Growing on Instagram

Need help when it comes to Instagram? Keep reading to find my top recommendations on what YOU should be doing to grow on Instagram.

Optimize your bio

First things first, you need to optimize your bio. What do I mean by this? Your bio is one of the first things new users will see when coming to visit your page. By having a clear bio that will give your audience members insight as to what your page has to offer, you are more likely to catch your audience' eye in the first few moments that they land on your page. Your bio should also be used as a way to optimize connecting and growing with your niche. Make sure to include 1-2 hashtags that are relevant to what you have to offer, these hashtags should not have more than around 500k tags.

Call to actions Use call-to-actions to push people to engage with you & visit your website, blog, sign up sheet, whatever it is that you have to offer. The best way to grow is to get fellow Instagram users to engage with your content and show interest in what you're posting. Call to actions can be great from simply getting users to save your post, comment / engage with you, to pushing users to head over to your website to book a service from you or buy your product.

Create a regular posting schedule

Creating a regular posting schedule is CRUCIAL! Thinking of photos to post and what caption to create to go along with it can be daunting. Take an hour each month to sit down and plan your posts out. You can create a content calendar by downloading a template or simply creating a spreadsheet where you can drop in your dates, captions, posts, etc.

Don’t snooze on stories - use these to your advantage!

I can't stress this enough, DON'T SNOOZE ON STORIES! Stories are a way for your audience to see your face, to learn more about you, and to build trust with you. Stay consistent with popping onto your stories, you'll be shocked to see how much more engagement your content will receive if you do so which = growth on the platform.

Create an assortment of content

Variety is key here. When you're creating your content calendar, make sure to include variety in your posts. This means including photos, short videos, longer IGTV videos, and REELS. Reels are new to Instagram and offer a huge amount of exposure. To see real growth, include at least 2 reels in your weekly posts.

Time your posts

Head to your profile insights for a quick look into when you should be posting, then plan your posts accordingly. If you have a busy schedule and won't have time to log on to upload your posts or stories, use applications such as Hootsuite to schedule your posts out. By posting within your peak times, you will be increasing your reach which will therefore enhance your growth pace.

Engage, engage, engage!

Stay consistent in engaging with your niche, don't just upload a post and log off. Instagram growth takes nurturing and dedication. If you're having a hard time engaging with your niche and getting follows / engagement from audience members that could benefit from what you have to offer, I suggest following hashtags that are relevant to you. For example, I follow hashtags such as #SocialMediaStrategy #Instagramtips #DigitalMarketing. This way, I see more and more content that is relevant to my niche, and I can therefore engage with different users without spending hours searching for the right accounts that match with my target demographic.

Giveaways If you’re a business owner, take advantage of GIVEAWAYS! Giveaways provide a huge return and this is a great opportunity for you to start supporting local businesses while also giving your audience something to look forward to. I did a giveaway for one of my clients a week ago and within 1.5 hours we had over 1,200 comments. HUGE.REUTRN.HERE.

Vanity Metrics

Don’t get stuck on vanity metrics, create content that will provide you with real return and engagement, don’t get stuck on your following # or like #’s. I have many clients that focus on their following numbers as their number 1 priority, rather than focusing on truly engaging with their audience members and providing valuable content. Once you provide real value, you will see a large return on your investment! For example, I have clients that have below 5k followers, and are making six figures in sales just via Instagram exposure and very few Instagram ads. Your following number is NOT the end all be all.

Promote your presence BEYOND Instagram

As important as this platform is, you shouldn’t be limiting yourself to just Instagram. Beef up your Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Business, etc. It's important to market yourself across multiple platforms, not just fixate on one. What would you do if Instagram fully shut down tomorrow? If your answer is I would lose my entire social following and my business would be in major trouble, then there's a problem.

Want to know MORE ways to grow your online presence? Book in for a coaching call with me, I'd love to help!

Email: Info@JahaniMedia.com