How To Build Your Instagram Following In 2019
It is 2019 and there are currently 1 billion active users on Instagram and there is no sign that Instagram’s popularity is slowing down.
However, with many users today, is it still possible to become Instafamous?
Is it possible to still build your following?
The answer is yes! In this article, we will cover how to build your Instagram following in 2019.
12 Steps on how to build your Instagram following:
Post On Instagram Daily
How often should I post on Instagram in 2019?
Unfortunately, there is no exact answer.
How often you should post is dependent on what your followers have grown to expect from you as well as the amount of time you have for creating new quality content.
Now, if you’re just starting out on Instagram you can experiment with what works best. In the beginning, posting constantly throughout the day could lead to more engagement and new followers.
However, during this period you need to set an expectation for the followers you gain.
Don’t take on a larger workload that you know you won’t be able to handle down the road.
The truth is, quality of quantity is always best. When you are just starting out on Instagram focus on uploading three quality Instagram posts periodically throughout the day.
If your posts are engaging and well-constructed the followers will begin to come.
As your following grows, you may want to consider scheduling out your Instagram posts.
Simple scheduling tools like Hootsuite can help to maintain your Instagram account and ensuring that you get your content in front of your followers on time!
Follow Similar Instagram Accounts
Follow similar Instagram accounts you wish to model your own account after.
The accounts who already have a fan base will provide you with ideas on how to run your own Instagram account.
Think of them as competitors.
Although you aren’t necessarily trying to steal their following base, you can use them to come up with ideas and tactics which you can improve upon and apply to your own account.
Take a look at how they construct each of their posts.
Some things you want to take notice from other Instagram accounts are the following:
- The time they post
- How many times they post each day
- The structure of their captions
- The hashtags they use
- The theme their account follows
- Who they follow and respond to
In marketing terms, conduct a competitor’s analysis on the people you follow.
This will allow you to identify their strengths and weaknesses which you can then apply to your own Instagram account.
Leave Comments On Other Instagram Posts
This tactic is to strictly get your name out there.
After you have followed other popular accounts in your niche, make the first move and begin commenting on their posts.
In a way, you’re promoting yourself.
That being said, the comments you leave need to add value to the post. Refrain from using generic responses like “love this picture” or “nice photo.”
These kinds of comments won’t get you anywhere as they will just be lost among every else’s generic comments.
Really examine and think about what you want to say.
The better your comment the higher the chances people will notice it, which can result in them clicking your name and visiting your profile page.
This is a rule I follow when commenting on someone’s Instagram posts:
When coming up with a comment, think about what you can say that will make the poster of the picture actually want to respond to you. Your comment should be good enough to get the original poster’s attention. You want a comment to facilitate a response or even better start a conversation.
As a beginner, try to leave at least 3 high-quality comments on popular posts each day.
By doing this you are getting your name out in front of other users which could eventually lead to higher engagement on your own Instagram account.
Respond To Your Followers
Responding to your followers adds value to your account and builds positive relationships.
This is essential for maintaining a following. It shows you care about the people who engage with your content.
Each day, take some time to go through your notifications and direct messages. Identify any valuable comments, questions or mentions that your followers have posted and respond to them individually.
When you’re just starting out, respond to everything whether it be positive or negative!
As your Instagram followers grow you can begin toning back on this. However, you should still go through your comments and choose 1 or 2 to respond to!
Doing this shows your followers that you’re just like them and value their commentary.
Research Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags are your ticket to being discovered.
Like other social media platforms, hashtags on Instagram are used to help others find your posts.
To effectively used hashtags you need to research relevant hashtags that are within your niche. Two of the best ways to go about do this are:
- Looking at Instagram users who are also in your niche and identifying what hashtags they are using
- Using Instagram’s search tool and searching for keywords relevant to your niche or user base
There is no set amount of how many hashtags you should use on each post. As you research you will notice that it ranges. Some Instagram influencers can use anywhere from 2-30 hashtags per post.
However, according to Hootsuite, Instagram posts with at least 9 hashtags will receive the most engagement.
Now, the hashtags you use should be relevant to your niche. Avoid using spammy hashtags in an effort to gain followers.
People who follow the spammy hashtags you are using in your posts will become annoyed with seeing your irrelevant content and can end up requesting to Instagram that your account is hidden.
Remember, people like to see content that is relevant to what they are looking for. So, take a look at your competitors and keep your hashtag use consistent with the type of content or niche your Instagram account is tailored to.
Post At The Right Time
Your timing is everything!
Anyone who has an Instagram account knows that there are optimal times for posting.
Typically, the best time to post is when your followers are online. This means that time zones can come into play with your Instagram postings.
