Whether you love it or hate it, the fact is Instagram is not going anywhere. With over 1 billion active users in 2022, having a presence on Instagram is vital.
Typically, from those that we speak to, we have found that the prospect of growing their Instagram can seem daunting or they hadn’t considered the importance of their online presence before. This is a very easy problem to fix – and building your account couldn’t be easier!
We’re not promising that these tips will gain you 5,000 followers on day one (we wish), however we can guarantee that, by following these points, you will attract and gain followers that hold a genuine interest into what your business is about.
Let’s get started, shall we?
1. Put Yourself in your Audience’s Shoes (there is no such thing as too much research)!
- What content does your audience want to see?
- What is your USP that attracts your clients to you?
- Who is your target audience?
Cater towards their needs, wants and pains, and get creating!
How can you expect to create value for your clients, if you don’t know what they want or need?
Put simply, you want your audience to take something positive away from your post or video, so they start to respect and trust your content, viewing you as a professional and an expert in your field.
What value are you providing your audience in your content?
2. What is your Call to Action? (we like to call this, simplifying the user journey.).
Including a Call to Action in your posts will prompt your audience to take a specific next step.
Using imperatives eliminates decision fatigue by telling your audience what to do next.
Ensure it is clear and specific, but worded with urgency to prompt your viewer to take action; writing a CTA is easy enough, the challenge comes from making the recipient motivated enough to follow through with the challenge – this leads back to the first point of the type of content you are publishing.
What makes it good enough for your audience to want to partake in your CTA?
Common CTA can be:
- Click the link in our bio.
- Let us know in the comments.
- Get in touch with us
3. Be a follower!
Follow others in your industry, by engaging with likeminded individuals and businesses.
They may be considered as your competition (healthy competition of course), but you can draft inspiration from their content and the best part that we’ve found is, most people from your industry are happy to follow back!
It’s also a great way to share knowledge and receive feedback on your own posts.
By following others who do what you do, or are interested in the same thing as you, is that you will build your own community of people who share the same values and insights as you, as well as creating engaging and educational driven content for your target market to gain value from; as we have previously mentioned, highlighting you as the expert in your industry and eventually, showcasing you as the leader.
4. #UseHashtags. #TrustUs.
Use hashtags in your #industry!
Research the most popular but relevant hashtags that are being linked to your industry, so that your posts will reach the right audience – and do the same with location (if geography matters in your business).
Some popular hashtags may be competitive, therefore it is also beneficial for you to choose niche hashtags, to further increase the reach and the chance of your post getting seen.
Even, go one step further and follow the hashtags you want to use to promote your posts, and see what type of content is performing well and who is engaging with it – this way, you can decide if it is the right hashtag for you to get involved in, or whether you should research elsewhere.
Yes, hashtags have been slightly made to be seen as an added element to promote some humour into your content, however they really are an invaluable addition to all you create and publish. #honest.
5. Reels, reels and even more reels.
Since the launch of Instagram Reels in August 2020, reels have become one of the most used and engaged with features on Instagram with anyone looking to build interaction and following.
What started as a new fun short-form video feature has now turned into a vital part of any brand’s organic social media strategy!
50% of reels are actually found on the explore page, therefore they are a fantastic way to switch up your content and reach an audience outside of your current niche.
According to recent statistics, reels get 22% more engagement than traditional videos. So if you’re not using reels, start now by implementing this into your Instagram strategy!
Again, even if your profile may not be entirely up to scratch, don’t be frightened of the word ‘reels’. Once you start, you really can’t stop. They are a great way to showcase your creative freedom and attract a whole new clientele to your business.
Think of that project you’ve just completed, did you manage to show it off to your next potential client? Reels are a great way to do this!
–
From implementing these 5 simple things into our Instagram profile, we have seen significant growth in our followers and engagement rate, meaning we have also been able to consistently provide valuable content to our future and current clients.
Stuck with where to begin? Need a helping hand to get started or drum up some unique, value driven content ideas? You’re in the right place.
Get in touch with us and we’d love to help build your social media platforms, to maximise your brand awareness and ensure you are getting the most out of your channels.
Contact us here!
02382355441
info@yourleadmachine.co.uk
