Instagram Hacks to help get more Instagram Followers

Use these instagram hacks to get more instagram followers and grow your small business! How to get more followers on instagram and grow your small business with this free marketing tool!

Instagram Hacks

Hoping to get more followers on instagram to help grow your blog or business? You’re not alone! Instagram is an amazing (free) marketing tool that can help your business be seen by millions of people! 

In fact, there are over one billion monthly users on instagram, and 200 million users visit at least one business profile per day! 

With this many people on the app, it’s a wonderfully powerful tool to promote your business, but it also can feel a little intimidating to break into if you’re just getting started! 

Read more about how I’ve grown my creative business!

Over the years I have found a few instagram hacks to help you reach more people and get more instagram followers. 

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6 Instagram Hacks to Get More Instagram Followers

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Post at least once a day – twice ideally.

First and foremost, you have to share content! You’ve heard the term “content is king” right? Well, it’s kinda true. I suggest sharing at least once a day, but ideally twice!

I know this seems like a lot, and I could use a dose of my own medicine here; however, in order for your content to be seen, liked, and followed…you have to be posting!

Admittedly, it is difficult to have this many photos available to post! I have started sharing inspiration I find as a way to share more content and inspire my audience, while also supporting other content creators. With that said…

Give credit where credit is due.

It’s perfectly acceptable to share others’ photos on instagram, but it’s best to share in a genuine and authentic way. I make a point to make the post about the person I am sharing.

For example, if I share a beautiful bathroom, I don’t talk about the bathroom and how it relates to me. Instead, I write a caption that talks about the designer and photographer behind the beautiful bathroom, and encourage my followers to check out their pages.

It really rubs me the wrong way when my photos or work gets shared and the credit is given at the verrrrrrrrry bottom of the post. It becomes very clear that the person just needed a photo to share, and they really don’t care at all about the work that I put into producing the photo. It feels yucky to me.

Let’s face it, it takes a lot of time, effort, and work to create those “instagrammable” photos, so please make sure you lift others up when sharing their work. Don’t save the credit for the end of your post!

Use the analytics feature to your advantage. 

If you are running a business, or hope to turn your creative side gig into a business, you should switch to an instagram business profile right away.

The business profile tool will allow you access to invaluable analytics. With the analytics tool you’ll be able to determine who your audience is, when they’re on the app, and what type of content they respond to. 

One of the most important things about posting is timeframe. If your post doesn’t immediately do well, it will totally flop.

If I post even a half hour after the ideal time to post, I will receive half the engagement I usually do! So be sure to check into analytics and see when your users are active! Post during peak times for the best exposure. 

Use hashtags in more than one way.

I love using hashtags in my post to maximize coverage and exposure. However, hashtags don’t just need to be used in your caption or comments. Try using hashtags to connect with other like-minded people! This will help you meet new people and potentially gain new followers.

For example: pick 5-10 hashtags that resonate with your account, then visit those hashtags and comment on 5-10 photos that you are drawn towards. This takes time, but is a very genuine way to meet new people in your niche!

Make sure your comments are thoughtful and not something like “great pic!”. Think of your comments like a pick-up line or a virtual hello – make it count!

Show your followers love!

I recently saw a meme that said something like “everyone wants more followers, but how are you treating the ones you already have?” Are you providing inspiration? Education? Entertainment?

Use analytics to see what type of content your current followers are responding well too, and post more of that! Try hosting a giveaway that doesn’t require them to follow a bunch of accounts.

Interact and engage with them! Show them that you are grateful for their support! Respond to comments as much as you can, in a thoughtful way. Start to pay attention to those that comment or reply to stories often and get to know them, I like to show those people a little extra love!

Speaking of responding to comments, not only does this create a personal relationship with your audience, it also helps increase the engagement on your photo boosting it in the algorithm. This is a win-win! 

Use IGTV, stories, and carousel posts.

I mentioned that there are over one billion monthly users, but did you know that over 500 million people use the story feature daily!?

Instagram provides so much more than just posting a single photo now! They love when you utilize their service to the max because it keeps people engaged and on the app longer.

I also firmly believe that instagram posts made with a ‘spur of the moment mentality’ perform better than overproduced content.

For example – I notice that stories made within the app perform better than stories made using alternate apps. This was confirmed at a conference I went to a few years ago by the BHG social media team!

This is great news for those of you who are hesitant to create video content because of the editing involved. Try making IGTV episodes just using your phone and editing minimally, consistency is more important than perfection when it comes to instagram!

Consistency is the key to success.

I think this is true for everything in life! Be consistent in your messaging, stories, posting schedule, style. Every touch-point you have with your audience should be dripping with your brand messaging. This will make you recognizable and build your audience’s trust in the brand. 

Don’t get hung up on perfection, instead just be authentic and share what you love! 

I hope these instagram hacks are helpful for you as you grow your creative business! Please reach out with any other comments or questions! Leave your instagram handle in the comments below so I can stop by and say hello!