You are probably well aware that social media is a great digital marketing tool to build a following. Using social media networks, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, can bring many positive outcomes to help build your business brand and reach your target audience. Instagram is a social media network that is becoming increasing popular with 400 million monthly active users and 75 million daily Instagram users.
While Instagram may seem to be more ideal for just personal use (We all take selfies… Admit it!), there are lots of successful people and businesses who use Instagram. The top Instagram account is actress Selena Gomez with a stunning 72.7 million followers and coming in second place is Taylor Swift with 71.6 million followers. Surprisingly, as a brand, National Geographic has 46.9 million followers and counting, Nike has 41.0 million followers and Victoria’s Secret has 35.8 million followers.
How can you grow a bigger following on Instagram?
- Start Posting!
Simply put, you should start posting images. If you want to start building a following, you need to start showing your brand off with high quality images. Instagram has a variety of fliters you can use to help improve your image so it can be the best it can be. Try posting at least once a day.
- #Hashtags
To engage your audience and to grow a bigger audience, posting your photos and/or videos with hashtags is an ideal way. What hashtags will do is it will make it easier for people to find your photos and videos in newsfeed. Let’s say you own and operate a fitness club and you want to post photos of bodybuilders and athletes on Instagram. A few hashtags to use are…
#fit #fitness #fitnessjunkie #fitspo #fitfam #gym #gymlife #exercise #workout
- Follow and Like Other Similar Accounts
Search for likeminded Instagram accounts. One way to find good accounts is searching for a specific hashtag, choose a couple of the top pictures or videos you find and follow those accounts. Then like a few of the images you find on an account you are following, perhaps leave a few comments.
- Engage with Other Users
Just like leaving comments on other images, if anyone writes comments on any of your images or videos, comment back! Simple as that. By engaging with other Instagram users, you are more likely to see activity and you are more likely to see your account gain more followers who may want to engage with you.
Many businesses and people will paid for followers but I recommend not to do that as most of those paid followers are fake accounts. Grow your Instagram following organically. It does take time but it will be a strong following for your brand and digital marketing goals.
If you haven’t jumped on the Instagram bandwagon, you should get on!