Are you new to social media or just want to build your brand online? You are thinking about how to grow more followers on Instagram. And no, this is not about buying followers or using bots. While these tricks can increase your subscriber count in the short term, they won’t get you anywhere in the long run.
The only truly valuable followers on Instagram are real people who care and are engaged with your brand. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to gain your Instagram likes and followers fast.
Best ways to increase your Instagram followers
1. Optimize your Instagram account
Before worrying about how to get followers, think about how to set up your Instagram account.
Ask yourself: Does your profile look “okay”? Consider the following first:
- Your Instagram bio (including password, tagline, and/or brand hashtags)
- Your profile picture
- Your biological connection (and where it points)
These details define your brand identity on Instagram. More importantly, they affect how discoverable your account is. Creating a user-friendly account means:
- Provide a username suitable for searching. Stick to your brand name or another name closest to your existing social identifiers. If your name is too long, shorten it so your audience can recognize it (for example, Cold Stone Creamery’s account is @coldstone).
- Provide a professional profile picture. A logo of the right size is ideal. Any text on your profile picture must be legible on a smartphone screen.
- Consider where you point your bio link. This is crucial if you want to convert Instagram followers into meaningful traffic or customers. This is the only way to drive social traffic to your website and ads.
The link to the homepage is correct, but not always perfect. To encourage more meaningful interactions, a social landing page with multiple links can help.
This gives your audience complete control over how they will continue to interact with your company. This means a better experience for your subscribers.
2. Have a strong personal brand and value proposition
Would you walk into a store if you didn’t know what it sold? Probably not. The exact rule is also implemented on your Instagram account. A clear value proposition – be it style tips, inspirational quotes, or culinary content – is key to converting visitors into followers. However, this does not mean that all content has to be the same.
Content creators recommend focusing on three to five content pillars that are relevant to your niche, so you can spice up your content without diluting your core value.
3. Use keywords to appear in search results
At first, people can follow you on the Instagram platform, they need to find you. But not all Instagram texts are searchable. Only two fields on Instagram contain search results: name and username.
Your username is your Instagram nickname. It should match the username you use on other social networks to make it easier for others to find you. Utilize your company name or an alteration of it that other users might utilize when liking your brand.
Your name can contain up to 30 characters. You don’t want to enter keywords, but entering the most relevant keyword in the name field will make it easier for others to find you.
4. Have a consistent content plan
Momentum account on Instagram. In other words, you might not be able to get any Instagram followers if you publish posts randomly on your account.
By creating content and delivering value, your audience grows. If you can do this process regularly, you can keep them. Make sure your Instagram account is free of cobwebs.
That’s why it’s so important to stick to a regular release schedule. If you want to know when and how much to post, you don’t have to stick to a set number. Most brands post daily or almost daily. This also follows from our research into how often we post.
If you’re concerned that your posts aren’t getting enough attention, we understand. Think about how features like Stories can help you get more exposure to your content if it’s not the first time it’s viewed.
5. Create an aesthetic Instagram feed
Currently, your Instagram page is essentially a resume, portfolio, and website all in one. And even though the photo doesn’t have to be perfect, the first impression counts.
If you invest just a few seconds to introduce your brand and deliver your brand identity, a powerful Instagram aesthetic can configure the difference between a new visitor clicking the follow button and following the account.
6. Publish content to share again
Your audience wants to engage with useful and inspiring content. So when planning your posts, think about what kinds of content other people might want to share.
People like to share infographics. Satisfy that urge by providing expert advice to your followers. When someone blogs your Instagram posts, you gain access to a whole new pool of potential followers.
People can also reshare your posts to their Instagram Stories. These posts have backlinks and are clickable, so somebody wanting to know more about your brand can click through and fetch the original brand post. This is a very easy method to increase your reach with newly followed audiences and new potential subscribers.
7. Collaborate with customers, brand representatives and influencers
Learning how to get more Instagram followers is all about engaging your audience. One of the best ways to do this is by commenting on and reposting their posts.
Harness the power of user-generated content. UGC campaigns provide social proof by showing your followers that you’ve invested in them. For example, Drunk Elephant regularly moves posts from his followers. They collect content with their hashtags #BareWithUs and #DrunkBreak.
Partnering with established influencers is another way to get more followers. Content creators can introduce your brand to your target audience and continuously increase awareness of your products.
8. Connect with your community
Want to know one of the best and easiest ways to grow your account? Connect with your potential followers and create an engaged and strong Instagram community.
Whether you’re a designer or a brand, ask yourself: How often do you reply to private messages and comments? Do you take the time to participate in real-time via Instagram Stories or Live?
