New Delhi (India), April 3: With billions of users worldwide, standing out on Instagram (IG) among thousands of inspiring influencers or small business owners seems daunting. However, don’t feel discouraged. It wasn’t luck that got some users favorable results. The key to success is having a clear strategy on how to get more followers on Instagram and, more importantly, how to retain them.


If you’re just getting started or want to boost your IG account’s reach, here you’ll find 10 steps to improve your account’s performance. 


Step 1 – Choose the Content Niche


If you aim to sell products through Instagram, your account will clearly focus on that. However, make sure not to make your feed an unattractive catalog. While your main niche will be your brand, you can create content about the manufacturing process, backstage content creation, and more. Keep your audience entertained by sharing as much as you can about your brand’s identity.


If you want to become an influencer and get sponsorship from important brands, choose a niche you feel comfortable with. If you’re passionate about something, you’ll be happy to create all kinds of posts for your audience. 


Step 2 – Define Your Target Audience


Your target audience is the group of people you want to reach. It’s typically based on their interests, location, gender, and age range, among other variables. Once you’ve found an audience interested in your content, try not to deviate from that niche. For example, if your Instagram account is focused on content for cat lovers, don’t mix it up with content about dogs. You know those audiences are constantly at odds.


Step 3 – Choose the Type of Content That Works Best


Instagram offers a wide array of content types for you to post, including Stories, Reels, and photos. While many accounts work great posting only photographs, others have better results when posting Reels. Try to use the different types of content at least once to check which works best for your audience. Monitoring your progress on a regular basis will help you capitalize on what works and leave behind what doesn’t.


Step 4 – Create IG Stories Highlights


As IG Stories last only 24 hours on your feed, you can create Storyhighlights to share past Stories with new followers. These will appear at the top of your feed, and you can organize them by theme. Create an attractive cover for each highlight to attract your potential followers’ attention. 


Step 5 – Optimize Your IG Profile


When creating your IG account, optimize your profile to look professional, as this is the first place potential followers will go looking for more information about you. Here are some elements you can include to attract bystanders to click “Follow.”


 



  • Description. In 150 characters, create an attractive description of your IG account and the kind of content you’ll upload.



  • Hashtags. Search relevant hashtags closely related to your content niche and add them to your profile’s bio. It may not seem like a big thing, but it’ll make your account more searchable for potential followers.



  • Photograph. If you’re promoting a brand, use its logo as the profile photo. Otherwise, choose an image closely related to your content.


 


Step 6– Use Keywords and Hashtags


Whenever you create text for your posts, try including relevant keywords and hashtags. This practice will make Instagram’s algorithm show your content to an interested audience. For this practice to show the best results, try not to overuse hashtags. Choosethreetofive of the most relevant ones and repeat them in every post. 


Step 7 – Create a Post Schedule


If you want to succeed on Instagram, you’ll have to be consistent with the kind and frequency of your posts. If you leave your account unattended for long periods, your audience will lose interest and eventually unfollow you. Whether you buy Instagram followers or get them organically, keeping them hooked with your account will be up to you. Try having fresh content already edited and ready to upload. Additionally, you can use Instagram’s calendar tool to schedule your posts up to 75 days in advance.


Step 8 – Consider Paid Strategies


If you’re anxious to see results, use paid strategies to get more followers on Instagramand get a boost from the start. You can choose between buying followers and likes or creating an ad campaign. These strategies will make your posts reach a broader audience and attract potential followers. 


Step 9 – Go Live


Live sessions on Instagram are an excellent alternative to engage with your audience. Going live on the app will allow you to receive comments and valuable feedback from your followers in real time. Take the time to get to know your audience, and use their comments to improve the content you post if necessary. For better results, use your Stories to anticipate live sessions, providing your followers with the time and day you’ll go live. 


Step 10 – Create Engagement With Your Audience


Instagram is a social media platform that creates communities of users with similar interests. Once your account grows and you get new followers, you’ll have to strategize to retain them. Creating engagement is one of the best optionsfor keeping your followers interested in your account. Here are some strategies you can try.


 



  • Answer and like comments. Whenever you create a new post, make sure to visit the comment section. Like your audience’s comments and answer their questions. You can also pin the best comments so they’ll appear at the top of the list.



  • Share user-generated content. If a user tags you on a post, don’t hesitate to share it on your account. This will show them your appreciation and encourage others to do the same.


 


Follow Strategic Steps to Boost Your IG Account


Having a successful Instagram account has nothing to do with luck. If you want to become popular on the app, you’ll have to create effective strategies and carry them out over time to get new followers. While paid strategies will increase your Instagram followers faster and make you stand out from your competitors, you’ll still have to engage with your audience to retain them. 


If you’re still on the fence about how to get more followers on Instagram and investing won’t work, free strategies will also show favorable results, but it’ll probably take more time. However, you don’t have to choose one way or the other; you can combine strategies and get the best out of your Instagram account’s potential in no time.


(Disclaimer: ABP Network Pvt. Ltd. and/or ABP Live does not in any manner whatsoever endorse/subscribe to the contents of this article and/or views expressed herein. Reader discretion is advised.)