How to Increase Instagram Followers [12 Simple Steps to Try] in 2023

How to Increase Instagram Followers?

Instagram is one of the world’s most popular and usable social media platforms. Instagram, which has over a billion users, provides your business with a market that can consume your content and turn into brand influencers, ambassadors, or even customers. Thus, Instagram is a very promising platform for your business.

So let’s look at some of the most useful steps to follow to increase Instagram followers:

Optimize your Instagram account

To draw attention on Instagram requires more than just pretty pictures – it entails careful planning and execution too! Here’s how to get followers on Instagram by optimizing your account: 

• Have a thoughtful Instagram marketing strategy

Getting more Instagram followers is great, but followers alone won’t create a successful Instagram account. Your strategy must be part of a wider plan that links to your business strategy and social marketing objectives.

• Define your target audience

Define your target audience by asking the questions like where they live and what they do for a living. The answers to these questions will assist you in creating content to engage with the Instagram users who are most likely to follow you.

• Create a consistent brand story and aesthetic

Your Instagram aesthetic is the first thing that people notice when they land on your page or, in other words, people judge your brand based on your Instagram aesthetic. Depending on how unified and visually appealing your aesthetic is, you might either attract new followers or drive them away.

• Use keywords to appear in searches

To improve discoverability, Instagram advises using applicable keywords in captions of the post. Instagram now displays keyword results pages in search results alongside accounts, hashtags, and places. Using applicable keywords strategically increases your chances of appearing in relevant searches and reaching a wider audience.

• Optimize your Instagram bio and profile

Your Instagram bio and profile are the first touch point for new visitors. To introduce yourself, you can upload a 150-character bio. The best users keep their bios short and informative. You can also mention your expertise, such as the Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication from MICA, to establish credibility.

• Design a gorgeous Instagram grid

If someone is following you for the first time or visiting your profile to look at your content, you can introduce yourself or your brand to them using your grid. The grid establishes a user’s first impression and provides a bird’s-eye view of their earlier posts. 

• Write compelling, long captions

Instagram is a visual social media platform, but great Instagram captions help you get further reach and engagement. You can also put emojis and Q&A sessions in captions. This will also increase Instagram followers and likes.

• Post content that’s meant to be re-shared

Your audience wants to interact with informative and motivating content. Consider the kinds of content that other people might want to share while creating your posts.

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Embrace Instagram Stories

You may develop your user base and gain more followers on Instagram by using stories. The validity of your brand may rise as a result. Additionally, it can boost participation and provide users with a behind-the-scenes glimpse at your brand. You can support your blogs, your posts, and so on.

• Make the most of Stories highlights

You can arrange your stories using the highlight feature of stories to explain to your audience what your brand stands for. Because stories have a short life span, highlights extend the impact of your content and encourage consumers to follow your brand. Being a kind of library, Stories can be categorized for easier use. 

• Post at the right time

People usually want to know how to get 1k followers on Instagram in 5 minutes. Posting at the right time ensures increased visibility for your brand. According to research conducted by sprout social, in the pre-COVID period, the best time to post on Instagram was at 11 AM on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and 2 PM on Tuesday. By doing this, you can maximize engagement, reach a wider audience, and potentially increase your followers.

• Encourage others to tag you

You can reach a new audience with your account by asking other Instagram users to tag you. When they tag you in a post, their followership sees your handle and can click on it if they want to learn further. Your profile and bio are a great place to ask people to tag you on Instagram.

Cross-promote your Instagram account on other networks

What’s the use of having a social media platform if you don’t use it? You can use other social media networks to advertise your Instagram account. It helps to advertise your page in offline events like print ads and other gatherings.

• Embed Instagram posts in your blog

You have formerly seen some embedded Instagram posts in your profile. Users can go directly to the relevant post or Instagram profile by clicking on these clickable posts.

• Try to get featured

Featured accounts are Instagram accounts that curate and re-share content. Some of these accounts are really popular. If they share one of your posts, they may send you a new stream of Instagram followers. 

