I got tons of questions and comments about my last post on the 2018 Instagram algorithm update. Many small businesses are struggling, so I wanted to share more specific ways to grow your Instagram following. Instagram is huge and getting bigger, so you need creative strategies to stand out. Here are some clever ways bloggers—myself included—are boosting their Instagram presence and engagement, all while working with the new algorithm:
1. **Mix Up Your Hashtags:** Use all 30 allowed hashtags. Don’t put extra hashtags in comments; they won’t show up. Do hashtag research and divide them into three groups: 10 large (millions of posts), 10 medium (six figures), and 10 smaller ones (five figures). Big hashtags reach more people but can get lost. Smaller ones have less reach but are more targeted. This mix gives you the best chance of getting noticed and showing up on the Explore page. Use a hashtag research tool or check out what hashtags other bloggers in your niche use. Keep your lists handy!
2. **Tag People in Photos:** Tag up to 20 people in your photos (not just in the caption). Don’t spam; research accounts that regularly feature content similar to yours. Create categorized lists of accounts to tag. This gets your photo on their tagged pages, increasing visibility and your chances of getting re-posted.
3. **Follow Up on Regrams:** If you get re-posted, interact with people who comment on the re-post. They’re already interested in your style, so engage with them and encourage them to follow your account.
4. **Engage With Existing Followers:** Your loyal followers are your biggest supporters. Show them appreciation! They’ll continue to share your content and help you grow. Consider small gestures like giveaways to show your gratitude.
5. **Engage With Potential Followers:** Like photos of people who might be interested in your content. Find bloggers with good engagement, check their comments, and like some of the commenters’ recent photos. This can gain you engaged followers organically. (Don’t use bots!)
6. **The Follow/Unfollow Hack:** This is controversial but supposedly effective. Follow a bunch of followers of a larger influencer in your niche, then unfollow them after a few days and repeat with another influencer. I haven’t tried this yet.
7. **Cross-Promotion:** Collaborate with other bloggers with similar styles. Ideas include challenges, Instagram Story swaps, or regram trades. This expands your reach to a new audience.
8. **Loop Giveaways:** Loop giveaways are very effective for gaining followers. Several bloggers pool money for a big prize. Each blogger posts the giveaway, and the rules involve following all accounts in the loop. I’ve gained thousands of followers this way! Find loops by checking other bloggers’ posts and asking how they got involved. Make sure the other influencers are a good fit for your audience.
9. **Tag-a-Friend Giveaways:** Ask followers to tag friends in a caption or your latest post to enter a giveaway. This can bring new followers to your account.
10. **Go Live:** Instagram Live has its own Explore section. Using this feature more often increases your chances of appearing there, boosting your visibility. The Explore page is key for reaching a wider audience.