How to Boost Organic Instagram Growth
Since its creation, Instagram has gone through many changes.
The feed and app itself are constantly evolving, and with every change made to the algorithm, businesses need to maintain a strategy to keep up their organic growth.
The only way for businesses to adapt is to try out and incorporate new growth strategies. In this post, we’ll discuss organic Instagram growth strategies, but for companies with a substantial budget, it’s still highly recommended that you pursue growth support with ads.
Instagram growth, for many, can be defined by the number of followers you have or gain. However, to get these new followers, your brand has to have a combination of brand exposure, increased account engagement, and of course, compelling content.
If your Instagram growth is stagnant or you’re looking for new ways to augment your Instagram offering, then consider testing out any or all of these tips.
1. Invest in content creation and diversity
Nowadays, engagement includes metrics such as Story replies, Story mentions, and views of IGTV episodes; in addition to in-feed posts. With more content types out there, you have more opportunities to increase your engagement rates and therefore, your organic Instagram growth.
One way you can accomplish this is by committing to creating content specifically for Instagram Stories a few times a week. This way, you can establish a consistent presence (using a new type of content space) and keep coming up with creative content for your brand. Stories are also a great way of testing out what your audience responds to, and when your content is diverse enough, people will engage with it and even create user-generated content which you can then repost.
Another thing you can try is to hire freelance photographers/videographers or a content agency to create good quality content for your brand. Not only will they help you with this massive task, but you’ll also be setting a standard for your content, which directly communicates your brand’s tone and style.
2. Be consistent
To grow an Instagram account, you should take a look at your posting schedule, posting frequency and content quality. Consider what you’re doing well and where you could improve. Rather than banking on your posts going viral, having a consistent posting schedule can help you get your posts in front of your intended audience.
Further, with the help of analytics platforms, you can determine the best times to post for your brand and when your audience will be the most likely to engage with you. When you post consistently, it sets up an expectation from your followers to anticipate and look forward to your next post. Whether you decide to post multiple times a day or just a few times a week, make sure it’s consistent.
Lastly, keeping your content quality consistent is very important. To be seen in the highly saturated Instagram space, brands need to stand out by creating authentic, impressive content. You won’t grow a following with subpar content especially when your competition is taking the time to invest in excellent content creation.
3. Promote cross-platform
It’s easy to forget that many people have multiple social accounts. Utilising different platforms that all have unique strengths can be beneficial to growing your brand’s following. Consider offering different types of content on Instagram than on your other channels, and direct followers on various social channels to your Instagram profile for exclusive content and offers.
Additionally, you can leverage other digital spaces that you can incorporate with your account. Good examples of cross-platform promotion include adding prominent social media buttons in your email newsletter, website’s footer and large digital ads. You can also use Pinterest, another visual-heavy platform, to extend the influence and reach of Instagram content that might have a shorter shelf-life due to the platform’s highly active feed.
4. Carry out contests and promotions
To grow your following and augment your brand presence on Instagram, run promotions and contests. Honestly, people love getting free or discounted things, and social media is just the place to post them. Moreover, contests and promotions not only increase engagement but also boost customer loyalty.
When you plan a contest, make sure one of the requirements of the giveaway is a follow for your brand (and any brand partnerships) and that they tag friends. If you’re consistent with your giveaways, your following will look forward to them and will be more likely to remain followers of your brand.
5. Increase engagement time
One of the best ways to grow your Instagram following organically is to actively engage on your account. Yes, it can be time-consuming to personally leave comments on followers’ posts, answer questions, and repost user-generated content – but it’s worth it.
Another thing you can do is to create conversations and small chat groups to connect followers. This way, you’ll be steadily building an Instagram community through which you can establish your brand as a leading light in your niche.
Try to offer your followers more than contests and company announcements to delight them continually. A delighted customer base will more likely result in a loyal following that extends beyond social media.
Conclusion
There are many ways to grow your Instagram following. Some we’ve outlined here, such as cross-platform promotion and investing in diverse content. While some of these methods were designed to inspire faster growth, others – like increasing engagement time – take longer to produce results.
However, implementing a combination of the above strategies will set you up for growing your Instagram following and account organically and sustainably.
