As an active and loyal Instagram user myself, I am aware of how much the number of instagram followers can mean to a person. It is not just a number. It goes way beyond that!
Having a large following means that people resonate with what you are putting out to the world through your posts. Your content and stories are catching the eyes, hearts and minds of so many people. Very beneficial for both personal and social reasons.
Today, Instagram remains one of the most popular social media platforms. There are about 1.075 billion active Instagram in the world (incase you were wondering), and the numbers keep on growing every day. So it’s safe to say growing your instagram followers is a key element in growing your blog!
From stories to IGTV, and now even reels, the platform has content that appeals to everyone!
We are all guilty of scrolling endlessly on our phones and electronic devices, feeding our social media desired souls!
The addiction is REAL!
So how can you get others to feel that desire for your instagram page? That desire to scroll endlessly through your posts?
I challenge you to use these top 10 tips today to double your instagram likes, followers, and engaged audience.
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CAN YOU HAVE A BLOG WITHOUT AN INSTAGRAM?
As of right now, many of you may notice that I do not have an instagram for this blog yet, and that is okay! My pet blog has a very large instagram following, and an engaged audience. A majority of the money I make from that blog comes from sponsored posts on instagram. The pet niche does sooo well on instagram and that is why I use instagram for that blog.
Take a look at your Niche and ask yourself this question!
Question: Where does all your viewers hang out online to find information on your niche?
My Answer: For this blog my viewers spend a lot of time finding information on “blogging” on Pinterest, Google, and free blogging communities such as Facebook Groups. But I DEPEND on instagram for my other blog.
A lot of time goes into growing your social media business accounts. As a new blogger if you are already overwhelmed, find out what social media platform you NEED, and start with that! Secure a name for the other platforms NOW while the name is still available, and then work on it in the future when you are ready!
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WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS?
There are are so many users on instagram! There is no better place to connect with people that are a part of your blogging niche.
I’m challenging you to think of the most unusual niche you can think of, and search for it on Instagram.
Did you get at least five search results?
Instagram is a place for everyone and everything! If you want to work with brands, this platform is the perfect way to get to them. Are you looking for a way to reach and communicate with your target audience? Well, they are already there, probably engaging with your competition.
The list of benefits goes on and on, but let get back to finding out how to grow your following organically!
HOW TO GET MORE INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
Wouldn’t you rather have 1,000 instagram followers who engage, appreciate, and find your content interesting, than having 50,000 that don’t care about what you do, and never visit your page?
The bottom line is, you should always strive to gain followers that are in your niche and look forward to your content.
With that being said, here are things you can do to get to your new loyal followers:
1. BE AUTHENTIC
Let’s be honest, Instagram is filled with millions of profiles all doing the same thing over and over again.
In a highly competitive environment, it’s crucial to be yourself. What makes you stand out?
Don’t try to be someone you are not! DARE TO BE DIFFERENT! Whatever personality traits make you different, let those traits shine. People love and follow authenticity.
You’d be surprised how easy it is to lose interest in someone on Instagram if they are not keeping it 100 percent.
Lets be honest! If you don’t stay true to yourself, it will be hard to keep up with. Everything you do will become a chore because it’s not you!
So be real, that way you have nothing to lose!
2. A WINNING BIO
Like they say, first impressions are everything! Your instagram profile is the first impression you make on your audience.
Find the best words that describe you or your business and sum it up in a few words. Make sure these words have meaning that can make your audience connect and relate to you.
When people feel like they can relate with you, they will follow you!
Be as creative as possible and try to say a lot with just a few words. It’s also crucial to make it obvious what niche your content belongs to.
Fun, simple, and informative – this is the perfect profile bio formula!
3. PLAN AHEAD
Depending on the goals of your profile, you should most definitely plan out your content. You don’t want to be repetitive, or worst case scenario – boring. Planning out your content based on the trends your potential followers are into can be the big break you’ve been waiting for.
Even when your content seems spontaneous and natural, it should be planned out beforehand. If you don’t have clear, precise goals for your profile – put it on your to-do list immediately.
You want to be consistent with the quality of your content. That’s the best way to get attention, and ultimately, new instagram followers.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING, BUT CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Since we covered how important planning is, it’s only right to mention the importance of posting at the right time.
All of us use Instagram at different time frames during the day. Some of us scroll endlessly after work, some during working hours, and some before going to bed.
What should matter to you is when your followers are most active during the day. Today, it’s easy to determine the best time to post content with Instagram giving you a detailed overview of your followers’ activity log.
You would be surprised at how many people tend to ignore this valuable information.
Recent studies found that the best time to post on instagram is between 10AM-3PM CDT
As far as which days to post on Instagram studies show that you should post on Wednesdays especially around 11 AM, as well as Friday from 10AM-11AM.
This way you will get a better reach, and of course – new followers.
LOOKS MATTER
Just like with any business, your instagram should follow your brands color scheme. There should be an overall flow or feel to your profile.
Add elements or fonts to your instagram posts to grab the attention of anyone swiping past.
Just like with Pinterest, you want your instagram post to make someone stop and click on it.
RE-SHARED CONTENT IS KING
Do you know what’s better than social media content that looks good on your profile? Content that looks good on someone else’s profile as well.
One of the most powerful things you can achieve on social media is creating content that is meaningful enough for other people to want to share it.
Just think about it, when someone else shares your content they are showcasing it in front of their following as well.
Can you think of a better way to let in some new instagram followers on your account than advocacy?
Be creative and think big while creating your content – you never know where it can end up!
ENGAGE
Gaining a instagram following does not just happen by posting content. You have to get out there and engage with your current followers, as well as potential followers.
I’m not talking about just simple supportive comments. You have to start conversations, especially about current trends happening within your niche. Engage with people on other peoples page as well. This is one of the most important tips for growing your following.
People like to be heard and want to feel as if their opinions matter. If you listen and engage with them, they will value what you have to say and follow you to find out more.
INSTAGRAM STORIES
Instagram stories are the best way to engage with your followers and gain new ones. Crafting well thought visually appealing stories is a common instagram marketing strategy.
Instagram now provides many new features that can help your business or brand stand out such as Instagram Live, IGTV, and instagram shopping.
Don’t take the effortless features for granted though, planning your stories beforehand is advisable if you want to see a positive outcome.
HASHTAGS #
A good hashtag can take you to places you can’t even imagine. Like many other things on social media, hashtags tend to be used recklessly. So it’s no surprise that there is a right and wrong way to use them.
If you’re just starting out with your profile, don’t target hashtags that have 500+ posts per hour. Start small, and as your instagram grows target hashtags with large traffic.
Another important aspect is whether or not you’re using the right hashtags.
What are the hashtags your competition uses? What are the hashtags your targets follow? Ask yourself the right questions, and use the right hashtags to get a better reach.
IN CONCLUSION
Instagram can do wonders for you and your business, and if you’re not, you’re missing out on countless opportunities to grow!
Remember, gaining organic instagram followers can be a tough game, but it’s a challenge worth taking.
Stay focused and follow these tips!
Like always, stay true to yourself!
