Looking for Instagram growth hacks to help you get ahead of the game?
In the ever-evolving world of social media, Instagram continues to dominate as one of the most popular platforms for businesses and individuals.
With over 1 billion monthly active users, the potential for growth and engagement on Instagram is massive. However, as the platform becomes more crowded, it can be challenging to stand out from the competition and grow your following.
That’s why in this article, we’ll be sharing some of the most effective Instagram growth hacks for 2023 to help you take your Instagram game to the next level. From optimising your profile to leveraging new features and tools, these tips will help you grow your following, increase engagement and reach your Instagram goals.
1. Profile Optimisation
Were you aware that only two fields within your profile are searchable? When you navigate to the Explore tab and enter a keyword such as “Graphic Design,” you will notice that the results display individuals with “Graphic Design” included in either their username or name fields.
At present, your profile description is not indexed for search purposes. To ensure that you are discoverable by the right audience, it is recommended to include your primary keyword (i.e., the value you offer your followers) in your name field, if it is not already a component of your username.
For instance, if you have “Marketing” as part of your username, but offer services in both Instagram and Social Media, you can incorporate both terms in your name field. By implementing this, the first of our Instagram growth hacks, you can improve your chances of being found by your target audience.
2. Post Regularly
Another one of our Instagram growth hacks is posting regularly. Posting on Instagram at least three times a week can have a positive impact on your account’s growth and engagement. Regular posting keeps your content fresh and ensures that your followers have something new to engage with.
Moreover, consistent posting can help your account gain visibility on the platform’s algorithm, increasing the likelihood of your content appearing on users’ Explore pages. It can also help establish a sense of reliability with your followers, creating a stronger bond between them and your brand.
Posting three times a week allows you to strike a balance between providing valuable content and not overwhelming your audience with too much information.
In conclusion, posting regularly on Instagram is an effective way to improve your account’s reach, engagement and connection with your followers.
3. Connect With Similar Accounts
Instagram has a feature that suggests other accounts to follow when someone follows an account. The algorithms behind this feature are not entirely clear, but there are some ways to increase the likelihood of appearing in users’ suggested accounts.
One of these strategies is to establish connections with other accounts that share similar interests or belong to the same niche as yours. By doing so, you can create a network of like-minded accounts that mutually benefit from each other’s presence. In addition, using the same hashtags as these accounts can help your content become more visible to your target audience.
Another way to improve your chances of appearing in suggested accounts is by actively engaging with accounts in your niche.
When you leave comments on other accounts’ posts, people who read your comments might visit your profile to learn more about you and your brand. This could lead to them following your account, which can increase your visibility on the platform. Thus, building relationships with similar accounts can be one of the most effective Instagram growth hacks to improve your Instagram presence and gain more followers.
4. Ask Questions
Next up on our list of Instagram growth hacks is to ask questions, which will lead to better engagement.
When using Instagram, searching for a specific topic or hashtag will bring up the most popular posts related to your search at the top of the results page. These popular posts, known as “trending posts,” receive significant visibility and engagement from users.
Appearing in one of these trending posts can be a valuable way to attract new followers to your account, as more people are likely to see and potentially engage with your post.
While the exact algorithm that Instagram uses to determine what makes a post “trending” is unknown, it is clear that engagement is a crucial factor. One of the key indicators of engagement is comments.
Comments play an important role because they show Instagram that users are actively engaging with your content and finding it valuable. The more comments your post has, the more likely it is to be considered “trending.”
To encourage more comments on your posts, you can ask a question or request an action from your audience. This can be as simple as asking them to share their thoughts on a particular topic or tag a friend.
By prioritising engagement in your Instagram strategy and focusing on generating more comments on your posts, you can increase your chances of being featured in the trending posts and ultimately grow your audience on the platform.
5. Hashtags
Hashtags are an essential tool for increasing the reach and visibility of your posts on Instagram. By including relevant hashtags, you can make your content discoverable to a wider audience, beyond just your existing followers. Instagram allows you to include up to 30 hashtags on a regular post, and up to 10 hashtags on a Story.
However, just because you can use up to 30 hashtags doesn’t mean you should. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how many hashtags you should use on Instagram, as it depends on various factors, such as your niche, your audience, and the specific post you’re sharing.
While some businesses may benefit from using all 30 hashtags, others may find that a smaller number works better for them. The consensus is that about 11 hashtags is a good number to start with. But the most common number of hashtags to use on Instagram is between 3 and 5.
Ultimately, the best way to determine how many hashtags to use on Instagram is to test different numbers and see what works best for your particular business. Keep in mind that it’s not just about the number of hashtags you use, but also the relevance and specificity of the hashtags you choose. By using hashtags that accurately describe your post and your brand, you’ll attract the right audience and increase your chances of engagement and growth on Instagram.
6. Tagging Your Location
Did you know that adding a location to your Instagram posts can boost your engagement by up to 79%? It’s true, it’s a simple yet great Instagram growth hack! If you have a physical location, make sure to create a custom location for your business and tag it in your posts. This will help you reach a more targeted audience, as people searching for that location will be more likely to discover your content.
