How do I get more Instagram followers?
It’s a question I get asked all the time. I know the struggle. To create a good content is not enough nowadays as it's so tough out there. I've started using Instagram just over 2 years ago and I have now grown to 33k
It didn't happen overnight of course. You just have to be patient with it. I always tell everyone, you have to treat Instagram like a retail shop. As every new shop, you have to spend money on it, you have to invest. Of course there are free ways to gain more followers but it doesn't really work and I'm being completely honest with you as I tried everything.
So what does it work then? Let's get started:
1.CREATE GREAT CONTENT
Let's face it, nobody wants to see your microwave meal photo taken in your living room with low light while you are eating it. Of course unless you are a Kim Kardashian or Justin Bieber :) Your photo should be taken in day light or with a good indoor lighting but in that case I would stick with natural daylight. To create a good content, you have to stick with a theme and specialize in one thing. If you are doing fitness and health then don't post your nieces or nephews pictures or your neighbor's dog.
2.STICK WITH A THEME
Successful people of instagram tend to stick with one theme. Whether that's a colorful scenery or just one colour theme their pictures give you the same feeling. Your pictures should look good individually but also together in your feed. Because this is the first place people look at when they click on someone's profile you have to make sure all pictures go well with each other. I know it's a pain and I tend to do different styles and colours sometimes as it's hard to make every photo have the same lighting, similar colours etc. but you gotta stick with it!
3.USE YOUR HASHTAGS
Again I know it's a pain to write 30 hashtags but they do work. Try to change them on every post and use different ones you used before.
4.PAY INFLUENCERS
Here comes to serious bit. As I mentioned above, you have to spend money until you make it. Find a competitor in your field with lots of followers and ask them how much their rates for you to be featured on their account. Please don't ask people shout outs for free! People get there with hard work, they pay someone else too and then you come along ask for a shout out! It's just not fair.
5.JOIN HIDDEN GIVEAWAYS
There are certain groups on Instagram organizing giveaways. Those people pay certain amount of money to influencers to make them post an iPhone giveaway picture on their account and ask their followers to follow other accounts signed up to the giveaway! You join the group by paying the money to organizers. I know it sounds complicated but you don't have to do anything other than paying! How to find them? You can search on Instagram with giveaway or prize hashtags. Sometimes they are called hidden giveaways.
6.ALWAYS INTERACT WITH PEOPLE
Follow, like and comment.
7.POST ON RIGHT TIMES
With analytics you can see most active time of your followers. For that you have to switch to business account on Instagram. Posting at the right time will give you the most likes and comments. The more interaction you get for your post, the more likely you will land on the explore page.
8.CREATE AN ADVERT IN INSTAGRAM
Highly expensive per a click but it works.
9.CROSS PROMOTE YOUR CHANNEL WITH SIMILAR ACCOUNTS TO YOURS
Again, find similar people with the same amount of followers to you in your niche and ask them if they would be interested in cross promoting. Win win for both parties without paying anything.
10.TAG BIG BRANDS, COMPANIES IN YOUR PICTURES
I have been featured on Bershka's website twice and I probably gained around 500 or more followers from them. How did I do it? I created a content that is similar to theirs on their instagram account and tagged them. You have to observe and see what the brands want and like, then create something similar using their products.
I know some of things I mentioned above are quite expensive but you have to see it as an investment. Whether you are trying to create a brand for yourself or your company's product that you want to promote, they all need a bit of push and investment. Think like a shop. You opened your first shop, you wouldn't sit there in an empty shop with no lights and no products would you? Of course not. You would pay your rent, hire someone to look after the shop, pay your bills and buy some stock etc. plus market your business. Instagram is no different. You gotta invest until you make it there.
Hope you enjoyed reading this.
Let me know your tips and tricks on the comments below
Thank you all