How to Use Instagram to Grow Your Following

A recent study showed that Instagram provides brands with twenty five percent more engagement then other social platforms.

Here are four tactics to increase your Instagram traffic and following:

1. Hashtag it #

Hashtagging allows your photos to be found even after they have faded from your follower’s timelines. It allows people searching using specific terms to be directed to your page.

Instagram allows for a maximum of 30 hashtags per post and instagramers don’t seem to get annoyed by it at all. Do a research for every product or service you post, searching for the most popular hashtags around each category.

2. Timing Is Everything

IconoSquare’s optimization section allows you to figure out best times to post at the right media.  It gives you the best times of the day and days of the week to post by analysing your posting history vs engagement. You can also utilise a scheduling program to schedule your posts so that you never miss a key opportunity to reach out.

3. Grand Theft Followers

Yes it sounds cheesy, but just hear me out first. Engaging with your closest competitors’ audience is a great way to attract a new following as they have already shown interest in the similar products or services you offer by following your competitor.  Make sense now? The best way to go about stealing your closest competitor’s followers is by following a user, liking a photo or commenting on a photo.

4. Sponsored Posts and Product Reviews

Use influencer marketing on Instagram. A lot of individuals have spent time building up their following and could be way ahead of you when it comes to followers. Tap into their following by paying them or offering freebies so that they post about your product on their pages.