually display the meaning of the video.
Posting a video showing something like a how-to of one of your products, a sneak peek of an upcoming product, or some other compelling idea can be much more interesting than just a photo.
- Take quality photos.
Sounds like obvious advice, but you'd be surprised how many people don't. You don't need a fancy DSLR worth several tens of thousands to make a great Instagram post, but you do need to make sure the lighting is good and the focus is set.
We recommend at least a modern smartphone (such as a new iPhone or Galaxy) if you want to take good quality pictures. Aesthetically clear photos get more likes than others.
- Boomerang.
Boomerang is a type of content that is halfway between GIF and video. This is a short video that plays forward and then backward (hence the name).
Boomerang placement is another way to attract the attention of subscribers. Do something exciting - Boomerang with dynamic movement is the most eye-catching look.
The boomerang function is found in the Stories shooting options.
- Post quotes.
Coming up with various Instagram content ideas is not an easy task. One of the interesting forms of content is quotes. Since quotes are often published as text on a clean background, they are eye-catching and easy to read.
Posting business related quotes is a great way to get your audience involved. It will be easier for you to get likes on Instagram. A quick Google search for "quotes about [topic]" will give you great material - or write your own!
- Carousel format.
Until recently, the Carousel format was not available outside of ads. However, now anyone can use this tool - and it's another great way to share content.
Use the Instagram carousel to showcase multiple different moments from an event, create a story you want to share with viewers, or highlight a few options from a product line.
The Carousel feature allows you to upload multiple photos or videos in one post.
- Show the inner workings of the business.
Social media is where you share intimate moments from your business with friends and followers, helping you develop your brand identity and deepen your emotional connection with your customers.
Give subscribers a behind-the-scenes look at the business—preview the finished product, see employees, or head to the office. This type of content is fascinating in any field.
Promotion of content on Instagram
- Share posts on other platforms.
Link your Instagram account to other social networks (Facebook and Twitter) to share your profile and posts with followers on other sites.
This trick helps you use the profile traffic and views you generate on other platforms to drive them to your Instagram profile, generating more likes (and followers too). The company website is another good place to display posts from Instagram.
- Promote posts.
While not as strict as Facebook, Instagram can be tough on brands looking to increase their reach organically.
Using Instagram's advertising platform to promote posts helps you reach people who haven't followed you yet.
Instagram's point targeting options (same as the Facebook ad platform) allow you to select the target audience for your ads.
If the targeting is well configured and the content is interesting, you will get more followers interested in your business.
- Post content consistently and regularly.
It doesn't seem difficult, but sticking to a content plan strategy will help you get more likes on Instagram. Posting regularly means you're constantly attracting current followers and gaining new ones, helping you maintain a certain level of engagement as you continue to grow.
Long periods of not posting content will result in massive account unsubs, which will reduce the interest you get in future posts. To minimize the risk, post every few days.
- Post during busy traffic hours.
Posting when most followers are online increases the likelihood that they will see it. The Instagram feed is not chronological - having a photo with a lot of interactions increases the likelihood that it will appear higher in the feeds, which means more likes on the post.
Instagram user activity by post time.
Adding hashtags on Instagram
Hashtags are special tags for content, these tags can be used by potential subscribers to find you.
- Use local hashtags.
Using local hashtags is a great way to reach potential customers near you. Find popular local accounts (you can do a quick Google search on the main Instagram accounts in the city) and see what hashtags they use.
Use these hashtags! There is a high chance of contacting people nearby or accounts that might be interested in your photos or business. This option will help you get more followers and likes on Instagram.
- Use popular hashtags.
Although they are not as effective at finding contacts with Instagram users near you, using the most popular hashtags will be useful when you want to reach a large group of Instagram users.
Using popular hashtags helps more people see your photo, which is an affordable way to get a lot of likes.
Remember, these are not high quality likes that translate into sales. But if you want to increase the authority of your account, this is a good way. But be careful not to use illegal hashtags.
Interaction with followers on Instagram
To promote and improve your account, do not forget to communicate with followers, answer their comments and questions.
- Run a contest to attract new subscribers.
Everyone loves free surprises! Running a simple “like to participate” giveaway on Instagram is one of the best ways to get more likes on Instagram.
Because the entry barrier is low (only a double-click), it's easy to get a bunch of likes on a post. Create an eye-catching prize photo (your product is the best option) and include the phrase “like this photo for a chance to win…” in the description.