• Try an Instagram Live Collaboration

Instagram is an excellent place to capitalize on the growing popularity of live video. Users are notified when an account they follow starts broadcasting live, so Instagram live video really grabs attention.

Additionally, having expertise in Brand Communication Management, such as through completing the Advanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management from MICA, can further enhance your Instagram strategy and optimize your account for effective brand communication.

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Use interactivity features in Stories

Instagram Stories offers plenty of interactive features to engage followers, like polling options, questions, and chat stickers. These stickers are a simple, low-stakes way for your followers to engage with your content. 

Keep a consistent content calendar

An Instagram content calendar enables you to schedule your Instagram posts in advance, ensuring that you publish frequently. It also ensures that each post is consistent with your brand and assists you in avoiding typos and inaccurate information.

• Schedule Instagram posts in advance

Consistency is key while trying to grow your Instagram following. The best method for ensuring a regular posting schedule on social media is to use a social media scheduler.

Engage with customers, brand advocates, and influencers

People are much more likely to engage with you if they can see that you’ve taken the time to respond to people who have commented or liked them before.  Be creative in your interactions with your audience. Question stickers on Stories are an excellent way to start a conversation while also laying the foundation for fresh content.

• Avoid fake Instagram followers

Once you’ve discovered fake profiles on your account, blocking them is your best option. However, this is going to take some time, If you are a brand with thousands of followers.  

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Showcase your Instagram everywhere you can

Don’t be hesitant to advertise your account if increasing your Instagram following is your goal. You can showcase your Instagram by featuring an Instagram feed on your homepage or product pages and adding social media icons to your website and marketing emails. The following points will tell you how to grow Instagram followers effectively:

• Post content that most followers actually want to see

Posting images and videos that your followers will genuinely enjoy watching is a great way to encourage engagement and keep your followers coming back for more, whether you have 10, 100, 1000, or millions of followers on Instagram.

• Make meaningful conversations with your audience

The platform is excellent for connecting with followers. Asking questions and starting a conversation is central to many of the most well-liked post topics for a reason. Being supportive and responsive instantly shows people that you care. Every interaction counts!

• Find hashtags where your followers hang out

Hashtags can help your content gain new followers. Use hashtags that are specific to your brand or that relate to your target market. Users are more inclined to follow your brand if they think your hashtags are relevant. 

• Take steps to delight your Instagram followers

When you make your Instagram followers happy, you will witness an increase in audience growth. The most famous Instagram accounts have communities and followers. To delight your Instagram followers, you must include inspirational and humorous content.

How to get more Instagram followers on your page (the wrong way):

The following are ineffective methods on how to gain followers on Instagram:

• Why you shouldn’t buy followers on Instagram

Although you may initially see a rise in followers and engagement if you purchase followers, doing so is against Instagram’s Terms of Service and will hurt your account over time. Getting great followers who will interact with your material and stick around could require some work, but the wait will be well worth it.

• Your real followers will know what fake followers look like

A sudden increase in Instagram followers and likes counts is a red flag. Not to mention the unending spam followers that the bot adds to your account. All of this negatively impacts your profile and prevents you from building a genuine Instagram following.

• Fake followers bring nothing to the table

Your follower count may be high if you have a lot of fake followers, but your engagement will be quite low because those fake followers won’t connect with your content. This will also make it harder for you to figure out what’s working and improve your social media content.

• If nothing else, buying Instagram followers violates TOS

As was previously said, buying followers is against Instagram’s rules of service, so you could pay more than just money. Purchasing followers could, at worst, result in the deletion of your Instagram account and, at best, in a decline in interaction and reach.

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Conclusion

Now you know all the growth techniques you will need to increase your Instagram following. Instagram is undoubtedly a competitive platform, but there is always space for new creators to build an enormous following. By using the methods mentioned in this blog, you should be able to boost your follower count in no time.

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