But what if you don’t have a physical location? Don’t worry, you can still benefit from geo-tagging. Try checking in to your city or region to increase your visibility in local searches. You can also consider checking in to events or places related to your business, such as conferences or trade shows. Many of these events have custom geotags that you can use to promote your brand.
If you’re not sure how to set up a custom location for your business, don’t fret. Instagram makes it easy to create and use custom locations. Just follow the steps outlined in their help centre to get started.
Overall, adding a location to your Instagram posts is a simple yet effective way to increase engagement and reach a more targeted audience. So why not give it a try?
7. Being Social
Have you considered exploring the hashtags used by your ideal customers? Another one of our Instagram growth hacks is… Take some time to research and identify the hashtags that your target audience is using on their photos. By searching and engaging with users under these hashtags, you can attract new followers who are genuinely interested in your business.
For instance, if you’re a small business owner, you might consider using hashtags like #smallbusiness or #shoplocal to attract your ideal customers. However, it’s important to understand your audience’s interests and behaviours to determine the right hashtags to use.
Make a list of 5-10 relevant hashtags that your target audience is using and start engaging with users who are posting under these hashtags. Spend some time each day liking and commenting on their photos. When you come across a post that resonates with you, don’t hesitate to leave a thoughtful comment.
Take note of how many new followers you gain in the next 24 hours. By consistently engaging with users under relevant hashtags, you can increase your reach and attract more followers who are interested in your business.
8. Post At The Right Time
Posting on Instagram can be a bit of a science, and one aspect of it that can have a big impact on your success is your posting time. While it may seem like a small detail, timing can make a significant difference in how many people see and engage with your content.
By tweaking your posting time, you may be able to reach up to 30% more people organically in the feed. This can result in more engagement on your posts, which can then lead to higher visibility in the Top Posts section for your relevant hashtags. Ultimately, this can help you get found by new audiences and grow your account.
To determine your best posting times, start by looking at your Instagram analytics. This data will show you when your followers are most active on the platform, which can give you a good starting point for testing different posting times. Try experimenting with different days and times of the week, and compare the engagement rates for each post to see which times are most effective for your audience.
Keep in mind that the ideal posting times may vary depending on your niche and target audience. For example, if you run a business that targets stay-at-home parents, your best posting times may be different from those of a business that targets young professionals. So, it’s important to experiment with different posting times and track the results to find what works best for your specific audience.
9. Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels is a feature on Instagram that enables users to create and share short-form videos up to 60 seconds long. Reels are similar to TikTok videos and are designed to be entertaining, creative, and engaging. They are displayed in a separate section on the Instagram Explore page, making it easier for users to discover new content and profiles.
Using Instagram Reels can be an excellent way to grow your business for several reasons:
- Reels have the potential to reach a wider audience. As they are prominently featured on the Explore page, they can be viewed by users who do not follow your account. This can help you gain more followers and increase your reach.
- Reels are an excellent way to showcase your brand personality. By creating engaging and fun videos, you can help to humanise your brand and connect with your audience on a more personal level.
- Reels can help to increase engagement. As Reels are designed to be entertaining and engaging, they can help to increase engagement on your profile. This can include likes, comments, shares, and even direct messages from potential customers.
- Reels can help to highlight your products or services. By creating short videos that showcase your products or services, you can give potential customers a quick and easy way to see what you offer.
- Reels can help to drive traffic to your website. By including a call-to-action in your Reels, such as “Visit our website for more information,” you can encourage viewers to learn more about your business and potentially make a purchase.
Overall, using Instagram Reels is one of our favourite Instagram growth hacks as they can be a valuable tool for businesses looking to expand their presence on the platform. By creating engaging and creative content, you can increase your reach, build your brand, and ultimately drive more traffic and sales to your business.
10. Instagram Ads
For fast Instagram growth hacks that aren’t organic, you might consider running some paid ads.
There are different types of Instagram ads available for businesses to use, such as photo ads, video ads, carousel ads, and story ads. Each type of ad has its own unique features and advantages. You can choose the one that best suits your goals and target audience.
One of the best things about Instagram ads is that they can be targeted to specific groups of people. You can choose to target your ads based on different factors such as location, demographics, interests, behaviours, and even past interactions with your brand. This helps ensure that your ads are shown to people who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.
Instagram also provides businesses with detailed analytics to track the performance of their ads. This includes metrics such as reach, impressions, engagement, clicks, and conversions. By monitoring these metrics, businesses can evaluate the effectiveness of their ads and make changes to improve their results.
Another advantage of Instagram ads is the ability to create custom audiences and lookalike audiences. Custom audiences are created by uploading a list of your existing customers or leads, and targeting them with ads. Lookalike audiences are created by finding people who have similar characteristics and behaviours to your existing customers, and targeting them with ads. These targeting options help businesses reach new potential customers who are likely to be interested in their products or services.
Which of these Instagram Growth Hacks will you be implementing?
