Instagram is one of the largest and most popular social media platforms. With over 2-billion monthly active users and over 500-million daily active users, your target audience is likely utilizing Instagram to stay connected with their friends, family, and personal brands they enjoy. However, if you’re struggling to gain more Instagram followers for your business, we’re going to show you the best ways to grow your Instagram business account.
Below, we are going to discuss just how to get more followers on Instagram as a business. This will be done completely organically and will not utilize any paid or sponsored posts to gain more followers. However, it is important to note, that gaining more Instagram followers does take time. Typically, it can take upwards of 6-months to one-year to really start making strides and seeing your Instagram followers begin to skyrocket.
Why Should Your Business Have an Instagram Account?
In today’s digital landscape, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses of all sizes, and Instagram stands out as one of the most powerful platforms to connect with your audience. With over a billion active users, Instagram offers a unique opportunity for businesses to engage with potential customers, showcase their products or services, and build a community around their brand.
Similarly, the visual nature of Instagram allows you to create a compelling brand story through images, videos, and stories, making it easier to catch the eye of potential followers who could turn into loyal customers. Moreover, Instagram’s highly engaged user base is more likely to interact with brands, leading to greater visibility and enhanced credibility.
Another compelling reason for businesses to be on Instagram is the platform’s advanced targeting capabilities. Instagram’s advertising tools allow you to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring that your content reaches the right audience. This level of targeting helps businesses maximize their return on investment, making Instagram not just a place to engage followers organically but also a platform for effective advertising. Additionally, Instagram’s shopping features enable businesses to showcase and sell products directly on the app, streamlining the path from discovery to purchase. Whether you’re a local business or an international brand, Instagram provides a versatile platform for driving brand awareness, customer engagement, and sales growth.
7 Ways to Increase Your Business Instagram Followers
As stated above, Instagram is one of the best and most popular social media platforms. With billions of monthly users and an active and engaged audience, more and more businesses are turning to Instagram to help build their brand awareness and develop connections with their audience.
However, building a following on Instagram, or any other social media platform, takes time. You will likely need to commit to six months or more before real results begin to be seen and before your following begins to skyrocket.
Optimize Your Profile
Start by making sure your Instagram profile is fully optimized. Use a recognizable profile picture, such as your logo, and choose a handle that aligns with your brand. Craft a compelling bio that clearly describes what your business does and includes a call to action, like a link to your website or a special offer. Use keywords relevant to your industry to improve search visibility.
Similarly, be sure to maintain brand consistency. You should not only utilize the same logo on Instagram as the one on your website, but also try to maintain a similar and consistent feed scheme.
Post Consistently with High-Quality Content
Consistency is key on Instagram. Create a posting schedule that fits your audience’s habits, and stick to it. Focus on producing high-quality content that aligns with your brand’s identity—this includes eye-catching images, engaging videos, informative infographics, and captivating stories. Don’t be afraid to showcase behind-the-scenes content, user-generated posts, or educational material that adds value to your followers.
Instagram’s algorithm is likely going to reward those content creators and brands who not only post more frequently but also post within a similar cycle. In order to build trust with the platform, you will have to continue to post and post consistently.
Engage with Your Audience
Engagement is a two-way street on Instagram. Actively respond to comments, direct messages, and mentions. Use features like polls, questions, and quizzes in Instagram Stories to invite participation. Show appreciation for your followers by liking, commenting, or sharing their content if they tag you. This encourages loyalty and boosts your visibility as followers see you engaging authentically.
And, as with the above, engaging with your audience is a signal to Instagram’s algorithm that you are a real brand and that you are looking to utilize the platform to connect with your audience.
Leverage Hashtags Wisely
Hashtags are crucial for reaching a broader audience. Use a mix of popular, niche, and branded hashtags that are relevant to your industry. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but it’s often best to choose 10-15 highly relevant ones. Create a branded hashtag to encourage user-generated content and to build a community around your brand.
Utilize Instagram Stories and Reels
Instagram Stories and Reels are highly engaging formats that can help you reach new audiences. Stories are perfect for short, casual content, such as behind-the-scenes moments, polls, and Q&A sessions, while Reels allow you to create fun, educational, or entertaining short-form videos. Both formats have their own dedicated discover feeds, giving you a chance to be seen by users who don’t follow you yet.
Similarly, as both Instagram Stories and Reels are the new “hot” item on Instagram, the algorithm is more likely to promote those posts and will help you to reach a more broad audience.
Host Giveaways and Contests
Hosting giveaways and contests can attract a lot of attention quickly. Encourage followers to participate by tagging friends, sharing your post, or following your account to enter. This not only increases your follower count but also boosts engagement as users interact with your content. Ensure the prize you offer is relevant to your target audience to attract the right kind of followers.
Similarly, as more users engage with your post, like it, and share it, the more likely that it will gain traction with the algorithm, helping your post to reach an even greater number of users.
Analyze and Adjust
Regularly use Instagram’s built-in analytics to assess what’s working and what’s not. Pay attention to which posts receive the most engagement, which times are best for posting, and which hashtags are driving traffic. Use these insights to adjust your strategy and focus on content that resonates most with your audience.
Nothing in digital media is static and analyzing and adjusting how you approach any medium or platform will help you to find success in it.
Need More Help?
Need more help growing your business Instagram account? Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you grow your Instagram account for your business.