Instagram is the most popular social media platform right now, with over 800 million active monthly users. If you want to grow your brand and increase sales, Instagram is a great place to start. In this complete guide, we will go over everything from getting started on Instagram, tips for getting followers, and creating content that people love in 2021.
Use Instagram Reels
The new Instagram Reels could be the key to your marketing success in 2021. Your Instagram use could be missing out on massive growth if you don’t share to Reels.
This new format will allow brands and businesses to showcase their content while also connecting with an audience grown weary from endless scrolling through their feeds for something worth watching. One benefit this offers companies is access to less saturated markets because not many accounts are posting reels. So if you’re looking to grow your Instagram fast, you better start making those reels!
Instagram Reels are a game-changer because your videos can go viral on the Explore page just as quickly. By sharing to both feeds and the explore tab, you have an opportunity for even more views from people outside of your followers and possibly even go viral.
Optimize Your Content For Search
Instagram’s recent change to its search function is majorly under-utilized and one you should try out in 2021.
The announcement from Instagram states that English-speaking users will use keywords when searching for posts on the app, a game changer! Previously, if someone searched “at-home workout,” they would only see hashtags or accounts with those words included somewhere within their username; but now even captions or bios mentioning this term should show up as well. This new feature could help increase your following by giving yourself more exposure!
This means that if you’re a brand that sells grooming products, including keywords such as shampoo, soap, or related products in your profile bio, captions, hashtags, and comments, it will increase your brand’s likeness to appear on Instagram search.
Work With Micro-Influencers
A recent study conducted by Makerly found that micro-influencers offer the best combo of engagement and reach. We asked Later’s PR and Influencer Manager Chrissy Abram about these benefits: “Partnering with a smaller influencer means tapping into an engaged audience without having to fight for their attention.” Micro-Influencers work on a much smaller scale, which means they have fewer sponsored posts or content centered around specific interests or niches.
Influencer marketing is one of the most critical skills for today’s marketers, and tapping into an influencer can be a powerful way to grow your business. Influencers have followers that trust them more than brands they don’t know – so by aligning with their branding; you’ll quickly become well-known in their circles!
Promote Instagram On Other Platforms
It’s no secret that getting a following on Instagram can be difficult. One way to increase your followers is by cross-promoting it with other platforms, like TikTok or Pinterest. TikTok and Pinterest are two of our top picks for outside apps outside of Instagram. They both have unique algorithms that will help spread the word about what you’re doing.
You can include your Instagram directly on Tik Tok and Pinterest, so if your content does better on any of these apps, the followers can be funneled back to Instagram. Also, you can repost TikToks on Instagram reels and reach a whole new audience by reusing your content.
Similar to TikTok, claiming your Instagram account on Pinterest means immediate benefits. By creating content on Pinterest, this traffic will be directly funneled back to your Instagram and allow you to reach more people.
Use Sponsored Posts
Promoted posts are a great way to grow your brand, and they’re becoming the norm on Instagram. Many businesses will avoid paying for social media attention because they may not seem to get immediate sales or results; however, sponsored posts increase awareness of an organization from its ideal audience. Often, people won’t visit links in ads as soon as it pops up on their feed but instead check if you are a legitimate business by visiting your profile first before checking out more of what you have going on there (they’re just being extra safe). This works because, over time, brands often see increased engagement when promoted content has been viewed initially, which may lead to sales in the future.
The Power Of DMs
Direct Messages on Instagram are the best-kept secret of this platform. People read their DMs, and even if they don’t respond, at least you know that your content has been seen! As a brand or business, direct messaging can help create an authentic connection with customers personally, leading to sales and increased trust from followers/customers through more meaningful interactions.
Don’t Be Afraid To Go Live
With 2020 bringing in a shift to at-home work, more and more brands are using Instagram Live as an easy way for their followers to tune in to life’s happenings. This raw video stream allows your audience to interact with your followers in a very personalized, intimate format with no editing or filters.
You can host weekly shows, games, and tournaments, online webinars, tutorials — the list goes on. Now with Instagram Live Shopping, you can tag products from your brand or catalog during an Instagram live broadcast to let your audience shop right then and there.
Engage With Your Followers
Doing more to engage with your brand’s audience makes them feel like they are being heard, and it will lead to increased customer loyalty. Ask for feedback often; after receiving a request from followers, you should reply promptly. If you want to increase engagement with prospective customers, then the simplest way is by engaging! This might seem overly obvious, but many businesses complain about lack of engagement but don’t take the time to like, comment, and follow their target audience.
Use Hashtags Better
I’ll bet you’ve heard about how vital hashtags are, but chances are you don’t use them effectively. The algorithm for Instagram is data-driven and follows a pattern based on usage.
A hashtag on Instagram is an identifier for the algorithm. It gives context to your posts and helps the algorithm understand who to show your posts to (e.g., if someone tags #fashionistas, they are interested in fashion). While there isn’t a maximum number of hashtags that will guarantee engagement but 9-12 is the ideal number of hashtags to include in a post.
A little creativity and an hour of your time can help you find the perfect hashtag for your company. For example, if you are a brand specializing in cycling gear, #bikeshare might be considered. It’s important to link hashtags with interests, making it easier for users to find your content when searching Instagram.
Conclusion
You can’t build a strong Instagram following overnight, but you can start by using these tips. The most important thing is to be consistent and persistent in the way that you post on your account. Do not give up! Keep striving for success with this Instagram, and it will pay off eventually. Which one of these latest strategies are you using to grow your Instagram in 2021?