It feels like there’s always a gimmick when you click on a blog post about building your Instagram for free. Have no fear! LCCM is here to give you 3 tangible ways to increase your Instagram followers for exactly zero dollars, no gimmicks included.
1. Include hashtags in your posts
Hashtags are a vital component in expanding your Instagram audience. When you use a hashtag, your post appears on the page for that hashtag. People can also follow hashtags, meaning they could see your post in their feed even if they don’t follow you yet.
Hashtags are also a great way to build community online so people are motivated to engage with your business.
You can technically include up to 30 hashtags on a regular post, but just because you can use that many hashtags for Instagram doesn’t mean you should. We believe 10-15 high quality and well-thought out hashtags is a good range.
2. Follow like-minded accounts
One of the most proven methods of growing your Instagram organically is to actively engage on your account. What does this look like? We’re glad you asked.
Follow accounts that are in the same industry as you, located near your business, are friends and/or acquaintances, or businesses and industry leaders on Instagram.
You’ll also want to engage with their accounts. Leave comments on their posts, ask questions during a live Q&A, share their content on your page, and simply be present. Starting discussions and cheering them on opens up others to join your Instagram community, and leaves you with followers and friends in the long run. If you’re able to provide your followers with a deeper connection beyond superficial business content, then you’re more likely to gain a loyal following that extends way beyond social media.
Fun fact: a recent Sprout study found that when customers feel connected to the brand, they’re 68% more likely to recommend it to a friend and 76% more likely to buy it over a competitor. The power of social media is so real, you guys!
3. Post consistently
As fun as it is to throw together a caption & photo last minute and cross our fingers it goes viral, there’s a high chance it won’t. We aren’t achieving our goals of reaching the masses by posting this way. In fact, most posts won’t go viral, which means you need to find a better way to get your posts in front of your main demographic.
Take a deep dive into your posting schedule. How frequently are you posting? Is your content high quality? Are you posting on the same days and times so your audience knows when to expect to see your content? Consumers like to follow brands they can rely on for great content and consistency