If you’re just joining me, at the beginning of this year I asked you what your influencer goals were for 2022. Your overwhelming responses via email every week are break down the content creation process and share growth tips. So that’s what we are doing every Tuesday, all year long.
We’ve covered Imposter Syndrome and why the internet still needs to hear what you have to say. We talked Work / Life balance and how creating content would fit into your busy schedule without taking over your life. Last week, we went over how to get started and Become A Social Media Influencer in 2022.
We’ve covered our bases. Now what? Let’s talk growth. More specifically– how to organically grow a following that lasts and build your engagement.
Photos are still in
Instagram may be favoring video content, but photos aren’t going anywhere and it is still possible to grow a following on Instagram with images. There are an overwhelming number of users who prefer picture content, so that means your photo quality still matters. You don’t need a DSLR or professional camera. Your phone can totally take quality pictures! What it boils down to is good lighting, interesting shots and a great editing software.
Reels
…aren’t going anywhere. If you haven’t embraced them, this is your sign to just jump in! It can feel weird and foreign at first, but I promise it’s totally fun. Find a trend you find yourself laughing at or smiling at and copy it with your own added twist. It doesn’t have to be revolutionary. It just has to be fun, maybe teach someone something, or make them think. For more advice on reels, head over to my Instagram for constant trend updates and advice.
More reels will help you grow on Instagram
Don’t just film videos, take advantage of everything Instagram launches! Using filters, stickers, voiceovers, and other elements in your content encourages the algorithm to push your content to the most amount of viewers. If you didn’t realize it by now, Reels is the best way to organically grow a following on Instagram in 2022. So if growth is one of your goals, you have to get on board with Reels.
CTA: Call To Action
Get your followers involved. What does this look like? Ask questions! Not just regular “yes or no” questions either. They should be open-ended questions that would encourage your audience to leave longer responses. In your content, in your captions, in your stories. Give them something to talk about. This doesn’t require a huge audience; the earlier in the game you start engaging authentically with your audience, the more payoff in the long run. Having a loyal following not only makes the space more fun, but catches the eyes of brands and partners.
Consistency is key for growth
We talked about this last week. And we’ll probably talk about it next week. But consistency is key. This doesn’t mean you have to post every day. Will it help? Yes. The more often you post, the more people will see your content. Ideally, you want to shoot for at least 3x a week so that you make an impact on the algorithm and can grow a following on Instagram. Figure out a schedule that works for you, and make sure to stick to it. I post Monday – Friday, and occasionally Saturdays; Sundays are my absolute day off of social media for family time.
Hashtags are not out
These are great not just for people to find you, but for you to utilize and go through to meet creators in a similar niche. Play around with them. The Creators account advises 3-5 hashtags, but Instagram gives you up to 30. So really, it’s up to you on how many hashtags you want to use. I like to use between 8-15 hashtags per post since that’s what I’ve seen has worked for me. Adam Mosseri has also stated to make sure hashtags are in your post’s caption, not in the comments. Pick hashtags in a variety of usage ranges (10k, 100k, etc) and see what works best for you. Not sure on how to find good hashtags? Look at what hashtags your favorite creators are using and pick a handful. Check to see if the hashtag is a good usage range and if it fits with the right audience for your content. Don’t forget to engage with content you enjoy through those same hashtags too!
Optimize your profile to really grow on Instagram
Planning out your feed may seem tedious (and soon with the grid rearranging in Instagram’s future, it’ll be way less work) but the first impression someone has of your feed can affect whether or not they follow you. Make sure your bio has a clear description of what followers will find on your page and utilize your name field to include searchable keywords.
I go more in-depth in my freebie on how to Optimize Your Instagram! If you’re looking for more tips on all things growth, working with brands, negotiation skills, and more, subscribe to my email list for weekly influencer tips and exclusive discounts!
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Great post! I’m focused on growth this year and really need to be more consistent and start posting reels more. Whenever I do post them my following increases! Thanks for these tips!