Did you know that Instagram currently has more than 2.4 billion active users? In the last quarter of 2023, Instagram had an increased user base of 100 million. As a business owner, you would want to leverage this platform to promote your business, whether you are trying to reach out to local users or expanding globally.
But having an Instagram business account is just the start. You need to grow your Instagram follower count to promote your business and get your name out there. To many business owners, increasing their follower count can be quite an arduous process. Instagram growth only happens after some time.
You would want to know the strategies for getting 50 K IG followers on Instagram. Focus on increasing your follower count to gain the audience you need to promote your business. That is what we are going to delve into today.
Why Promote On Instagram? Benefits You Can Get
As mentioned above, Instagram users are gaining by the minute. However, there are many social media platforms out there. Why not try the social media platform Facebook or even TikTok to promote your business? This might be the question you are asking yourself.
While you can use these other platforms, there are benefits to promoting on the Instagram app that you want to take advantage of. Here are the help you can get:
1. The engagement rate on this platform is high.
While other social media platforms have more active users, there is more engagement going on in Instagram. Dubbed the King of Social Media, it has earned its name because of its 4.21% engagement rate. That is significantly higher than other platforms like Facebook or X.
2. You can connect it to your Facebook account.
Promoting on your Instagram account will also be like promoting on Facebook since the two are owned by the same company. Gaining more followers on both platforms is easy because you can use the same content. When you make Instagram posts, you can link them to your Facebook account and automatically post them there. This cuts down your social media work, making it easier to target new potential followers. Only some have a social media manager, so if you do everything alone, you might find this feature helpful.
3. Ads on Instagram are not as annoying as other platforms.
Have you ever been on other platforms and been bombarded by ads? Facebook tends to have very intrusive ads, which detract from the overall experience of using these platforms. With Instagram, it’s not that intrusive. It can make for a more engaging browsing experience for your followers.
4. It’s easier to connect to your Shopify account.
If you own a Shopify account, you can easily connect it with your Instagram account. You can put the link in your Instagram bio. It has a streamlined way of connecting links to different shopping sites.
5. It is practical and less time-consuming.
There are different ways to reach your target audience, and they can be in the form of Instagram posts, Instagram stories, and Instagram reels. You can share your reels and posts in your accounts so that more people can see them.
Promoting Your Business on Instagram – What You Need to Know
Create an Instagram campaign that you can stick with to speed up Instagram growth. The Instagram algorithm is similar to other platforms. But if you want to gain more Instagram followers and promote your business to your target market, here are the things you need to know:
1. You can use organic methods to increase follower growth
Organic methods mean you will use your strategies, such as posting on Instagram stories and your Instagram feed with photos or videos of your products or services. You can rely on Instagram SEO to help you reach your target market.
To gain follower count through organic means, you need to post regularly and ensure that you are posting quality content. On Instagram, people respond more to well-thought-out reels and posts. Posts that incite a positive emotional response and provoke thinking are the ones that get lots of recognition.
2. You can use paid advertising
Show up on the Instagram Explore Page through paid advertising. This platform has a paid advertising structure similar to Facebook’s. One paid advertising option is Photo Ads. You can reach more followers through a single photo posted on your Instagram accounts. They show up in the feeds of your target market. It is not as annoying and less intrusive. For this to work, you must ensure your Photo Ads are noticeable, informative, and engaging.
Video Ads are another option. You will be given 60 seconds to promote your products or services. Shorter videos are better since they are easy to watch. Create videos that reel the audience in. It can appeal to their emotions. You can encourage a discussion in your videos as well.
The third option when it comes to paid advertising is the Carousel Ads. It encourages the viewers to swipe through the post and learn more about the products and services. It’s similar to photo ads, but this one has multiple photos uploaded.
A new advertising strategy is in the form of Instagram Stories Ads. Since many people tend to watch stories more than posts, it’s a good idea to tap into this paid advertising. Some people buy fake Instagram followers to gain credibility. The more fake followers you have, your content can get pushed up in the algorithm. But even if you are getting the help of these outsourcing businesses, make sure you also team it up with organic ways to gain followers on Instagram.
