How To Get More Followers on Instagram

When Im scrolling through twitter all I see is people complaining about Instagram and the algorithm. Believe me we all hate it, especially when I don’t get shown 2/3 of the people I follow. However when it comes to my own Instagram, Ive personally done pretty well. Now compared to other people, maybe even you reading this, I may not have many followers etc. but I do have a really engaging audience, and that is what counts.

Ive decided to do an Instagram series on this blog, this post being the first. There will be two more posts following this one, all based around getting more followers on Instagram.

The next two posts will cover photoshoots & editing, and photo planning & scheduling. These two are vital in order to gain more followers. However, you could have the best images and schedule, but if you aren’t using the platform to its full potential, no one will see the photographs. So this post is all about getting those followers and likes once you have a good pattern and photographs.

Use Every Feature: Hashtags

Instagram favours those who use all their features, which gets you more exposure. If you are unsure of what I am talking about I’ll explain it a little more. Instagram has SO many features now compared to a few years ago. You can tag people & locations, hashtags, stories, save photographs etc. It’s crazy.

Let’s start with a simple post on Instagram. You may think, just write a caption and click post. However there is far more to it than that. On every post you want to make sure you are using good hashtags. Now I am no master at hashtags, so I suggest you search into that separately. But hashtags get you seen by people who aren’t even following you. Instagram favours posts with hashtags too, so most of the people at the top of your feed are probably using hashtags in their caption.

Next you want to have a good caption. A quick simple quote used to be ideal, however if you look at posts on instagram now, no one really does that. They almost treat it like a mini blog. For your caption write about your day, plans, the photograph, upcoming blog posts etc. This is more likely to engage the audience and gives them something to comment, which will give you more exposure.

Use Every Feature: Tags

Now you want to tag accounts in the photograph. For example if it is a picture of you wearing a dress, tag the brand of the dress. Tag any brands that appear in the photograph, as this may also get you seen by that brand which will help exposure. If however the photograph is of a flower, simply tag yourself. Instagram favours people who use all their features, so even just tagging yourself helps your post be seen by more people.

Finally tag a location. Even if its just the country you are in, Instagram sees this and automatically shows your posts to more of your followers. Once you have posted the photograph, add it to your story. This usually gets seen by more people than those who like the photograph, so letting them know you have a new post up is always beneficial. Besides by this point I hope you’re realising that by utilising every feature, Instagram favours your posts and account over others.

Engage

Simply using Instagram helps boost your own account. So scroll through your feed, like, comment, follow new people, etc. Using the platform gets you favoured as you know, but engaging with others means they’re more likely to go onto your profile and engage with you back.

Now engaging with the people you already follow is a given, you should be doing that anyway, otherwise there’s no point in following them. However engaging with people you don’t follow is just as important. To do this click on a hashtag that fits your niche, for example if you’re a blogger, you want to engage with more bloggers. Use a hashtag like #smallblogger, and scroll through that hashtag, like posts, comment, and follow new people. These accounts will see someone new, and are more likely to go onto your account and either engage or follow you.

While you wait for my next Instagram post in this series, why not read about my Instagram Inspiration photographs here.

Instagram Series:

How to get more followers on instagram: you’re currently reading it!

Photoshoots & editing for Instagram

Instagram Tips: Planning & Scheduling

And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram!!

What are your top tips for Instagram?