Why actual Instagram followers are essential and the place to seek out them · information.jobssopportunities.com
Did you know that over 80% of accounts on Instagram follow a business? That alone should lead you to see how Instagram can work for your business. However, success on Instagram requires more than just pictures – you also need to link your activity to a business goal and attract the right people to collaborate.
Perhaps in just a few days you have heard from people who have gained thousands of followers. The sad truth is that not all of these followers are real – some people buy followers or use automated processes to exaggerate how much reach or influence they have. If you’re using Instagram for business, fake followers won’t help you for one simple reason: they’ll never turn into real customers.
To increase your bottom line on Instagram, you want to build a fan base made up of real people with interests who are really connected to your business. To do this, you need to do two things: first give people a reason to follow you, and then connect with the right people. Read on to learn how to do both.
Before you pick up your camera, you need to think about what you want to get from your Instagram account. When you know what you want to achieve, you can prepare for success and measure your progress.
But before we do that, make sure that your Instagram profile and bio are complete. Read Neil Patel’s advice on how to do this well:
Know what you want to achieve
Let’s get back to the goals. For your business to thrive on Instagram, you should limit your goals to one or two, but be specific. Here are a few examples of how you can set your company’s Instagram goal: “My company uses Instagram to:
- Increase traffic to my website by 20%
- Get 300 new email subscribers per month
- Increase in product sales by 15% or
- Get 150 pre-orders for our new widget. “
Once you know what your goals are, it’s time to start thinking about what type of content will support those goals. In other words, what types of photos should you post? If your content is too random, people will find no value in following you. However, if your content is strategic, you will attract followers who can help you grow your business.
Use pictures to tell your story
The easiest way to start is with pictures of people who add a personal touch to your business. The trick is to associate the photos you post with your destination. When you combine these two things, your photos tell your followers a visual story that conveys the message they are supposed to take away. If you’re looking to hire new employees, you can post personalized photos that show happy employees in action. If you want to increase sales, you can share photos of people using your products.
You can also opt for product-oriented photos. For example, if you want to increase sales by creating interest in the specs of your product, you can post behind the scenes photos of your manufacturing processes or the tools you use in your work.
You can also use text-based images to exchange important messages. Quotes are a big favorite. So, if your goal is to build loyalty or demonstrate credibility, then you can share inspirational quotes that align with your brand, customer testimonials, or stunning stats.
Try to post at least a photo or two each day, and at least one video if you can.
Regardless of what type of photos you want to share, original photos are essential. As a photo sharing platform, Instagram users expect your posts to be original and not recycled.
Project a coherent image
Just like your content strategy, you also need visual consistency when sharing your content in order to give your content a consistent look that will make your brand look professional. Try Instagram’s photo filters to improve the photos you have taken. When you find a filter that you like, use it regularly to give your posts a polished look.
Use the same color scheme and font for quotes, or have your staff pose in a similar way, or always use the same prop or logo in your photos. All of these are ways to make your brand memorable for your followers – pick one or two that feel right for your brand and test them out.
Make subtitles count
Once you have a photo to share, you’ll need a caption. Be descriptive and engaging, and make sure that the best information comes first so it’s instantly visible in your followers’ feed.
Hashtags are also important, especially on Instagram than on Twitter or Facebook, and you need to use them slightly differently. Think of hashtags as a cataloging system for people you haven’t dealt with before. What would they be looking for if they were looking for content like yours? Put yourself in their shoes and make a list of relevant hashtags that will make it easy to discover your content.
Hack for hashtags
When you have some ideas, find them on Instagram. Make a note of what other hashtags are used with them and see if they are relevant to you. As always, specific is better. Common hashtags may have a wide reach, but they are unlikely to reach your target audience. Your goal is to be discovered by the right people, not just anyone. Once you have a list, write it down in a document or spreadsheet for future reference.
How many hashtags should you use? Between 5 and 15 seems to work best. Would you like to stand out a little more from the crowd? Include the hashtags in a comment instead of directly with the photo. This approach makes your label easier to read without affecting your users’ ability to find you.
In addition to hashtags, you should also use Instagram’s geolocation feature. This is especially important for stationary businesses where you want people to visit your physical location.
Now that you have great content, you can get more high quality followers.
This is where the magic happens. You don’t have to wait for relevant people to find you – you can search for them! Where do your ideal followers hang out? Check the accounts of your competitors and others in your industry. Who is following them? Click the Followers button to find out. Don’t be shy – follow them! Many of them will follow you back.
You can go one step further. Do you remember when we looked for hashtags? You can do that again, but this time take a closer look at some of the top posts in your search results and the accounts that published them. Do they have interests similar to yours based on your posts and biography? Would their followers possibly be interested in your content? Click on Followers and see who they are. Follow them too! As before, many will follow you back.
Work with influencers
Influencers are usually Instagram users in your niche who have a large fan base of real users. Working with influencers can be a very profitable way to build real followers quickly. This is because these influencers have already done the hard work of bringing a targeted following in one place. Working with them can help educate this group about your account. There are several ways to work with influencers. While paying for a brand mention is the simplest and most common strategy, it can be expensive. You can also find a shout-out to promote the influencer’s website on your blog. Alternatively, you can share free goodies or sample products for review to spread about you. Whichever influencer marketing strategy you choose, be sure to follow the FTC guidelines on disclosure and liability issues.
Real Instagram followers want you to be real and involved
Instagram limits the number of accounts you can follow on a daily basis to protect users from inappropriate behavior. However, if you regularly post high quality content and spend just a few minutes following others several times a day, the number of followers you will attract without flagging will increase because you are thoughtful and considered. And it’s worth the effort because the people who follow you do it because they have a real interest in your brand.
Once you start following more people (and have them follow you back), you’ll want to be active in the community too. Search your feed and “like” the photos that grab your attention and comment on the photos you love. That commitment will pay off – the more you accomplish, the more people will come to you.
Monitor your progress
How do you measure success? Keep track of the top stats that matter to you. But remember: this is a long-term investment too. You won’t know what works if you don’t give it time to succeed. Here are some metrics to consider:
- How many unique visitors are coming to your website from Instagram?
- How many new followers have you gained?
- How much engagement do you generate (e.g. likes and comments)? Are some hashtags more attractive than others?
The most important thing is to remember that success doesn’t come overnight, but that with the right effort, you will gain real followers who will help your business generate long-term dividends.