How to Get More Instagram Followers – Tried and Tested Strategies You Should Know
Learning how to gain followers on Instagram can help you grow your network. Here are some of the tried and tested methods for gaining new followers on Instagram:
1. How to Grow Instagram Followers: Create Quality Content
Decide on what you want your Instagram profile to look like. Many top Instagram influencers follow a pattern for their grid. If you are posting about your art, show your skill and the behind-the-scenes process of your art. If you are showcasing your business and posting images of your products, make sure the product images also complement each other. Your feed must remain “aesthetic” and visually appealing because Instagram is all about beautiful things.
2. Post Regularly
Create a social media content calendar. One of the mistakes people make when promoting on Instagram is that it takes them weeks to post brand-new Instagram content. You could use the traction you have gained from your previous posts.
Brainstorm for content ideas. You can check out user-generated content. This is the kind of content that Instagram users tend to recommend. You can check out the trending pages to know what user-generated content to post. When you are browsing your reels, find out which of the content ideas there are gaining a lot of recognition and engagement. Try to observe the content ideas that genuinely get a lot of attention.
Use the popular audio section as well. Find out what audio people are using and what type of content they are making to go with it. You can follow the same thing and put your spin on it.
Use stories and reels along with the regular posts. The reels allow you to showcase your behind-the-scenes and the process of running your business. The reports help you connect with your audience more.
3. Use Relevant Hashtags
You can’t gain followers on Instagram if your target audience can’t see your posts. One way for them to see your posts is to use hashtags. The hashtags allow the algorithms to search for your content and recommend it whenever someone uses that keyword.
Do your research to find out what keywords to target and then use that in your hashtags. Also, keep an eye out for geo-specific hashtags.
4. Have a Brand Landing Page
Once you have gained new followers, redirect them to a landing page. This will be your brand’s official page, where they can learn more about your products and services. It’s also essential to create a “brand” image. Your username should be your brand’s name or, if it’s already taken, something that is close to it. Include your company’s official email address in your Instagram profile.
Change the profile section to include a description of what your brand is all about. Add the link to your web page and ensure it includes your address.
5. Create Pins and Save Your Stories
Save stories and organize them so followers on Instagram can easily find what they are looking for. Categorize them and put a label on these stories. You can also pin posts that will best represent your brand.
6. Engage with Other Users
If you want people to engage with your brand, you should also engage with them. It’s an excellent opportunity to build rapport with your would-be followers.
Engaging with other users includes commenting on their posts or sharing them. You can also reply to your comments. It might seem like a lot of work, but reaching out to your commenters can go a long way in helping build a positive relationship with your target market.
You can also engage with followers by asking questions or running polls. Instagram has these tools already.
7. Collaborate with Other Brands or Influencers
You can also leverage the follower count of other brands and influencers by collaborating with them. Feel free to reach out to other brands and influencers. You can send sample products to them for free and ask for their honest review.
8. Run Games or Giveaways
Who will say no to freebies, right? Running freebies and giveaways is an instant way to gain more followers. You can make following your account and sharing a post a mechanics for the game. Regularly holding giveaways also helps you build a good relationship with your followers.
9. Regularly Run a Live Session
A live session is a chance for you to talk to your audience. You can have a question-and-answer session where your audience will ask questions about the products and services you are offering. You can also do a demonstration of your products or showcase their features.
You can also turn the live session into a valuable and informative one. Do some tutorials or share your Instagram insights. This can also act as social proof that you are the authority in this business niche.
10. Create Meaningful Campaigns
It’s about something other than who gets to dole out the most content during the year. Make sure that what you share with your followers is also meaningful and can leave a positive impact. Instagram marketing should be a positive experience where you go out of your way to help your market.
Conclusion
People get so caught up in developing content strategies for their social proof. But if you stay genuine and authentic in your social media campaigns, you will likely gain a loyal following. It’s better to grow slowly than grow your audience through a less-than-ideal marketing campaign. When it comes to influencer marketing, you need to know that it doesn’t happen right away. You must watch what has worked for you and use the same formula in your future posts. Take note of the posts that got a lot of engagement and repeat that. It will help you generate the same results.
