81% of people use Instagram to discover new products or services (source). This social network allows you to strengthen your customer relationship and reach new audiences. This is, therefore, an important tool for companies, whatever your size!
With the acquisition by the Facebook group (now’hui Meta) in 2012, Instagram plays a vital role in any social media marketing strategy; knowing the features and key statistics of Instagram is essential to optimize your visibility and influence on the social network.
But how to effectively develop its visibility on this platform? We must arm ourselves with patience and put in place a real strategy. Here are the best tips, best practices and mistakes to avoid to increase your number of followers on Instagram.
Broaden its visibility and strengthen its reputation among a young audience.
Over 50% of Instagram users are between 18 and 29 (source). The good news is that this category of the population is very active on social networks. A boon to make your brand known! In addition, the marketing figures on social networks testify to the importance of Instagram click here.
Companies that can get creative and use the levers of marketing storytelling can effectively develop their notoriety on the platform.
To make known its brand, its products and services
Instagram provides business accounts with the “Shopping” tool to sell directly on the platform. We also talk about social selling. To do this, select “Shopping” in the “Company settings” category and then add your products.
By using targeted hashtags, a post can go viral or make your brand known to users potentially interested in your products.
Showcase your products with quality photos.
Instagram is THE visual platform par excellence. To gain visibility, you need to publish quality content. For this, do not hesitate to call on a professional photographer to take irreproachable photos while staging your products online.
Doing influencer marketing
Influencer marketing has exploded in recent years. This method involves contacting influencers to offer them to promote your products or services for a fee.
According to Statista, the size of the global influencer marketing market increased from USD 1.7 billion in 2016 to nearly 14 billion at the end of 2021, or x8! Many brands are seduced by these marketing practices thanks to their excellent return on investment (ROI), mainly on Instagram.
Show the human side of your business.
According to a study by SproutSocial (source), nearly 75% of Internet users are more sensitive to a brand they are close to. They are also willing to spend more when they connect with that brand.
It is, therefore, relevant to humanize your brand on Instagram. For this, you can, for example :
- Post photos of your employees
- Reply to comments / encourage exchanges
- Showing the company behind the scenes
- Stay authentic, and only sometimes look for the perfect content!
- High engagement and a large audience
Users express themselves a lot on Instagram, as well as in the form of likes, comments, stories or publications. The platform has a lot of tools to allow companies to interact with their audience. For example, you can use the survey tool or questions /answers in stories.
It can also supplement your content strategy with Instagram ads (or Instagram Ads). They generate high engagement, which means more clicks, traffic, and visibility for your brand.
How does the Instagram algorithm work, and how to take advantage of it?
To perform on Instagram, it is essential to understand how your algorithm works.
Every experience on Instagram is unique.
Instagram’s algorithm relies on users’ habits to determine which posts will likely interest them. Thus, each news feed reflects the use and interests of individuals on the platform. In short, every experience on Instagram is unique!
Use different types of content and rely on what works
There are different types of content, each of which has its algorithm, including :
- The thread antique
- The Discovery page
- Real Content
- The stories
- etc.
Why multiple algorithms? Because people use each of Instagram’s features differently. Test these different « features » to determine what works for your brand.
Make Instagram understand the theme of your account
To make Instagram understand the music of your account, you can first use the hashtags that correspond to you. Then, follow accounts that are related to your market and like posts that are related to it.
For example, if you are a restaurateur, follow chefs, other restaurants and food shops, and local shops in your area!
Best practices for earning followers on Instagram
How do you gain followers on Instagram? Here are the best practices to put in place.
Promote your Instagram account on other platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube…)
Internet users use several social networks (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, etc.) because each has its particularities. Start by informing subscribers in your network by inviting them to follow you on Instagram.
Betting on the synergy between social networks is the best way for companies that wonder how to have a lot of followers on Instagram. We also talk about crossposting on social networks or crossposting. This technique saves time in creating content while reaching out to more people.
Use hashtags related to your topic.
By using hashtags, you are telling Instagram which audience your content is intended for. Your publications are more accessible to discover! This is also a great way to increase the reach of your posts on the social platform and to attract the right prospects to your account.
To choose hashtags, take inspiration from accounts similar to yours and publications on the same topic. But prudence, S’inspire n’is not copy…
Interact with your community.
Remember that Instagram wants users to stay on the platform the longest. And when they interact with your brand, they are active on the social network. Instagram will, therefore, put you more prominently in the algorithm.
It is then necessary to show it on the platform regularly and relevantly. An excellent trick to increase the number of subscribers is to interact with subscribers from competing accounts.
Publish quality content regularly (photo and video)
Qualitative content is more likely to go viral. Feel free to vary the content between pictures and videos and rely on social media marketing trends. Note: video content is more engaging.
To optimize your content publication, you can use a social media management solution.
Organize your feed well.
Your Instagram profile is the public face of your business. It must, therefore, be complete and optimized to make visitors want to subscribe.
Publish very regularly
It is essential to regularly publish content, between 4 to 7 times a week. Also, find out the best times to post on Instagram to increase your visibility on the platform.
Use of influencer marketing
How do you have followers on Instagram without influencers? These people have very engaged subscribers. You can develop an influencer marketing strategy to attract « followers » who are active and ready to buy your products. Of course, you should select an influencer related to your sector.