Did you know? A recent study found that Instagram provides brands with 25% more engagement than other social platforms. That being said, Instagram can be a wonderful way to visually promote your brand and grow your business. However, just like any social network out there, there are right ways and wrong ways to use it.
This post is all about the right ways to use Instagram and how you can build a colossal following.
Let’s get started!
Tip #1: Make Hashtags Your Best Friends
One of the most basic ways to build a following on Instagram is through the use of hashtags. Hashtags are a word or phrase preceded by the pound sign (#) to identify posts about a specific topic.
Hashtags are a way to engage your audience in addition to making it easier for people to find you who are specifically searching for your product or topic.
Tip #2: Use the Right Hashtags
Some hashtags are better than others. Webstagram recently released the current top 20 hashtags. However, chances are none of these hashtags fit well into the scope of your business. Feel free to use any of those hashtags whenever you can, but also don’t be afraid to experiment a bit with hashtags that are relevant to your industry. This will require you to do some keyword research to find words that fit your brand and that are also being searched for on Instagram.
TIP: A helpful tool for you throughout this process are free programs such as IconoSquare or Webstagram.
Once you’ve got a good list going, make sure you organize and keep track of your relevant hashtags. You’d be surprised how quickly you can forget them!
Tip #3: Go Back and Edit Your Instagram Posts
Tip #4: Don’t Forget to Make it Pretty
Instagram isn’t just a science, it’s an art. Make sure your photos are high-quality and that you’re choosing the right photo filters to make your pictures stand out. When your instagram is aesthetically pleasing, people will want to follow you.
Tip #5: Post On The Right Days And Time
When you schedule your Instagram posts is just as important as how the posts look. IconoSquare can give you a detailed report of your posting history and how the timing of your posts affected your engagement. This report will tell you the best days of the week and the times to post.
Tip #6: Interact with Your Competitors
This one is a no brainer. Why wouldn’t you want to interact with people who share your common interests? The easiest way to do this is by simply engaging with them. Follow your competitors, like their photos, and comment on their photos. You can also carry this method over to your competitors followers if they seem especially active on Instagram. Follow them, like their photos, and even comment if you feel so inclined. Interact with them and they’ll be more likely to interact with you.
Tip #7: Have Fun and Be Relatable!
Be conversational and real with your followers. Have fun with your Instagram account and be creative. People will love to follow you and if you’re really good, they’ll tell your friends to follow you, too!
How did you build a killer Instagram following? Share your secrets!
