If you are reading this article it is because you want to know how to grow your Instagram followers.
You are in the right place. I will try to give you the right pointers for building a good Instagram profile that lets you grow your followers and therefore grow on Instagram.
Bear in mind that becoming popular on Instagram and growing on Instagram is not really simple: it takes consistency, creativity, originality and more. But don’t be discouraged.
We are here to help, so let’s start.
Read on to learn more about Instagram.
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Do you know what followers, hashtags and filters actually are?
Before going further, let me explain these terms properly in case they are not entirely clear.
The meaning of follower on Instagram is exactly that: someone who consistently follows a person or a page on Instagram.
So if you are interested in following Belén Rodríguez, the moment you tap “Follow” you become one of her followers; and the other way round, when the word followers appears in the middle of your Instagram profile with a number above it, that number is how many people are following you — and you can see who they are.
Now let’s see what we mean by hashtag.
“Hash” is the # symbol and tag means label. A hashtag works like a reference keyword, added to a photo’s caption and always strictly preceded by the hash, otherwise it won’t work. It is a container that puts content into a category or subject.
And what about Instagram filters?
Filters matter a great deal to a popular Instagram profile. Filters are creative tools, effects applied to your photos that give your profile originality and can make it distinctive — and used well, they help you grow your Instagram followers.
Free image from Pixabay
How can you improve your Instagram profile and become popular?
To have a better-looking Instagram profile, get noticed on Instagram and gain more followers, pay attention to these things:
You have to be different to be popular on Instagram
You have to draw in people who don’t know you, and to do that you have to communicate in a different, distinctive, original way.
First, say who you are and what you do, and look after the first things people see on your profile: the Instagram profile photo, which has to be clear and reflect your profile. It matters that the photo represents you (a close-up, perhaps).
The second important thing is the Instagram bio: what should you write? Talk about yourself without rambling — better in short points, telling people something about your interests and what you do on Instagram.
Third, don’t forget to add a link at the end pointing to your personal site, or your company’s if you are a brand, or your blog, or your Facebook page — in short, remember to give new people somewhere to find you.
Connect Instagram to your other networks
Connect your Instagram account to your other social accounts and run one strategy across every channel. Share your work: the more people see it, the better the chance they follow you on Instagram too.
Using hashtags is fundamental to growing on Instagram
What do I mean by that? That you can grow your followers with hashtags, provided they are consistent with the image you are posting — that way you have a better chance of being noticed.
You can add 30 hashtags and you have to choose them well, being careful not to use only very popular ones (a million posts and up), because your photos will pass almost unnoticed.
Choosing the right hashtags means not being generic: pick ones that suit the subject, perhaps by searching Instagram for photos similar to yours and seeing which hashtags they use. Beyond that, aim for a mix — some heavily used, some moderately used and some barely used, always relevant.
Try not to write whole sentences but think in terms of concepts. There are also community hashtags, keywords connecting people interested in a specific subject. Explore the communities around your favourite profiles and see which ones they use.
All clear so far? Let’s carry on.
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How can you make your Instagram profile look good? Part two
Here we are at the second part — read on.
The caption on your work matters
Write a caption that catches the eye and makes people linger on your profile because they are curious about what you write and how you write it. Invite them to do something: tap the link in your bio, leave a comment, tag a friend.
Become popular on Instagram with a distinctive style
Create and keep a personal style across every photo you publish: you have to be recognisable, to have your own photographic style, perhaps using a particular effect (the filters inside Instagram, which you can adjust however you like, but also external apps such as Afterlight for Android, or Lightroom). Remember to take good photos, and where possible high-quality ones.
Photo edited in Lightroom
Build interaction with other people
Instagram is a social network, and that is worth remembering. So interact with other people who publish photos you like: comment, bring in the photographer or your friends, spend some time on other profiles. Interacting also means starting or joining a discussion — give your opinion, ask others how you might improve your profile, or invite them to visit it. If you find yourself talking to someone who shares your interests, you might consider having them feature one of your shots, and the other way round.
Want the last two tips for improving your Instagram profile?
Here are the final two.
Grow your Instagram followers with video and stories
Use video and Instagram stories: Instagram lets you talk about yourself and let the people who follow you into your world.
Video is doing very well on social networks — why not make the most of it? Add videos and see whether the response is positive.
Instagram has also made it possible to create and share Instagram Stories, which people love. They last 24 hours and then disappear. Through stories you can speak to people even more closely, wherever you are and whatever you want to say. It is a very effective way of communicating with the people who follow you: let them discover a bit more about you and grow your Instagram followers.
Consistency pays
Try to be consistent, but don’t publish more than 5 photos a day. Pick times and try to keep to them. If you have a business page, check Instagram Insights for the hours that got the best response.
Now that you know more about how to have a good Instagram profile and how to use Instagram well to grow your followers, all that is left is to wish you luck.
Free image from Pixabay
Conclusion
After learning to create an account on Instagram in the first lesson of our Academy, in the second you understood why using Instagram matters so much, whether you are an individual or a brand. In the third lesson you went deeper into the techniques and key tools for improving your Instagram profile, which matters if you want to look interesting to other people. In this lesson you learned that growing your Instagram followers takes care and attention, and that putting these things into practice brings good results. In the next lessons we will go further into detail and cover more complex Instagram subjects, right up to explaining how to advertise on Instagram.
Want to grow the followers on your Instagram profile? Get in touch — we will work out the best Instagram strategy to do what it takes and reach your goal.
Want to sharpen your Instagram knowledge? Get in touch — we will find the course that fits you.
Want to ask us something or just talk? Get in touch — that is what we are here for.