Do you want to grow your brand on Instagram and gain more followers who truly engage? Use these 20 tips to get more Instagram followers, including using hashtags, interactions, stories, and posts.
20 Tips for More Instagram Followers & a Better Profile with More Reach
Do you want to know how to get more followers on Instagram in 2020?
Although a decline in user growth has been reported, Instagram maintains its position as the second most used social networking channel (in the US) after Facebook.
The Instagram app is the second most popular app for iPhone, after YouTube.
Of one billion monthly Instagram users, 63% (about 63 million) log in every day for an average of 28 minutes.
Of 500 million people who watch Instagram stories daily, one third are from businesses.
For a brand looking to achieve or increase audience engagement, many users are waiting in one place to meet you.
Do you need more reasons to use Instagram for a business?
But as with all social media, you have to find the right tone.
Or risk crashing a festival like your dad and trying to dance with your friends.
Become more visible on Google & Social Media?
In a free strategy consultation for data-driven online marketing, we uncover your untapped potential, review any existing ad accounts if necessary, examine your SEO ranking and visibility, and determine which strategy is appropriate for your budget and which active measures will lead to more inquiries or sales.
✅ More visibility & perception through targeted placement
✅ More visitors > prospects > customers > revenue
✅ Reach target groups scalably with SEA
✅ Act and grow sustainably with SEO
🫵 Maximum success with our hybrid strategy
💪 More than 15 years of experience across industries in over 1,000+ projects demonstrable!
Nobody wants to see that.
So, to get more followers on Instagram and increased engagement, here are 20 steps for your brand to succeed.
Stick to your Instagram stories, posts, feeds, bios, and hashtags.
1. Plan and create a content calendar full of great ideas
When we write content, we work on ideas, delivery, and optimization.
It should be no different when we share photos and videos on a company’s or brand’s Instagram account.
Take the time to develop clever content ideas that align with seasons, holidays, upcoming events for your business, and (most importantly) your overall traffic and sales goals.
You can still be flexible and post spontaneously when ideas come to you.
However, with an idea library and a (preliminary) schedule, you’ll always stay up-to-date instead of searching for something to post.
Depending on your business, you may be able to post several times a day or several times a week.
Create an Instagram content plan and stick to it.
Our Social Media Management Tool is helpful for this.
2. Only post well-composed images and videos + make sure they are sharp
When posting on Instagram, only use high-quality photos and videos. By high quality, I mean crystal clear, non-pixelated shots.
Instagram is primarily a visual platform. It’s no place for blurry photos or images where part of the image is cut off.
However, it doesn't have to be editor-standard, but the subject should be in focus.
Low-quality content will not engage. It could even cost you some followers.
3. Experiment with different filters and dimensions
Just because you’re a business doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with filters and use different dimensions. On the contrary, you should use filters for your content.
The more creative, original, and fascinating your photos are, the more likely people are to share and follow your account. You can go a step further and download photo editing apps to enhance your photos even more.
Don’t feel limited to square dimensions – also use the landscape and portrait options. Test the dimensions yourself and find out what works best for you.
4. Use Instagram Analytics to support your persona research
With a free Instagram business account, you have access to analytics that show when your target audience is most active. Use this data to optimize your posting schedule. Instagram also gives you insights into the age, gender, and location distribution of your audience. This can be a starting point for researching personas.
5. Tag people interacting with your brand in your photos
Another way to get discovered by people who don’t follow you is to tag relevant accounts so you show up in their tagged feed.
If you own a gym and take a group photo after a fitness class, tag every single one of those people in the photo. It will go into all of their tagged feeds.
Their followers (some of whom likely have similar interests) will see the post and discover your studio.
This strategy applies just as much to other brand and business accounts!
For example, if you are a wedding photographer, it is a good idea to tag the vendors of a wedding in your photos.
A photo of the reception, for example, could tag a DJ, a cake baker, a wedding planner, and a wedding venue, all tagged in the same photo.
It’s good for all businesses involved: each business gets extra exposure and leads to more discoveries when brides are looking for future vendors. If someone is looking for a wedding venue via Instagram, they are likely also looking for a photographer and many other related vendors.
If you can share the spotlight and tag others, do so.
It will come back to bring you more Instagram followers and leads.
6. Optimize your Instagram bio with branded hashtags and CTAs
Your bio (the text at the very top of the profile next to the image and below the profile name) should be used to include a call to action, branded hashtags, and a link, which plays a big role in finding new Instagram users.
