This post contains affiliate links. As a partner with Amazon and various brands, I am compensated when qualifying purchases are made through my referral links.
Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social media networks in history. With a user base over 400 million people, it’s no wonder it has become so popular. But how do you take advantage of this network and start building your business on Instagram? This blog post will cover 12 proven strategies for Instagram that work beautifully for established brands and new companies!
(1) Create a Profile that is Personal and Unique
The first step in building your business on Instagram is creating a personal and unique profile. You’ll want to include an introduction about yourself, something you’re passionate about, or why you created the account. It also helps if it contains some of your personality as well!
(2) Use hashtags to increase visibility
Hashtags are used on Instagram to find topics of interest quickly. You can search for hashtags on Instagram or browse through the hashtag directory to see a list of popular tags about your business or niche.
When you post, be sure to include at least one hashtag in your caption and another two or three in the comment section below it so that those interested will easily find you.
(3) Post regularly, but not too often or too little
Keeping your content fresh with high-quality pictures is key to growing your following. It’s also important not to post too often, as this can make you seem spammy and annoy followers with the constant content in their feed.
If you’re just getting started on Instagram, it might be best to avoid posting more than once or twice a day until you have built up some of a following and can grow organically from there.
For those established on Instagram, two posts per day should suffice if they are good-quality photos that don’t go into excessive detail about what we had for dinner last night (yawn!) but instead show us at work or doing cool things like traveling abroad.
(4) Engage with other users by liking, commenting, and following them back
Engage with your Instagram followers that like your photos by liking and commenting on their posts. Follow them back to encourage future engagement with your content.
It’s also helpful to comment on or like other people’s Instagrams when you don’t have anything relevant to your own to post. Commenting will make a good impression and allow for the possibility that they’ll reciprocate at some point in the future.
(5) Share content from your favorite brands that you follow on other social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Don’t just share posts from your own company. It’s essential to keep things balanced and not look like an advertisement for yourself, of course!
If you have a favorite blogger with whom you connect on Instagram but don’t follow elsewhere, ask them if they’re open to being followed in other places too.
Their followers will likely appreciate the chance to hear more about what they do online across platforms.
This strategy is also beneficial when someone is blocked out by their follower limit (which usually happens after 30-40 people).
(6) Be selective about the types of posts you share- don’t post everything you do on Instagram!
For example, if you’re a retailer with physical inventory and an online store, posting pictures of your products on Instagram is essential.
But for something like an events company or non-profit organization that doesn’t have any specific product to sell, every post doesn’t need to be about the organization itself.
Sending followers over to other social media platforms where they can learn more about what you do there will keep them engaged in following your content.
(7) Post for a Niche Audience
Choosing a niche for posting on Instagram is a good idea because it’ll make your content more specific and less likely to be ignored.
The best way to find the right niche is by asking yourself what you’re most passionate about or where you have expertise in, and then making sure that type of media makes up at least half of the posts on your account.
If all else fails, try posting for popular hashtags related to your industry- this will help get followers who are already interested in what you do!
(8) Tag Influencers
When appropriate to do so, tag Instagram influencers in your posts. These influencers are likely to share your post, which will boost the visibility of your content and help you reach a wider audience.
The best way to tag these Instagram influencers is by adding an @ symbol followed by their username in parentheses next to what you want them tagged on: (example).
Tagging ensures that they’ll get notified once someone tags them in the comment section below your picture.
I’ve found this strategy particularly effective because it allows for organic growth instead of going out looking for people who haven’t noticed me yet!
(9) Use Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are powerful to use because they disappear after 24 hours. This means that they don’t take up space in your feed and are automatically deleted, so you can share as many Stories with followers without creating an overwhelming amount of content for them to view.
There’s also no limit on how often you post a Story- make sure it matches the theme of what you’re posting about!
Check out the Instagram Stories Templates on Canva. This Link will take you to a 30-day trial of Canva Pro.
(10) Post Quality Pictures
Make sure you’re posting quality pictures with good lighting and composition. If you only have a few pictures, try to mix up the photos you’re posting in one day. For example, post a cute dog or cat pic, and then the next day, share an inspirational quote with your followers.
This will give them variety when viewing your Instagram page!
You can also do this by getting creative with how you take a picture. Try taking square cropped selfies instead of full-length shots, or change perspective for every photo to not look repetitive in your feed.
These tips are beneficial if you want to narrow down what type of content you’ll share on Instagram since there’s no limit on what kinds of posts you want to create!
Check out Canva Pro for amazing Instagram Templates.
(11) Use Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are short video clips that can be uploaded to your Instagram feed. It would help if you used them in the following ways:
* Spend time choosing an excellent thumbnail for your video, so it stands out against other content on your page
* Use stickers, text, and emojis to make sure people feel like they’re watching an engaging story rather than just viewing one long clip!
(12) Use a Link In Bio
You can use your profile to add a link in Bio. Various software options allow you to create a link profile to feature your affiliate offers, products, and blog posts.
A link profile is a surefire way to grow your followers on Instagram because it’s the only place where you can include links in their Bio. Use this as an opportunity to promote any affiliate offers or content that you want people to see!
In Closing,
Instagram can be a great way to generate interest in your brand. Following these key strategies can give you a leg up when figuring out the Instagram algorithm.
And of course, always add in some Epic Calls to Action!
