How to get 1,000 Instagram followers in 10 days
In today’s world, social media is quite literally a form of currency. Likes, follows, and comments are metrics of success for any new business, website or blog.
I recently made a goal of 1,000 followers for every social network. I decided to start with Instagram, just because it’s my favorite – and this should all be fun, right?!
This is how you can get 1,000 #instabuddies, or 100 followers a day, in just 10 days.
1. Write a catchy bio
Your Instagram profile page is your digital business card. This is the first thing people see when deciding whether or not they want to follow you. The must-have’s of a great bio:
- A professional, personal photo (bloggers should skip the logo here, people want to follow real people)
- A brief description of yourself and your gallery (what kinds of pictures can people expect to see? Cats? Fantastic.)
- A link to your website (extremely important, as this is the only place where Instagram allows a clickable link)
2. Post beautiful, interesting photos
The more unique, the better. An interesting angle or new perspective can go a long way. Put a signature or watermark on your image to show that these photos are indeed your own. Instagram is flooded with re-posts and copies, so it’s refreshing to see original photography. Last but not least, never post just for the sake of posting. Quality over quantity, always.
3. Follow a theme
We are creatures of habit. If we follow an account to see photos of cats, we want to see photos of cats. Always try to stick with your page theme. For example, if you’re promoting recipes & healthy eating, then a picture of your new truck is probably not relevant.
Show people who you are, but don’t flood the feed with selfies. Instead, show yourself doing the activity that aligns with your brand or page theme. People love to follow real people, it helps to put a face to the name.
4. Put in the time
I cannot stress this one enough. I am not a pro photographer, and most pictures are taken from my iPhone. It doesn’t matter. The #1 method for gaining followers quickly and organically is by being active on Instagram and connecting with others. Use every second of downtime, from waiting in line at the grocery store to the commercial break during your favorite TV show. Search by hashtag using a keyword related to your page theme (for example, “travel”) and then comment, like, follow; repeat.
5. Perfect your hashtag strategy
Hashtags are necessary in the early stages of building a following. This is how people find YOU. I try to keep the original post short and sweet, with only 1 or 2 hashtags. Too many hashtags makes the post look like spam. The secret sauce is to follow up with a comment that includes an additional 10-15 relevant hashtags. Thus, people will still find your page but the original post caption is kept interesting and concise.
6. Interact and engage with your followers
Ask questions in the photo caption, or ask followers to tag their own photos with your brand hashtag. Check your comments frequently and respond to as many as possible. Thank your followers for their comments and continue the conversation. Keeping users engaged with your account will prevent un-follows.
7. Reach out to “feature” accounts
There are many Instagram accounts that simply repost others’ photos. Use their hashtags on your photo, or send a direct message to ask if they would be interested in featuring your post. It may take a while, but just one post could connect you with thousands of new followers.
8. Timing is everything
Find your best posting schedule and stick with it. Post at the same time every day, and your fans will begin to look forward to your posts. Most people check Instagram in the morning or evening, but views drop dramatically between 9am – 5pm. Use an app such as Iconosquare to analyze when your followers are most active.
9. Analyze your data
I frequently pull up my Instagram page on the desktop site to get a quick snapshot of which posts received the most likes and comments. This helps me get an idea of what kind of content people like to see, as well as which pictures aren’t so interesting. I take this information into account when deciding what to post in the future.
10. Link with other social networks
Instagram features the option to share your post on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. I also recommend adding the Instagram app to your Facebook page for increased exposure. Finally, don’t forget to include a link to your Instagram page on your website. I use Websta and Intagme in the sidebar widget.
And there you have it! Hashtag, instafamous.
Follow me @thetravelthread
How could I end this post without a piece of shameless self-promotion?
Thanks so much Margo!