Getting a new brand established today can pose some serious challenges. Social media sites like Instagram still offer plenty of opportunities, but no matter what they do, sell, or promote, business owners and aspiring influencers have to compete with many others in the same niche. That’s why it’s so important to treat Instagram engagement like a marketing campaign. Read on to find some helpful tips from experienced social media marketers about how to grow Instagram followers and catch up to the competition.
- Get Off to a Running Start
There are a few ways for new Instagram profiles to start building follower counts, but they vary in effectiveness depending on the content creator’s current social media presence and their brand’s reputation. Those who already maintain personal Instagram profiles or business accounts on other social media sites can start cross-promoting content and marketing through other accounts to pad their initial follower counts. Even people who are completely new to the world of social media marketing can still buy Instagram followers instantly to get their marketing efforts off to a running start.
- Use the Right Hashtags
Hashtagging is designed to make it easier for users to find content that they might find appealing, but every audience is different. Choosing hashtags that appeal to the brand’s target audience is the key to reaching new users that will stick around long enough to boost engagement rates. Finding the right hashtags to use requires some research.
Look for tags that are relevant to the brand, frequently searched, and timely. Making a list of potential hashtags that are both applicable to the account and popular enough to attract attention is a great place to start. Check competitors’ accounts, try location-specific tags, and search target keywords directly.
- Poach Followers
If there’s one way to find the perfect audience for a new business Instagram account, it’s to seek out competitors and start engaging with their followers. After all, the people following competitors’ accounts have already demonstrated an interest in the company’s products or services. Try following users, liking photos, and commenting on photos to start boosting engagement with potential converts to the brand.
- Understand Influencer Trends
Influencer marketing is still considered one of the most effective ways to reach new audiences on Instagram and other social media platforms. However, many trends in this field have changed in 2023. Micro-influencers, for example, are much more popular now than they were just a few years ago. That’s good news for emerging brands with tighter budgets since micro-influencers are generally willing to form partnerships at a lower cost to the brand.
- Stay Consistent
Consistency is one of the keys to success on Instagram. Brands should try to stay within their niches to make sure they’re attracting followers that will stay with them for the long haul. They should also stick to consistent posting schedules and create an aesthetic that is representative of the brand and will withstand the test of time.
Growing Follower Counts Takes Work
It takes a good deal of work to grow follower counts. The best place to start is by getting the basics down, then taking advantage of tactics like influencer marketing and engaging with competitors’ follower bases. Combining these with other tactics will get brands off to a good start so they can keep growing their follower counts and boost engagement over time.