
Having well over 200 million users, Instagram is one of the biggest and most popular social media network in the world, as well as a great tool for entrepreneurs who want to increase their sales and make their brand more visible.
However, Instagram’s usefulness for the development of a business is limited by the number of followers the business has. The following tips will be a great help for entrepreneurs looking to use this social network to grow their following, make their brand more visible and eventually increase sales or exposure.
- Like specific photos
One of the most important things about using social media in order to develop your business is to be an active user. Make a habit of going through various photos and like those that are in the same niche as your company (look for hashtags in the descriptions). This will allow you to increase the visibility of your account, and as a result, of your company.
- Establish a theme for your photos and keep to it
Keep in mind that the photos that you post should have largely the same style. Also, write a short description for everything that you upload. In essence, write whatever you want your audience to associate your company with. Do this and you will see that more and more people will recognize your brand over time.
- Remember to socialize
It’s a social network! If you don’t socialize, then you won’t actually be an active user. Be consistent with this behavior and it will show others that they can interact with you.
- Create a hashtag for your brand
Hashtags are the main way through which you let people know that something is linked to you. Instagram users usually look up hash tags or click on them in order to be directed to other content in the same niche. Using this system (of creating and searching for certain hashtags), then you are bound to raise your visibility on the social network and to gather more followers.
- Organize contests
A good way to get people to follow you is to organize a contest. You can have them re-post one of your photos and tag you, or post a photo and use your hashtag. You can also organize a giveaway. Either way, doing so will enable you to also ask them to follow you as a final step required to enter the contest.
- Redirect followers from other social networks
Another good way to increase your Instagram follower count is to ask those who are following you on other social networks know that you also have an Instagram page. Asking them to follow you is simple, easy, and can have a big impact if your network is already large on other platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, YouTube, etc.
- Use calls to action
Motivating your followers to actively support you is extremely important. Ask them to share, like, and comment on your content. This will show others that you have an active audience and that others like your brand.
- Geotag photos
Every time you post a picture from a certain location, make sure to also add the location itself. Geo-tagging will allow other individuals who have used the same geo-tag to discover your content, some of which will start following you.
- Listen to your audience
Make sure to listen to what your followers want, and do your best to create content that caters to their needs. Research their interests, experiment a little and make sure that you give those following you what they want. This will help reinforce your followers’ opinion of you and lead them to share news about your Instagram account as well.
- Collaborate with others on Instagram
Collaboration is another key resource to successfully raise the number of people following you. Look for other people that are in the same niche as you, and ask them if you can be a guest contributor on their account. This will expose their followers to your brand.