So you’ve set up an Instagram account and have already grown an audience, but you want to know how to get more followers and increase engagement. In this article, we’ll discuss several strategy tips that can help you do so.
7 Tips To Grow Your Instagram Audience
As a business owner, you know that building a strong Instagram following can be key to driving growth. But with so many companies competing for attention on the platform, how can you make sure your page stands out? Here are seven versatile strategies to help you attract more followers and get your business growing on Instagram.
Strategy tip #1: Use relevant hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to connect with potential customers who are interested in what you do. Make sure to use relevant, specific hashtags that will help people find your page. You can try free hashtag research tool by Awario to facilitate the task.
Strategy tip #2: Post-high-quality photos
People are visually oriented, so make sure your photos are clear and professional-looking. This will give your page a polished, professional feel.
Strategy tip #3: Engage with other users
Take the time to like and comment on other users’ posts — they’ll likely return the favor. This is also a great way to network and build relationships with other businesses in your industry.
Strategy tip #4: Offer exclusive content
Give your audience a reason to follow you by offering them exclusive content they can’t find anywhere else. This could be anything from coupon codes and discounts to behind-the-scenes looks at your business. Engaging videos should work well, too.
Strategy tip #5: Run contests and giveaways
Everyone loves good competitions and special events, so consider running one on your page from time to time. This is a great way to entertain existing followers and attract more followers.
Strategy tip #6: Partner with influencers
Team up with popular Instagrammers in your industry to promote your page. This is a safe strategy to choose if you are wondering how to get more followers on Instagram because influencers will introduce your brand to their audience that trusts their judgment largely.
Strategy tip #7: Use paid ads
Paid advertising on Instagram can be very effective in driving growth for your business page. Investing in some ads may be worth it if you’re looking to boost your presence on the platform.
Why Engagement Matters
It’s no secret that businesses are using Instagram to reach new audiences and promote their products or services. But what many businesses don’t realize is that engagement is just as important as the number of followers they have. Here are three reasons why businesses should care about the engagement variable:
- Engaged followers are more likely to become customers. If someone is regularly liking and commenting on your posts, they’re interested in what you’re doing. There’s a good chance they’ll eventually become a paying customer. In addition, embedding an Instagram feed on your website validates your brand and establishes trust with your audience, resulting in higher conversion rates and potentially more Instagram followers.
- Engagement helps you reach more people. Every time someone likes or comments on one of your posts, their friends see it in their feed. This gives you free exposure to a whole new audience.
- Engagement creates a connection with your brand. When someone takes the time to engage with your content, they’re forming a connection with your brand. They’re more likely to remember you and recommend you to others.
Useful Practices For Increasing Engagement
So how does a business ensure its Instagram audience is engaged? Here are a few practices that can help.
Regularity
If you want to increase engagement on your business’s Instagram account, you need to post regularly. By doing so, you’ll ensure that the audience always has something new to engage with. This doesn’t mean spamming your followers with multiple posts per day, but it does mean posting on a consistent basis. You can also use hashtags and geotags to make the content more discoverable.
Diversity
Any business that wants to use social media to connect with its target audience needs to see to it that its content is both informative and entertaining. A purely informative approach will quickly become boring, while a purely entertaining one will fail to engage viewers on a deeper level. The key is to find a balance between the two, mixing educational content with behind-the-scenes looks, personal anecdotes, and fun facts.
Peak times
When it comes to engagement, part of success is understanding when to post. Knowing when your audience is most active will ensure your posts get seen and get the viewers engaged. The best times to post on Instagram are generally during the week and during peak hours. However, it’s also important to consider your specific audience and industry, too. For example, if you have a lot of young adults from creative industries following your brand, they might appreciate it if your posts appear at late hours. Experiment with different times and days to see what works best for you and your business.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, growing an engaged audience takes time and effort but it is worth it when you start seeing results. Keep at it and don’t get discouraged — before you know it, you’ll have the Instagram following of your dreams!
