What Are The Secret Strategies To Optimize Your Instagram Account In 2023?
In the digital era, one of the most popular social media platforms has a powerful tool for users and businesses to connect, share and engage with a massive audience. Gaining a large number of followers on Instagram can be meaningful whether you are a business owner, influencer or just looking to expand your social circle.
With over 1 billion users on the platform, the path to gaining a marked follower base may seem daunting. In this article, I will explore proven techniques and best practices that will help you get more followers on Instagram.
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1. Identify Your Target Audience
First and foremost is to identify your target audience. Analyze your existing customer and understand their demographics, interests and behaviours. You can also gather information from surveys which can be posted through Insta features.
How can you forget top social media tools such as Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer are remarkably effective in your social media? You can also look at your demographics analysis to determine the characteristics of your potential followers. From there, you can create buyer personas representing different customer segments and adapt your strategy accordingly.
2. Switch to an Instagram Business Profile
Switching to an Instagram Business Profile is a savvy strategic move that can propel your brand to new heights. For one, this account type gives you access to Instagram Insights, which provides critical information on account performance, audience demographics, post analytics, discovery metrics and much more. If you have the budget, you’ll be able to create sponsored Instagram posts and targeted promotions that fuel brand growth.
3. Design an Instagram account
It must be competitive and compelling that hold customers' and users' attention quickly. It is a visual representation of your brand’s personality. A well-curated and consistent aesthetic can be drawn followers, enhance engagement and make your profile stand out.
You need to figure out what are about to create. It should be relevant to your brand. Do you want a minimalistic, vibrant, vintage or luxurious look and feel? Explore Instagram profiles of competitors or brands for inspiration.
Photo credit OneSave/Day On Unsplash
Noted tip: Select a colour palette to create a cohesive color scheme for a harmonious and relevant feed. Another option can utilize photo editing tools and filters to create a consistent look for your images.
4. Plan Content With a Social Media Calendar
A social media content calendar is a valuable tool for planning, organizing and executing your social media content strategy. Not only can it help save time, but it can also streamline your social media workflow. More importantly, it allows you to create and prepare content in batches, schedule posts in advance and automate certain aspects of your posting process.
Social media content calendar tools including CoSchedule and Later can help you organize posts. You’ll get an overview of upcoming posts and strategically mix promotional content to keep your feed interesting. If you work with a team, these tools can be a central reference point for coordination and communication.
5. Add Links to Your Instagram Bio
Sure, an Instagram bio provides a brief description of what your business is about. However, it is the only section where you can add personalized links to your website, blog posts and promos—so use it wisely.
Noted tip: Use Linktree, which helps you create a customized page with links to your website, blog, outline store, social media profiles, donation pages and other external destinations. Instead of changing the link in your Instagram bio every time you want to promote something new, update your Linktree page instead.
6. Optimize Your Instagram Account for SEO
While Instagram is primarily a visual platform, implementing SEO strategies can help increase the discoverability of your profile and posts, driving more organic traffic and engagement.
Here are some vital elements of Instagram SEO:
Username and Display Name: Choose a username that reflects your brand or identity
Bio: Craft a compelling, keyword-rich bio that accurately describes your account or business
Captions: Write engaging and informative captions that incorporate relevant keywords
Alt Text: Add alt text to your images to help search engines understand the content of your posts
Geotagging: If your content is location-specific, use geotags to reach users searching for content related to a particular location
7. Reply to Comments, Messages and Mentions
Engage with your audience and prompt them. When you perpetually respond to people, it sparks a conversation and fosters a sense of community with your followers. Above all this, it can increase loyalty, trust, and brand advocacy.
Instagram’s algorithm also considers engagement metrics when determining the visibility of posts in users’ feeds. More engagement means that your content is valuable and relevant. As a result, you can attract more attention from a wider audience. The more you connect with your audience and customers, the more you have a loyal audience through your valuable and relevant content.
9. Collaborate With Influencers and Brands in Your Niche
Influencers and brands often have niche audiences with specific interests, demographics or lifestyles. They have also built a community of like-minded individuals who trust their recommendations. Collaborating with these folks ensures your message reaches people more likely to be interested in and engaged with your brand. Successful collaboration requires carefully selecting influencers whose values align with your brand.
10. Optimize Posts With Hashtags
Identify hashtags that are relevant to your content. Use Instagram’s search feature or explore popular hashtags in your industry to find the most suitable options.
Look for a mix of broad and niche hashtags to improve discoverability. Explore a hashtag’s “Top” and “Recent” sections to see how frequently it’s used and the level of engagement it generates.
11. Host an Instagram Contest
Instagram contests allow you to expand your reach. Some games require participants to follow their accounts, which leads to a substantial increase in followers. By offering an enticing prize or incentive, you can easily attract individuals who may not have been aware of your account and convert them into long-term followers.
12. Post Interactive Instagram Stories
On Instagram, stories appear at the top of the user’s feed, making it prime real estate for brand content.
Many brands come up with interactive features such as polls, quizzes, questions, opinions, food, etc. Live update and in-the-moment experience.
For example, Vogue’s account has stories promoting its podcast, events, the Met Gala and the #VogueWorld live stream.
13. Apply for Verification
The blue verification badge proves an account represents a notable figure, celebrity, brand or public figure. Applying for verification builds trust because users know that they are interacting with a legitimate account rather than a fake or impersonated one.
14. Use Instagram Live
Instagram Live allows you to interact with your audience in real time. The unscripted and genuine experience enables brands to share unedited and spontaneous moments with their audience. It also provides a nice contrast since the social media platform is typically known for its polished and curated posts.
When hosting an Instagram Live, respond to comments, answer questions and acknowledge your viewers. If you foster a connection and make them feel valued, you can encourage them to follow your account for future Live sessions.
15. Use a Branded Hashtag
Using a branded hashtag can enhance your brand recognition. Beyond using your brand’s name, consider phrases encapsulating your brand’s values, mission or campaign. Aim for a hashtag that is easy to remember. Whichever you pick, ensure it is a hashtag distinctly associated with your brand.
16. Create AR Filters
AR filters allow users to transform their selfies or videos using branded elements. Not only can this create interactive product experiences, but it can also strengthen people’s connection with your brand.
17. Create Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels’ short-form video format lets you tell your brand’s story in bite-sized and memorable moments. Similar to TikTok, you can showcase your products and services while integrating call-to-action buttons, links and engaging storytelling. Within the Explore page, you will also find a dedicated section specifically for Instagram Reels.
An Instagram Reels feed even allows you to browse and discover a continuous stream of engaging short videos from accounts they follow and don’t. Creating quality reels with appropriate keywords and hashtags can attract new followers to your account.
Bottom Line
Increasing your followers on Instagram requires a strategic approach. Focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience, maintain a consistent posting schedule and engage authentically with your followers. Building an engaged community takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it.
Focus on better content. Creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience, maintains great consistency and engages with your audience.
