Instagram used to be for the young. Not so any longer as people of all ages share and look into the lives of others through pictures. You never know what kinds of topics can take off there and things can get viral and crazy on Instagram pretty quickly.
In order to go viral, you’re probably going to need lots of followers and not just any followers. You want actual people interested in what you share, not some bot followers. Although some of these are obviouos, let’s get started exploring some non-spammy ways to gain followers on Instagram.
Share Attractive Images
Instagram is a photo sharing site. So, above all else, you want to spend time making sure your images are actually good. Check any popular Instagram profile, and you’ll probably notice that they share amazing content. This means content that is interesting, as well as photos that are well-composed and pleasing on the eye. Look a little deeper and you might even notice that the top Instagrammers even have a certain “feel” running through their photos in the colors they shoot or the types of photos they create. This takes time to master.
Like Photos
Remember, Instagram is a social network so it’s important to interact with others. Start by liking loads of pictures in your niche to get people interested in following you. The more you like pictures of users outside your personal network, the more followers or likes you are likely to gain. Leaving meaningful comments helps, too – but make sure they’re genuine and not spammy!
Follow Others
And don’t forget to follow accounts you like, especially those that follow you. It is considered Instagram ettiquette to at least visit the accounts of those who follow you. Look around and if you like their content, follow them back.
Time Your Pictures Right
There’s a right time to do everything, and this includes posting your Instagram photos. Unfortunately this takes time to master, as every audience is different. Make sure you track the number of likes and comments on each photo, and keep your eye out for any trends at different times of the day.
Use Hashtags
The right hashtags can make a huge difference to your follower count, getting your content out there in front of many more people than just your followers. Instagram allows as many as 30 hashtags on a single post, though you may want to choose fewer than that just to keep your posts looking clean. There are several websites out there to help you identify popular hashtags but, again, it’ll take time and analysis for you to learn which hashtags perform best for your niche.
I’ll have more on hashtags in my next post so stay tuned.
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