The number of Instagram users is increasing at a rapid rate, which means your potential customers are as well. In this post, we’ll share some strategies on how to gain more followers and make the most out of Instagram as a marketing tool.
1) Use new techniques to attract followers
Instagram has been promoting its story feature for quite some time now, but another trend is picking up speed – using animations to help you stand out. We’ve seen companies creating simple yet effective videos that bring their stories to life! This animation below features a famous LEGO character known as ‘Benny’ who encourages viewers to follow them on Instagram.
The video generated over 10M views on Facebook and Instagram within a week with over 4500 comments from people expressing their love for it.
2) Use Instagram Live to create buzz
A new feature added by Instagram is Instagram Live, which allows you to share live videos with your follower base. If you want the video to be available for 24 hours after being shared then you need to just tap once on ‘Your Live Story’. You can also share these videos on other social media platforms as well. Since this is a new feature, it’s not yet widely known among the masses so there are great chances that people don’t use it or even know about its existence. So sharing fun facts about your business and how-to’s through your IGTV could help increase the number of followers on Instagram easily.
3) Create eye-catching graphics
We all know how important it is to have a good quality profile picture and cover photo on Instagram as that’s the first thing your followers see. You need to create graphics that can easily grab their attention and help them understand what your business is all about. For example, you could share simple graphics with slogans like ‘Authentic Ramen in Denver’ or maybe show the graphic of a bowl of Ramen topped with veggies and your logo!
4) Use Stories and Carousel ads
Another feature for Instagram marketers to use is Instagram Stories. If you’re not aware of this feature then we suggest you sign up for an account now because most brands are ahead of the curve when it comes to using stories effectively. Remember, users can simply swipe right if they like your story or swipe left if they don’t. This feature allows you to add videos, GIFs, and photos that last for a day before disappearing into the abyss of Instagram’s past stories. If you want your stories to be seen by more people then consider using the Instagram carousel ad.
5) Use interactive features when posting
Instagram has introduced new features such as question stickers in its latest updates and these stickers allow users to inquire about different products and services in a fun way. You can also use an emoji slider sticker where users need to drag an emoji from the left side towards the right to share their thoughts on a topic mentioning one of your products or service according to their interest level. Another feature is the polling question sticker which lets you know more about your followers. It’s very important to find out how they feel about something, what they like the most, or which product is their favorite among others. This will help you understand your customers better and gain more sales in the future.
6) Post at the right time of the day
We’ve all heard of this old best practice that says ‘ post during peak hours for engagement ‘. But according to a study conducted by Hootsuite, it was found that Instagram posts published between 3-4 p.m receive maximum likes with an average of 5 likes per post with 15-minute intervals. So if you want to get more likes on Instagram then be sure to publish your posts around 3-4 PM when users are online with higher engagement.
7) Post on weekends
Another study conducted by Hootsuite revealed that Instagram posts published on Saturdays and Sundays receive maximum engagement with an average of 8.2 likes per post with 15-minute intervals. So if you’re looking for more engagement then it’s best to post your content around this time as users are online scrolling through their feed.
8) Share a variety of photos and videos
Instagram is all about being creative which means you need to share a variety of content, not just random pictures or videos from your business but also some fun facts, throwbacks from the past, behind-the-scenes shots, etc. To keep things interesting for your followers, share as many different types of photos as possible so they don’t easily get bored.
9) Post only high-quality photos and videos
A study conducted by NewsWhip revealed that the engagement rate on Instagram posts published with video as compared to those which contained images was 19-times higher. So if you want more likes and followers then don’t post just any random picture or video, instead publish only high-quality content so your fans enjoy what they see on their feed. This will also help you generate a good impression, improving the overall image of your brand.
10) Promote a contest or sweepstakes through Instagram stories
SaleHoo suggests using Instagram stories for announcing contests and sweepstakes where fans can participate to win prizes. You can also use an Instagram carousel ad for this purpose where users need to swipe up the Instagram story to view all content. This is an excellent strategy for generating more leads and engaging your audience.
11) Use relevant hashtags but don’t overdo it
Hashtags are very important on Instagram as they help you gain more exposure by making it easier for users to discover your photos. However, overusing hashtags can be annoying for other users so instead find only those hashtags that are relevant to your brand or niche and make sure not to go overboard with them otherwise people will start unfollowing you.
12) When posting Instagram stories use videos with visual elements
Visuals tell a story better than words which means you must always try using video when publishing Instagram stories as compared to just images or texts. You can also use animated gifs and videos as these are highly engaging and will help you grab attention on the platform.
13) Engage with other Instagram users
Instagram is first and foremost a social networking platform which means if you want more followers then you must be socially active by liking and commenting on photos of your target audience or those of people who mention your brand or follow one of your competitors. This is a great way to make new connections, form partnerships as well as gain new loyal customers for your business. Be sure to show some love every time you like someone’s post as this will encourage them to engage with yours in return helping grow your Instagram following faster than before.
14) Ask your customers to share a photo or video of your product
You can grow Instagram following by asking your existing customers to take a photo or a quick video of their experience with your products and then share it on Instagram. This way you’re not only getting more exposure but also encouraging other people towards buying from you as this allows them to see the quality of your product first-hand. Here’s an example that worked well for GittiGidiyor.
15) Build a Facebook audience through Instagram automation
This is something many people don’t know about even though it’s one of the best strategies for growing Instagram following without being active on the platform which means you should take advantage of this opportunity as soon as possible. The idea here is rather than manually liking and commenting on photos of Facebook users who are also Instagram friends, you can use an automation tool like Jarvee that will do the same thing for you. This way you not only get Instagram followers but also improve your reach on Facebook which in turn helps grow your audience there too.