6 Super Tips for Getting More Instagram Followers

More Instagram followers, means a greater reach and is nothing but a positive for your business – so how do you go about getting these hallowed additions to your social media page?

We take a look and have a number of tried and tested tips.

1. Post at the right time

There are two things you need to consider before you post your photo to Instagram. The two factors include the time when most people often check Instagram and the time zone of your audience. Many people usually login during the morning and evening hours.

This is the time when most people are on their way back from work or back from school. Simply Measured, which is an analytics company recommends that the best time to post is on Wednesday between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

However, the least favorable time for brands to post is in the middle of the night. This is because of the fact that an Instagram photo only has a lifespan of around 4 hours before it is buried in followers feeds.

Post when your audience has down time and they are checking their accounts. Let’s take for example that your company is targeting high school students. When should you post your photo if this is the case? It is good to post in the afternoon when high schoolers are on their lunch break.

If your business targets are based in New York City or London, it is a good idea to post during the rush hour. This is the time when most of them are stuck on buses or trains and they have nothing else to do but check their phones.

2. Use popular hashtags

There are popular Instagram hashtags meant to help you get more visibility on your photos. This will depend on the industry your business is in. Some may ask how they can find popular hashtags and my answer is start searching on Google. A simple Google search will tell you all you need to know.

Some of the trending Instagram hashtags include #instagood, #photooftheday, #instadaily, #throwback Thursday.

However, you don’t have to go nuts with your hashtags! It is not wise to put a hashtag paragraph at the bottom of your photo as it can make it look cluttered and a little overzealous. It is a good idea to use 1-3 relevant hashtags per photo.

3. Use your photo captions to ask questions

Asking questions will help you get more likes on Instagram. This technique does not only drive photo likes it also encourages followers comments too.

Having an active account is only sure to help you get more followers. If there is a buzz around the account, you are increasing the chances of people taking an interest in your account. Buying some Instagram followers can be a good way to get the ball rolling and showing yourself as popular to then get more followers through organic means.

4. Host a Contest

Host a contest on Instagram to help boost engagement and help you get new followers fast on any social network. Instagram has grown in popularity making it one of the best social platforms to run a contest.

Click here to get the best tips and practices on how you can host a good Instagram photo contest, click here. If you want to know how hosting an Instagram campaign is like, here is an example from a person who uses Shortstack.

5. Share teasers

Product based businesses should upload photos featuring teasers of products to be released in the market or an upcoming event. Teaser photos are very effective since they grab the attention of the users and drive photo likes. A great example of how an Instagram teaser photo can be used is the California-based clothing company The Hundreds.

6. Share candid shots

To be successful, you have to think of your Instagram account as a behind the scenes look or your followers backstage pass. Your followers don’t need to see the polished images as your business uses for advertising purposes. They want to see images which are less edited and more relatable.

Use your Instagram account to highlight your employees and the work they do. Even if your business employs hundreds of employees, having a few faces will make your brand appear more transparent.

However, content you post on Instagram does not always have to be marketing driven; it can just be for fun. The photos you post on Instagram often times get the best engagement. You need to stop thinking so much about how you can get your brand message across. Instead, focus on the essence of the platform which is playful and human-centered.