These 5 tips will help you grow your audience and get more Instagram followers
Instagram is the social media platform of choice for many brands. It is proven that the platform can drive traffic, boost sales and engage with customers.
This is why 59% plan to increase their investment in Instagram during this year.
You're certainly not the only one who isn't happy with Instagram's growth and engagement.
As more and more companies join the platform, competition is intense. It is worth taking the time to increase your audience. The bigger your audience is, the greater the chances of delighting your customers.
Are you ready to improve your Instagram presence and attract organic followers? This article explains how to do it.
5 Ways to Increase Instagram Followers
This post will focus on building an organic audience.
Yes, it is important to distinguish between the two!
Some brands are looking for shortcuts to increase their Instagram followers. We don't pretend to be aware of sites that charge for access.
These services aren't worthwhile for brands in the long run. The algorithm filters out bots and low-quality Instagram accounts.
We'll admit it: growing an audience authentically requires some work.
It is worth the effort. Watch or read our video for the best tips to get more Instagram followers.
1. Instagram: How to optimize your account
Consider how you have set up your Instagram account before worrying about how to gain followers.
Consider:
Your bio on Instagram (including your tagline, slogan and/or a brand hashtag)
Your profile picture
Where is your bio link?
These details will help you to define your Brand Identity on Instagram. They also impact the discoverability of your account. To build a follower friendly account, you need to:
A search-friendly user name. Use your brand or the closest social handle to it. If you have a long name, try shortening it into a variation that your audience will recognize. (Ex: Cold Stone Creamery is @coldstone).
Make your profile picture look professional. A logo in the right size is ideal. Your profile picture text should be readable on a smartphone.
Be careful where you place your bio link. It is important to convert buy Instagram followers into traffic or customers. This is the only way you can drive social traffic to both your website and your promotions.
It is not always the best idea to link your homepage. A social landing page with multiple links on it can encourage meaningful interactions.
Your audience can now decide how to interact with your business. This means that your followers will have a better experience.
Follow a tried and tested Instagram marketing strategy to maximize your account. Download our guide for free to get started.
2. Keep a consistent content calendar
Momentum is important on Instagram. You won't likely get Instagram followers if you post randomly.
Your audience is built by creating content and offering value. Consistent will help you retain them. Do not let your Instagram account become cluttered.
It's important to stick to a posting schedule. You don't need to adhere to a fixed number when it comes to posting. Most brands post every day or almost daily. This is based on our own research into and how often you should post.
Below is a list of best times for posting to Instagram. The "optimal" time to engage is in the late mornings and early afternoons of the week.
We understand if you are worried that your posts won't be seen by enough people. If your post wasn't seen at first, consider how Stories can help you get more people to see it.
3. Schedule Instagram posts ahead
It's a fact that Instagram's algorithm is at the mercy for brands. Posting at the right time can give you more exposure. Any effort you make to increase engagement is a positive.
scheduling Instagram posts is a great way to maximize your content. With Sprout’s newest tools brands can schedule Stories and Carousels , Posts, as well as Reels .
The ability to plan ahead and organize content is a great way to maintain control. The Instagram scheduling tools help you achieve that cadence mentioned earlier. Cross-posting content from other social networks is also helpful.
You can use Sprout’s ViralPost to pinpoint your timing. Our platform analyses your engagement history to determine the best time to post.
4. Engage customers, brand ambassadors and influencers
Engaging your audience is the key to figuring out how to increase Instagram followers.
One of the best methods to achieve this is to respond to their posts and republish them.
Use the power of to create user-generated content. UGC campaigns can build social proof because they show your followers that you care about them. Drunk Elephant, for example, regrams the posts of their followers. They collect content using their #BareWithUs, and #DrunkBreak hastags.
Another way to increase your audience is by partnering with influencers who have a large following. Content creators are a great way to get your brand and products in front of your audience.
5. Fake Instagram followers to avoid
Instagram has a huge difference between real and fake followers.
We get it, too. It might be tempting to buy followers in order to grow quickly.
But the disadvantages are greater than the benefits. Why? Fake Instagram followers...
Confusion is a good way to confuse your organic followers. A large following but an account that's inactive and low-engagement is suspicious. This could turn off fans who would otherwise engage with you.
Do not provide any monetary value for your business. Stop and think about it. Your bot followers cannot buy your products, can they?
Create no buzz: How many of your 10,000 fake followers will engage with you? Do you really care if your post is flooded with spam comments?
Real people can share, like and comment on your Instagram posts. Real followers also appreciate your time spent interacting with them. This kind of authenticity will last much longer than buying likes on instagram and other ineffective methods.
Lush Cosmetics, for example, takes the time to engage with followers and answer their questions. Customers return to the site regularly, sharing positive feedback and shout-outs.