If you're here reading this then you already must know the potential that Instagram offers as a channel for you to sell and market your brand.
It's ever more so important for your business to humanize your approach so that you attract employees that share the same goals as you and delight your customers as their growing needs and expectations change.
Here's the crunch. Unless you're famous it's actually nearly impossible to get a large following on Instagram without hard work or money $$.
For an average business, growing a fanbase or following takes dedicated daily attention and time. That being said, there is a way to get at least your first 1,000 followers on your Instagram account (Disclaimer: this still requires time and effort, but rest assured it is more focused and efficient).
The secret is to know where to invest your time and effort, by customizing your profile, curating content, writing clever copy, using hashtags and working with influencers and fans through actions that incentivize engagement.
Let's go through how you could gain your first 1,000 followers by creating an Instagram worthy profile through to using contests while staying true to your brand.
How to get more followers on Instagram
1) Make your profile cool
The easiest and often missed, make sure your profile is public (you can do this by navigating to your Instagram account's "Options" and make sure the "Private Account" is turned off.
Make sure your username is recognizable and easily searchable.
How? If your business name is already taken try keeping the first part of your username as your business name so people who are searching for your business are more likely to find you. For example @lornajaneactive
2) Dedicate to content creation
Commit to have someone or yourself to creating content so that there is a good variety of postings that comes handy when you need it!
3) Improve your photo taking and editing skills
On Instagram post quality matters.
I should emphasize that it matters A LOT. Do not put a bad photo up and always have a good eye for great photos. You can beef up on your photography skills here and your editing skills (there's a list of great websites to learn editing posted at despreneur).
4) Populate your Instagram page
If it's your first time it's a good idea to get posts up (around 20 or so) before you start engaging with people and working down this list.
5) Use relevant hashtags
To help relate to your followers try getting on a hashtag campaign. Like above ^
6) Run contests
A great way to expand your reach while increasing engagement on your profile would be to publish a promotion contest post then ask your audience to follow, like and comment on the photo to enter. Include hashtags like the example above #letsbefrank so you can include user generated content in your postings.
7) Make your Instagram profile easy to find and follow
Place a follow button link, icon on your website / email newsletters so it's easy for people to find your profile and interact with you.
More often than not most audiences don't even know that a brand is actively engaging on Social Media. See our website for an example above.
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These marketing tips are to help you improve your business and what you can do to ensure that the business you're running drives leads in a variety of ways for you.
Consider SMS Marketing and alternative direct approach to CRM for existing customers or to reach out to customers that have interest but have yet to covert. Find out more here.