If you’re looking for a simple answer, according to QuickSprout, the best time to post on Instagram is anytime between Monday and Thursday except between the hours of 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Another source, Later, has conducted a study that looks at the best times to post each day of the week. Their findings are below:
- Monday: 6 AM, 10 AM and 10 PM EST.
- Tuesday: 2 AM, 4 AM and 9 AM EST.
- Wednesday: 7 AM, 8 AM and 11 PM EST.
- Thursday: 9 AM, 12 PM and 7 PM EST.
- Friday: 5 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM EST.
- Saturday: 11 AM, 7 PM and 8 PM EST.
- Sunday: 7 AM, 8 AM and 4 PM EST.
If you’re following the routine of posting three times a day than these times are your best bet for getting the most engagement.
Another simple way to decide when the best time to post is to take a look at when you typically check your social media accounts.
Make a conscious effort to check when the people you are following are posting.
Experiment a little. If you’re just starting out, post at different times throughout the day and record when you do so.
At the end of the day scroll through your posts and record the amount of activity you received on your account.
All these practices will help you determine when the best time to post on Instagram is for you.
Come Up With Amazing Captions
Captions are what can make a “good” Instagram post “great.”
If you have a gift for coming up with creative captions you can really make a killing on Instagram.
Captions can add value and humor to your posts! They are another way to entertain your audience as well as help with gaining new followers.
To be straight forward, people will follow you if you’re are funny.
If you, unfortunately, lack the creative caption gene, head to Google and search for creative captions that go with your niche.
Find a caption that in some way relates to the photo you are posting.
Check out some of these websites for creative caption ideas and tailor them to your own posts:
Utilize Locations
Locations can contribute to your discovery. You want to take advantage of the location you took your picture at.
Leverage taking photos at popular locations by adding the location to your post.
On Instagram, locations act in the same way as hashtags in the sense that whenever someone searches that location, your photo has the possibility for appearing in their search results.
It is another tactic to help your account get discovered organically.
Unlike hashtags, however, people usually won’t call you out for fibbing on the location you took the photo at.
In fact, coming up with a funny location to add to your Instagram post can add comedic value to your post.
Using locations simply acts as another way for your post to be discovered.
And hey, although it is unlikely, as your following grows, popular destinations may eventually reach out to you asking for you to promote their location on your posts.
Change Up Your Instagram Bio
Use your Instagram bio to your benefit.
Your Instagram bio should be a short description of what your account is about.
Use it as a way to introduce yourself to new users who are visiting your profile for the first time. You want to hook them into following you, so you need to give them a taste in as few words as possible.
Creativity counts here as well and you can add as little or as much information you want.
However, there is one aspect of your bio that you should leverage. That is a “Call to Action” button or website link.
You can use a CTA or website link to direct users to your blog, website, landing page, other accounts, etc. By adding these assets to your bio you are encouraging your followers to continuously engage with your Instagram account.
Building off of this, remember to switch your bio up every once in a while. Keep your page fresh! This will encourage your users to keep coming back.
Hootsuite has a great article on what to include in your Instagram bio.
Leverage Your Other Social Media Accounts
Chances are Instagram isn’t the only social media account you have.
That being said, use your other social media accounts to promote your Instagram page.
It doesn’t hurt posting your Instagram content to other social media accounts. They will serve as other channels for directing new followers.
What is nice about Instagram is that it is owned by Facebook. Facebook makes it easy to connect your accounts to one another and gives you the option to post on both platforms simultaneously.
Each social media platform has its own benefits and can help you with reaching a larger audience. Brush up on all social media platforms to get an understanding of where you should be focusing your efforts.
Collaborate With Other Accounts
Once your following begins growing traction take it upon yourself to start collaborating with other Instagram influencers.
As your following grows, continue to interact with other Instagram users who have the same amount or larger following as you.
Focus on creating a relationship with them and when the time is right, ask them to collaborate.
Collaboration can be as simple as getting together with one another and taking a photo with one another.
Doing this opens your Instagram account up to their audience and vice versa. Both you and the person you are collaborating with will benefit.
Collaborating doesn’t just have to be with another person, however. Brands and businesses are another way to collaborate online which can help you gain followers.
You will notice as you grow in popularity, brand and businesses will begin reaching out to you asking if you will promote their brand/products on your posts.
Not only will this give you the opportunity to make some extra cash promoting products, but you are in essence tying yourself to a corporation that most likely already has an established audience.
Track Your Post’s Performance
Your rate of growth will depend on how much effort you are willing to put in.
Everything mentioned in this article can be measured and tracked. When you’re just starting out, you have the opportunity to experiment with your account.
Test out different times to post, different hashtags to use, etc.
Come up with some way to track your engagement. A simple excel document is perfect for measuring the time you post and the engagement you receive.
These small measures you take are what will contribute to the growth of your account over time.
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