How do you grow your Instagram account when you’ve just launched?
You have about ten followers that you’ve acquired from family, friends, your next-door neighbors, and you’re wondering, “Now what?”
Create a strategic plan to grow your account, or as I call it, an Instagram vision board. The who, what, and why of what you’re posting. With a new account your first thought shouldn’t be about gaining a large number of followers.
You will need a game plan.
Your simple focus should be on what the message is that you’re sending to the ten followers you currently have. How are you going to keep them engaged? By gathering consistent content to post on a daily basis and being engaged in your community.
Growing your reach will require a lot of time developing your content creation for Instagram stories and posts.
So, if you’re still here with me let’s grow your Instagram account!
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #1
Plan Your Content
This is a must, must, must! Create thirty days of content in advance. Not only does having thirty days of content free up your time to focus on other things, but you have a solid plan in order for your account. Treat your account just as you would your business. Don’t just wing it. Put a plan together and execute. The benefits to having thirty days of content are great. You have consistent and engaging content for your audience to look forward to.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #2
Strong Bio
Make a good first impression with your Instagram bio. This should be simple and straight to the point but explain who you are and what you do. Share your personality but don’t forget the important details.
Name | Link to Your Website or Blog | Your Bio Blurb (include your skill set) | Contact Info | Location | Hashtag
Related article: How to Master the Perfect Instagram Bio for your Creative Business
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip # 3
Instagram Stories
Determine the purpose of your story and what you hope to accomplish with the post. I’m guilty of posting random thoughts that make no sense whatsoever, but ish’ happens. Each post should have a purpose and a call to action; link in your bio (directing audience to your website), swipe up (directing audience to a product/service, etc.), answer a question, share, drop a comment, etc.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #4
Engage
Remember, just like you, other people are growing their accounts as well. Connect with them. Follow them, show your support by engaging with and responding to their posts. Share. You have to give to receive.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip # 5
Homework
Find five strong brands in your industry to follow. Study the content they post and how their audience engages with it.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #6
** Free Giveaways
Who doesn’t love free stuff?! The holiday season is here, so why don’t you host a raffle and give away something within your budget, in exchange for a like and share.
Related Article: Social Media Calendar Sample
Grow Your Instagram Account #Tip 7
Partner Up
Again, you are not alone here. Partner up with someone else in your industry to cross-promote each other and your ideas/products. The good thing about cross promotions is there is no time limit; you can do this daily, weekly, or monthly. Spreading the love is always a positive thing. If you have less than one hundred followers, find accounts with one hundred to five hundred followers, as they tend to be more open to collaborating for free because they have the same goal in mind—growing their account.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #8
Be Consistent
Whether you have ten followers or a thousand, if you are not posting often or showing me that you’re alive I will lose interest. Now, you may get lucky and get someone like me who forgets to unfollow, but then what good would I be for when you finally do decide to post and sell me something I would scroll right by because you’ve lost my interest. Show me something every day. When I see you on my feed and I see you have a story, I’ll know what I’m getting.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #9
Hashtag Life
It’s a real thing, so don’t be afraid to jump on the bandwagon. Find trending hashtags relevant to your industry and use them in your posts and stories. Get creative with posting and ask for recommendations by tagging the top people you find using the hashtags.
You can use up to thirty hashtags but use them as they apply to you and your business. For example, a few weeks ago I was in Miami looking for a makeup artist and I went through tons of pics of random just using the hashtag just because. None of them were actually makeup artists.
Grow Your Instagram Account Tip #10
Have Fun
All in all, have fun with Instagram. Meet new people, build your community of supporters—people who are real and want to see you succeed. Don’t get caught up in the hype of having a large following that can’t do anything for you or your business. Brands prefer quality over quantity. You and brands would much rather have ten followers who support and engage over ten thousand followers who are inactive in relation to your account.
Thanks for reading!