This section tells users who you or your brand are and whether they should follow you.
However, don't beg, sound desperate, or appear spammy.
For example, do not include "Follow People Who Follow Me!" in your bio.
You want to tell users who you are and why they should follow you.
Make sure this section is updated as needed.
If you have run a contest, you can mention this information in your bio.
7. Ask questions in your posts and include calls to action (CTAs)
At the end of each post, include a clear call to action or a question designed to encourage engagement.
CTAs include things like:
- Learn more – link in bio!
- Double tap if you want to see more videos like this!
- Follow us so you don't miss an update.
You can also ask questions!
For example, let’s say you own a yoga studio and post a short video of a teacher demonstrating how to get into a certain pose. At the end of your caption, you could write something like, „Tell us what poses you’d like to see in future videos in the comments!“
This will engage your audience, show that you genuinely care about what your audience wants to see, and give you ideas for what to post in the future.
8. Add an Instagram link to your website and email
Ensure existing customers and clients can find your Instagram by adding an Instagram icon to your social links or embedding Instagram content into your website. You can also link to your brand’s Instagram account via your email signature.
And use a plugin to pull your latest Instagram posts directly to your website. This can be a great way to promote your new account to people who regularly visit your website, thereby strengthening customer loyalty.
9. Cross-post your Instagram content to Facebook and Twitter
Cross-posting Instagram content to Facebook and Twitter can drive users back to your Instagram profile.
Users who didn’t know you were on Instagram and follow you on other platforms will then realize you’re also on Instagram, as the post will indicate it was shared from Instagram.
You can adjust your settings for each post to automatically cross-post, or you can do it manually for selected posts.
10. Run contests and campaigns to increase brand reach
Once you’ve built a follower base, you can run contests and campaigns that can attract more users to your page. For example, you can drive traffic to your website or sell your product by running an inspiring Instagram contest.
You can either ask users to like, comment, use a specific hashtag, or ask your followers to tag a friend.
If you ask users to tag a friend, your brand and page will be exposed to more Instagram users online.
This is an effective way to increase your brand awareness and reach, and an important hack to gain more Instagram followers.
11. See what your competitors are doing
Another proven method to gain followers on Instagram is to look at what your competitors are doing and learn from it.
Browsing their accounts can uncover hashtags you hadn't thought of, influencers you hadn't reached, or other strategies that can inform your own.
Also, note which of their posts perform best—this can be another clue as to what might work on your own account.
12. Interact via Instagram (follow, like, and comment on other posts)
Strategically engage with users who might like your profile. In practice, this means interacting with potential customers and brand allies by liking, following, and thoughtfully commenting on their posts.
Start with your hashtags: Click on your frequently used, relevant hashtags to discover others who post similar content.
You can also go to the „Explore“ section of the Instagram app to find relevant content.
Another good practice is to interact with those who already follow you.
Follow them back and like their content too.
The more you engage, the more you will appear and be noticed in others‘ feeds.
Plus, it shows that you are an authentic, genuine account that believes in reciprocity!
13. Do not use too much text in your photos
Generally, you want to save the words for your captions. People go to Instagram to see visual and aesthetically pleasing content.
It is outside the norm to post a lot of text in an image. A short, positive quote or statement is perfectly fine, but try not to include a full product description or a long message in the actual image.
If you are looking for ways to add text to photos, Canva* is a free tool for maximum creativity – highly recommended!
With professionally designed text formats and templates created for various social networks (including Instagram and more), Canva can help you create clear designs for the times when you want to add text to your photos.
14. Logos and watermarks should never be used on your images
Stamping your logo on your Instagram post detracts from your content and your users‘ experience. People do not expect to see logos or watermarks on Instagram posts. It’s like waving a giant flag that says, „I am a business trying to sell you something.“
While it is not recommended to put a logo on your content, you can still add branding.
For example, if you are a B2B company that takes a look behind the scenes of your employees, have them wear shirts with your logo.
If you are a fashion retailer, you can occasionally include a strategically placed bag with your store’s name in a photo.
Keep it subtle, otherwise you risk being ignored.
15. Using the right hashtags can help you capture new audiences
By using hashtags, you will be introduced to new audiences who are looking for the type of content you post, whether they follow you or not.
For example, if you sell bath accessories, tag a relevant photo with hashtags like #bathsupplies #bathtime and anything related to your products, such as #bubblebath, #bathbomb, etc.
If you have a local business, make sure to include local hashtags as well.
