5 Sure Ways to Consistently Grow Your Audience on Instagram

In today’s digital world, social media plays a significant role in ensuring many businesses become successful.

Although many social media platforms abound in the social networking space, Instagram remains one of the best and most popular social media apps that business owners have to take advantage of, and for good reasons, too.

Recent findings show that over 1 billion people use Instagram every month, and about 200 million Instagram users visit at least one business profile every day. These figures only buttress just how important it is for your business to have an Instagram account.

Whether your business is new to Instagram or not, you should have one major priority: how to grow your Instagram audience. A larger audience on Instagram means your business will get you lots more potential customers.

This article will highlight five ways to grow your audience on Instagram and the benefits you gain from being on Instagram (if you didn’t already know.)

5 Ways to Grow your Audience on Instagram

These five ways have been tested and are proven to help you grow your audience on Instagram. In addition to growing your audience, these tips will also ensure you get more customers and inevitably more sales in your business.

Optimize your Instagram profile

The way you portray your business on Instagram determines whether or not you will grow your audience. If the Instagram account you created is not a business account, it is imperative to change it immediately.

Switching your current account to a business account is very easy. Once you log in to your Instagram account, head over to the settings and click on “switch to a business profile.” Then, you can take it from there.

With a business account, you can create and publish Instagram ads for your business. Lastly, Instagram’s analytics tools, also known as Insights, helps to provide statistics about the impressions and the reach of your posts to the audience.

In setting up your business profile, you have to be as detailed as possible. When creating your profile, talk about what industry your business is in, what your business offers, your website’s address, the location of your business, your business’s phone number, and email address.

Use interactive, branded, and appropriate hashtags

Hashtags and “hashtagging” make it easier for Instagram users, who are searching for specific items, to find your photos. Hashtags help you grow your audience and engage with your followers on Instagram.

Using popular hashtags not fitting your brand and business will only earn you additional likes and engagement. But, to increase your following and, most importantly, sales, you need to employ interactive, branded, and appropriate hashtags.

It could be a difficult task to decide which hashtag is best for your post. So, you can use any of the following ideas when generating hashtags for your business on Instagram:

• Brand keyword hashtag: this involves using keywords related to your brand in the hashtags, e.g., #womensaccessories, #menshoes
• Product category keyword hashtag: using keywords of the products you offer, for example, #colorfulsocks, #courtheelsforwork
• Location-specific keyword hashtag: this focuses on your business location or possible areas you deliver to, e.g., #GeorgiaBusiness, #WisconsinFashion

If you want an easy option, you can use hashtag generators like All Hashtag and Ritetag. These will produce tons of hashtags for you. All that will be left will be for you to choose the best of the best.

Partner with influencers

Partnering with influencers allows you to reach a wider audience because they have already built an audience with their large following (they have many followers). People nowadays buy products and services based on what they see on the pages of influencers they follow.

So, in choosing the right Instagram influencer, select one that has an audience relevant to your brand or business. For example, if you sell gym clothes or equipment, you need an influencer into fitness.

The Instagram influencer or influencers you partner with will post your products and services on their pages. These would attract their followers to your page. When these new followers see what they like on your page, they will patronize or even follow you.

Also, getting these influencers to take a picture or make a video of them using your products or services will increase the trust the Instagram community has in your business. This will, in turn, grow your audience on Instagram.

Experiment with different types of Instagram content

There are diverse types of Instagram content today, and it appears that each update comes with a new feature. See some of these different content types below, use them on your Instagram to reel in a wider range of audiences.

Instagram Reels:

You can use it to create short, informative, and entertaining videos about your products and services. Fortunately, your reels are not restricted to only your followers, making it easy for your brand to reach a greater audience.
Instagram Stories:

On your Instagram story, you can post photos and videos to announce a new product or on your page. This feature helps you to boost your reach and increase engagement. They are only available for 24 hours, however.

Instagram TV:

Use Instagram TV (IGTV) for your longer videos. For content consider adding the following:

• visual presentation of your FAQs
• your brand’s story
• behind-the-scenes discovery
• tutorials on how to use your products and services

Instagram Highlights:

These are those Instagram stories that you want to feature permanently on your profile. Once you add the story to the highlight, it remains visible even after the 24-hour timeline for the IG story has expired.

Other ways of experimenting with content types on Instagram include promotional posts, incorporating quotes, testimonials, fun facts about your business, etc.

Post consistently and at the right times

Do you know that posting at the wrong times or not regularly posting could affect the growth of your Instagram audience? If you hope to increase your audience significantly, you need to be active on the app.

The timing of your posts plays a significant role in the success of your Instagram page. One way to determine the correct times for you to post is by analyzing what has and has not worked for you in the past.

Some businesses may decide to post three times every day or upload a post every two hours. You have to choose the times that will be right for you and your audience. You should also try and post product teasers that will urge your followers to patronize your business.

When posting, ensure you do not overdo it by posting too many pictures or videos in a day. Find the balance been what enjoyment and is what is an annoyance.

You can use free online tools such as Webstagram and IconoSquare to make informed decisions on the best times to post.

How Your Business Benefits From Instagram

There are tons of benefits your business gains from having an Instagram account. See them below.

Helps you attract more traffic to your business or website

Having an account on Instagram for your business will draw more traffic to your brand and website. More traffic can then lead to an increase in sales or conversions. When you push your products to your Instagram followers, they become eager to learn more about your business.

It is easier to connect with customers

With Instagram, you can easily connect with your customers and seek feedback either in the comments section or via direct messages. All businesses need input and when you get it, use it wisely to improve your service and offerings. Constantly keeping in touch with your followers will help you know what they like and do not like.

Allows for free advertising and marketing

Instagram is the perfect tool for you to advertise and market your business for free. With the right tools, content, and marketing strategy, you will be reaching a greater audience on Instagram than you could think.

Showcase professional, beautiful photos and videos of your products

Instagram provides a lot of features for users to upload photos and videos. You can even edit your pictures and videos to give them a professional look. The pictures and videos of your products should be of high quality. If not, it can discourage potential customers.

Gain trust for your business

When you post updates, you’re communicating with your followers. However, when you add comments, tag people and locations, etc., you build trust. As a result, people will quickly get familiar with you and your business and, in time, become a customer.

Conclusion

Instagram is popular with consumers, so it’s beneficial for your business.

With larger audiences comes more features when you have a business account. Study how other brands are interacting with their audience and use the tips above.