Whether you’re new to Instagram, you’ve been on for a while and are stagnating, or you’re established and looking for more ways to improve your numbers, everyone can use a few tips and tricks to help build or continue building your Instagram audience.
First off, buying followers isn’t an option.
If Instagram finds out you’ve purchased them you could be banned, and sex workers are already walking on eggshells with the site. The last thing you want to do is raise the flag you’re doing something worthy of being kicked off for.
Okay, fine, let’s say you want to take your chances because you don’t have time to put in all the work it’s going to take to plump up your presence. Here’s the problem even if you do get away with it: it’s not going to give you the results you want.
The increased numbers won’t translate into fan engagement or the purchasing of your products.
It’s simply wasted cash that you could spend on your content.
So, now that that’s out of the way here are a few tips that you may or may not have thought of to help you build and/or keep your numbers soaring.
- Make sure your profile is fully set up and visually pleasing.
- Use keywords in your bio and hashtags so it’s easily searched.
- Have a brand – a unique look to what you post and keep it consistent.
- Post often – at the same time and several times a week.
- Post quality content – if what you’re sharing is boring, it will be to others as well.
- Always use hashtags so your work is easily findable.
- Post your hashtags as a comment instead of in the body of the post. It looks cleaner and helps with the Instagram algorithm because it counts as a comment.
- Communicate with those who comment on posts and don’t just answer them with a heart or smiley face, actually converse.
- Always reshare any posts you are tagged on.
- Go a step further on resharing – shout out the person who tagged you – they will often turn around and share your post with their followers which could help you nab a few.
- Work on posts that ask a question or opinion of your audience, so they’ll comment.
- Promote yourself – always give out all your handles when doing an interview or talking to fans if appropriate.
- Work with other creators by running contests or events or shouting one another out. That way you can take advantage of each other’s followers who will often support you both.
- Consider getting on board with Reels, even though it can be a lot of work to make quality video content, it can “reach new audiences” as explained by Shopify.
- Don’t miss out on holidays – craft content to fit them, hashtag correctly, and you can get a lot of views by those who aren’t following you by celebrating the occasion.
- Look at YNOT Cam’s Rem Sequence’s column about Insta-Sites and watch for her follow up next week.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and a simple Google search of “how to build your Instagram audience” can give you more ideas. But it’s a great place to start – good luck!
Photo credit: iStock.com/hapabapa
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Alyssa Collins hails from Minnesota, where snowy days were the perfect excuse to stay warm inside and write. Over the years, she turned that joy into a career and has authored numerous articles for various publications (under pen names). Email Alyssa via alyssa@ynot.com.
