5 Proven Ways to Grow Your Instagram Followers

Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social networks and it has been proven to contribute to business goals. According to statistics, Instagram engagement is ten times higher than engagement on Facebook, and 60% of users use the platform to learn about a brand or product.

However, Instagram is pretty crowded, which makes it hard to stand out and grow a big, engaged following. Still, it’s not impossible. If you’ve been wondering how to get Instagram followers who will engage with you and are interested in what you have to offer, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ve outlined 5 proven ways to increase your Instagram follower count.

1.   Optimize Your Bio

Your bio tells potential followers who you are and what you are about, so be sure to make the most of the 150 characters you have at your disposal. An optimized IG bio should include a description of your brand, a CTA, and a link.

This is the only place you can use a clickable link on the platform, so make sure to use it wisely. Some brands link to their site, whereas others change the link frequently to drive traffic to recent posts or landing pages.

You should also consider including a branded hashtag in your bio to spotlight your audience’s posts and invite others to participate too.

2.   Experiment With Different Types of Content

Experimenting with different types of content is one of the most effective ways to get Instagram followers because it allows you to reach a wider range of people.

Each type of IG content has its own advantages. For example, Reels are the newest type of content on the platform and appear larger than photos on the Explore page. Considering the fact that about 200 million users go to the Explore page on a daily basis, Reels can make a huge difference in the number of users you reach.

When it comes to Instagram, nearly 60% of brands consider this type of content to be effective as a part of their social media strategy. Moreover, if you have over 10k followers, you’ll be able to add links to IG Stories and direct traffic to specific pages. Carousel posts are another post type to take into consideration because they have the highest engagement levels of all content types.

Using all the different content types on the platform can be confusing, but you will never know what works for your audience if you don’t experiment.

3.   Interact With Your Audience

If you want to grow your Instagram following, you need to engage with your audience. But instead of simply waiting for your followers to begin the conversation, take some action to create opportunities for engagement.

For instance, you can use polls and open-ended questions in Stories, ask questions in your photo captions, encourage users to tag friends in the comments, etc. In addition, every comment left on your posts is an opportunity to gain new followers or keep existing ones, so be sure to respond to each comment you receive.

4.   Use Hashtags

If you want to get more followers, hashtags are essential. Using the right hashtags can expose your posts to a big and targeted audience, but they can also help build up a community of people with common interests.

Begin by looking for hashtags that are related to your brand and would appeal to your audience. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but experts recommend nine hashtags for maximum engagement. However, be sure not to use the same hashtags over and over again.

Numerous brands have created their own hashtags in order to encourage users to use them. Just think about #ImLovinIt and #JustDoIt – we all know what they stand for.

5.   Collaborate With Others

Another way to grow the number of followers is to collaborate with others through influencer campaigns or partnerships.

When it comes to influencer marketing, it is an industry that is expected to reach $16.4 billion this year. For best results, consider reaching out to micro-influencers (influencers with 1,000–10k followers) because they have higher engagement rates compared to larger accounts. Collaborations and partnerships, on the other hand, are a great way to show off your personality and values through association and can be especially effective for local businesses.

Final Thoughts

Instagram is one of the most popular social media networks today and represents a huge opportunity for brands to promote their products. Building your Instagram presence is a process that takes time, but with a little help, you can see the results faster. The 5 tips listed here are some of the most effective ways to get more followers and grow your Instagram account.