Although it’s easier said than done, knowing the content your followers want to see is smart. You’ll quickly notice on Instagram that some content performs better than others. This is why it is important to do tests.
The smallest detail can make a big difference, whether it’s filters, captions, content types, or posting times. Keep up to date with new trends on Instagram to know if you’re posting popular content.
Your brand should invest in Instagram analytics tools to take your analytics a step further. They will help you track, reference and analyze Instagram content across multiple accounts.
Trust your content strategy by analyzing filters, captions and more to see what works best for your audience. If you don’t know where to start, try researching your competitors.
You shouldn’t directly copy your competitors, but it’s wise to take notes on what they do or post that generates engagement. Some competitive research can go a long way. You can use our Instagram Competitors report to get insight into what’s working for other brands in your industry.
Start the conversation
Conversation is one of the best ways to introduce your Instagram account to your users. According to Sprout’s 2020 Social Index, consumers want to engage with visual-first content like photos (68%) and videos (50%), followed by 30% who want to engage with text posts. Instagram is ideally suited to this audience profile, pairing eye-catching visuals with captions that can be just as engaging as you perfect your Instagram caption writing skills click here.
People continue to use social media as their go-to contact for interacting with brands, whether to ask questions and start impromptu discussions, to seek meaningful customer support, or to rave about their favourite products and brands. And for your business, you need to support customers and communicate on Instagram.
Try to answer as many questions or comments as possible because it can mean the difference between getting a new customer or follower or improving your relationship with your audience. Our Index research also shows that 89% of customers will purchase from a brand after following them on social media, so it’s essential to devote the attention and loyalty needed to turn a visitor to your profile into a follower.
The more conversation there is on your feed, the more followers you will gain. Thank your followers, and don’t be afraid to respond.
Find converting hashtags
One of the most proven ways to get followers on Instagram is through hashtags. For years, hashtags have been an essential tool for discovery, allowing us to expand our reach on social media. As a marketer, you will want to build your community by gaining followers, precisely what hashtags do.
To start, find hashtags that aren’t overused. Social Media Examiner summarizes this theory by explaining how the #love hashtag has over 184 million photos. Trying to stand out for your Instagram content in a sea of pictures and videos is no easy task.
It would help if you found hashtags that people in your target audience are likelier to view. If a relevant link is established, these users will be more likely to follow your account. Unique branded hashtags can group posts around highly content pertinent to your brand and campaigns.
For example, M&M does a great job focusing on hashtags for an event the company participates in. Using hashtags like #mmspotlight, the brand targets its audience more directly where the concert takes place and increases its awareness.
Understanding how your hashtags perform on Instagram is as essential as using them. With Sprout Social’s hashtag analytics tools, you can directly access hashtag performance and usage data to see what’s working best.
Don’t go unthinkingly into the world of hashtags; know what you’re tagging to gain followers.
Make your Instagram followers happy
Last but not least, when you make your Instagram followers happy, you are rewarded by seeing your follower count increase. We’ve given you plenty of tips for finding and scheduling content. All you need to do is put them into practice in a way that feels authentic to your brand voice. In other words, avoid appearing desperate, salesy, or robotic.
For many accounts, this means offering legitimately designed posts to make followers smile and strengthen customer relationships. Don’t forget to provide content to your followers as if they were friends on your feed: this can include posting memes, inspirational content, or simply re-sharing photos or works that can entertain your followers during the day (with appropriate mention of the sources, of course).
Reply to comments
It’s not all about posting and waiting for someone to comment. You should also take the time to respond to comments. Avoid smiley responses, and engage in communication with your audience. Now is the time to find out more about her, and why not continue the conversation in PM (or DM privately) to bring this audience to your email base and bring them to super fan status?
Get your community to react and interact
Ask her what she would like to see you post more of.
Ask her questions about herself, take an interest in your community, and don’t just talk about yourself.
Offer live question-and-answer sessions.
Allow your posts to be shared in stories
In settings/privacy/story
Authorize re-sharing in stories and authorize sharing so that your audience can share your posts in reports and share your stories in messages to their contacts.
Tags
You can use geolocation tags (of a place, a city, etc.).
When you publish your content, you have “Add a location,” allowing you to add a theme to your post (e.g. music promotion).
Identify the biggest ones in your posts
Are you doing a cover of one of your favourite artists? So tag him in the post ‘with the @ and not the #), and use some of the #’s he uses to target his community. Maybe he will see it and share this post as a thank you (yes if some people do).