With over 2 billion active users, Instagram represents a significant channel for businesses to connect with and engage their target audiences. However, without a recognisable brand presence or personality, expanding your following necessitates a strategic and consistent approach. At Ocean View Marketing, we excel in assisting brands with genuine growth, attracting followers who not only engage but convert. Below, we present our foremost strategies for cultivating a quality Instagram following.
Types of Followers: What to Focus On
When building your following, you will encounter different types of followers:
- Fake Followers: These are bots or inactive accounts that may inflate your follower count but contribute little to engagement, potentially damaging your credibility.
- Ghost Followers: Although real, these users are typically inactive and rarely engage with your content. While not harmful, they add little to your engagement metrics.
- Organic Followers: Active users who regularly engage with your content and provide the most value. Aiming for these followers is crucial as they drive significant engagement and potential sales.
How to Grow Organic Followers on Instagram
Optimise Your Profile
- Clear Username: Choose an easily searchable name closely associated with your brand.
- Profile Picture: Utilize a clear, on-brand image or logo to aid in recognition.
- Engaging Bio: Take advantage of the 150-character bio to communicate your identity and the reason behind following you.
- Add LinkTree: Incorporate multiple links to direct followers towards relevant content, enhancing interaction.
Develop a Consistent Brand
Implement a defined colour palette, typefaces, and visual style across your posts to maintain a cohesive and recognisable feed. This consistency bolsters brand identity and credibility.
Share Valuable Content Consistently
Educate your audience through carousels, tutorials, or industry insights. Regular posting builds reliability, with optimal engagement times often falling between 12-3 PM or 6-9 PM, particularly on Fridays and weekends.
Embrace Trends and Diversify Content
Diversify your content with a mix of Reels, Stories, carousels, and single images. Participate in trends or seasonal events to make your content relatable, while varied formats cater to different follower preferences.
Encourage Engagement with Captions and Comments
Include questions, emojis, and compelling CTAs in captions to stimulate conversation. Tags and shares extend your reach, as do responses to others’ posts, enhancing your visibility.
Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)
Showcase customer creations or testimonials to fortify social proof and exhibit your brand’s value. UGC builds trust and fosters community engagement.
Use Hashtags and Location Tags Wisely
Relevant hashtags ensure content discoverability without overloading captions. Similarly, location and brand tags enhance both exposure and credibility.
Collaborate with Influencers and Run Contests
Collaborations with pertinent creators expand your reach and attract authentic followers. Contests or giveaways generate excitement and visibility.
Consider Ads for Targeted Growth
Instagram ads offer a faster avenue to reach specific audiences. Paid promotions can elevate high-performing content or introduce your brand to new followers.
Go Live and Use Stories Stickers
Instagram Live and interactive Stories, like “Add Yours” stickers or polls, facilitate real-time engagement and render your brand more accessible and authentic.
Avoid Quick Fixes
Purchasing followers or employing bots may superficially inflate figures, but this rarely leads to substantive engagement. Cultivating an authentic following requires time but cultivates trust, strengthens credibility, and delivers genuine brand value.