Take the time to research hashtags and find the best hashtags for your specific content.
It's easy to see which hashtags get the most traction.
When you start typing # and your word, Instagram shows how many posts have been created around that word.
Hashtagify.me is also a great tool to find hashtags that get a lot of traction.
You can enter your primary hashtag, and it will show you its reach, as well as related hashtags and their reach, and all hashtags connected to those hashtags, and so on.
How many hashtags should I add to an Instagram post?
It’s common to stick to five to seven to avoid looking spammy. However, you can add up to 30 hashtags. For small profiles, you should keep it to a maximum of 15-20.
Where should I add hashtags in an Instagram post?
You can add them directly to the post or in a separate comment immediately after posting – it’s really an aesthetic choice. Some users prefer to add individual dots separated by line breaks after their caption and then add the hashtags.
Whatever you do is fine, but keep it consistent across all posts to maintain a streamlined professional appearance.
16. Use geotags to reach local audiences
Another way to be found by users who don’t yet follow you is to geotag your content – but not necessarily with your business location. Try using your city or a nearby (relevant) landmark that is frequently searched.
When people search for a nearby location, they can now stumble upon your content.
If your content performs particularly well, it might even appear at the top of the search results.
Using geotags is also a great way to promote a local business on Instagram – similar to Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO).
17. Only add links to your bio (links in posts are not clickable)
Any link you include in an Instagram post will not become a clickable link. Instead, it only serves as an annoying and poor experience when your audience tries (and fails) to open it.
Instead of including a non-clickable link, instruct people to click the link in your bio.
They can simply click on it and go to your website to see everything you have to offer.
Make sure to insert your link into the „Link“ section when editing your bio and mention this in your post.
For space reasons, use a link shortener like Bit.ly to save space.
You can even further optimize the link by customizing it so that it’s not a random string of characters, but one or two meaningful words.
18. Tagging products in images and videos helps drive conversions
If you are selling a product, use Instagram's tagging feature.
Businesses can tag photos or videos with product links.
To use this feature, you need a business page on Facebook with a product catalog.
It’s a great user experience for users and a big win for businesses looking to seamlessly drive conversions.
19. Create a branded hashtag for your events
Create a branded hashtag for your next event.
This not only gives your brand exposure but also curates a unique stream of all your event’s content, allowing others to connect and engage with your brand and other people at the event.
Leading up to the event, you can use your branded hashtag to promote the event, and afterwards, you can use it to publish follow-up content.
20. Instagram Ads can put you directly in front of your audience (paid but enormously effective!)
Consider using ad spend to promote your Instagram profile. You can create effective carousel ads and promote your content through Facebook’s Power Editor.
If you are running a specific contest or marketing campaign, you can use Facebook ads to expose the content to a larger audience.
However, note the difference between ad spend on Instagram and Facebook.
With the ability to target your customers based on their interest and behavior in Power Editor, you can ensure that your posts are seen by Instagram users who are interested in your business.
While some of these strategies may work better than others, find the ones that fit well with your business or yourself.
Quick Wins for Fast Success:
How can I get 1000 followers on Instagram?
To get your first 1,000 followers, you need to put yourself in a position to be seen. To do this, follow other relevant accounts and leave thoughtful comments on their posts. Also, use hashtags by posting and commenting on hashtags relevant to the audience you want to attract.
How do I get followers on Instagram quickly?
Getting followers on Instagram takes time and high-quality content. Like anything else, you get out what you put in. Don’t let anyone tell you there are shortcuts. But if you work hard and put in the effort, you can grow your Instagram followers quite quickly.
To get real followers quickly, engage with other relevant Instagram users. The key is to be seen and to create value. Creative ideas, amazing images, and thoughtful content attract followers if you post regularly and use hashtags correctly.
Can you buy Instagram followers?
Yes, you can buy Instagram followers for as little as 10 Euros per 1,000 followers.
However, you are only buying fake accounts and bots that offer no value or engagement with your brand.
Beware, an Instagram account with a high number of followers but no likes or comments on posts looks really spammy.
Buying Instagram followers is a waste of your money and you are much better off investing time in building real followers.
100 engaged, hard-earned followers are far more valuable than 1,000 followers who never comment or like.
We hope you enjoyed the article, and if you now have more interest in Instagram and social media in general, please feel free to contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
Ihr Ansprechpartner für Social Media Marketing:
E-Mail: fi@vastcob.com
Florian Ibe
DE