- Start a contest with a friend's tag.
Just like the like giveaway, the friend tag contest is great when you want to increase your follower count.
The same tactic is used, but here you ask participants to tag two (or more) of their friends to participate.
This makes the post viral, increases the number of people who see it, and gets more followers. Such actions will easily lead to more followers and likes on future photos.
- Comments "Tag a friend"
Posting industry, brand, and product related content is one of the most compelling ways to get likes on Instagram.
The subject can be anything - products that other people will like, funny videos or memes.
For example, post a product photo with the caption "Tag a friend who...". This is how you expand brand awareness in a more organic way than most companies.
- Use user-generated content.
User-generated content is one of the benefits of maintaining a social media presence. Fans of brands who communicate with each other on social networks often post content related to these brands.
Instead of just liking or even commenting on these photos, take the extra time to post their photos on your profile.
This type of engaging content encourages other users to share photos of your product—getting likes and helping you update your Instagram feed.
- Follow real people.
Simple! Use the Recommendations section to find people in your industry who post interesting product-related photos.
Interact with these people (follow them, like posts and comments) and you will find that they follow you and are active.
It is recommended to subscribe to a couple of new profiles a day - this also helps to increase the number of subscribers. This makes the profile look reliable and convincing to future visitors.
- Ask questions.
A trend you'll notice in tons of Instagram posts is questions. The question in the photo caption (of course related to it) makes readers think.
People who have already commented on a post are much more likely to like it as well, a common action that will help you get more likes on your Instagram photos.
- Go live on Instagram.
Like Facebook, Instagram has launched a Live platform that allows people to chat live. One of the interesting uses of live broadcasts is the Q&A format. Subscribers can ask questions about the business, brand, and products.
A few tips:
- Let your followers know in advance that you are ready to answer questions and post special stories with a “questions” sticker.
- If you're not sure people will be interested, a hint that there will be a discount or a prize during the broadcast will encourage users to go live.
- Test different formats of live broadcasts: interviews, question-answers, broadcast events, etc.
- Place discounts and promotions.
One of the best ways to turn Instagram followers into sales is to place ads on your page.
A simple product with text that says something like "30% off all week!" easy to read and people often save and like the post so they don't lose it.
You can go even further and organize a promotion like: "show that you follow us and get 30% off your next purchase."
Such a move increases the number of subscribers, which means that you will receive more likes from these people in the future.
How to get more followers on Instagram
The audience is the people who will get you more likes if you follow the tips above.
- Reach out to influencers.
Find an influencer in your industry - a person who is considered an authority and whose opinion the audience trusts. Make a collaborative post promoting or reviewing a product.
This will help the business reach more people in the target market and increase credibility through social engagement. Influencer followers make decisions based on their opinion, which means people will be more open to buying your product.
- Partner with other brands.
Just like partnering with an influencer, partnering with a brand that has a complementary product in your industry (rather than a competitor!) will help you reach more targeted audiences in the market.
You can go even further and partner with another brand to win a prize with products from both companies.
This collaboration will help both brands share followers and get more likes, which means more sales in the future.
- Tag influential industry accounts.
Look for influencers in your industry and tag these accounts in new posts (in the photo itself, not in the caption).
This not only informs these profiles of your new photos, but also allows the photos to show up in their feeds in the "tagged" section. A practical and affordable way to connect with other people in your target market and attract new accounts.
- Collaboration with an influencer.
What if you give your account to a well-known blogger for a while? It sounds a little strange, but in fact there are many advantages in such cooperation.
First, you humanize the brand, make it alive and open. Secondly, if a blogger informs his subscribers of the days when he will be on your account, this will force subscribers to go to the profile out of pure curiosity.
This way you will increase the number of subscribers and likes. Again, this move helps build credibility and brand appeal among the target influencer's audience.
- Comment on popular photos.
The Recommendations tab is a great way to find new content. If you browse industry accounts, you will find that they are full of relevant content.
Find popular posts and comment on them short and concise! Other people who see the post will see the comment and may want to get to know your brand better and visit your profile.
- Mark the location.
Tagging your photo makes it easier for people in that region to see your posts. A general location (for example, "Moskva" instead of a specific restaurant) will increase the number of impressions.
People who search for publications of nearby places will interact with them. This means that the number of likes will increase.
We shared 30 ideas and tips to help you get a lot of likes on Instagram.