There is always something that can be improved and done to increase the number of followers on Instagram. As the popular slogan goes, "the sky is the limit."
But how do you increase your reach on Instagram, especially when it seems like a new, inspiring profile that everyone is talking about pops up every other moment?
Here are a few Instagram marketing hacks we recommend trying:
1. Find the optimal posting time
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Find the optimal posting time
Finding the optimal time when your followers are active can take a while, but it is important to make sure you post when most of your audience is online.
If you use a business profile on Instagram, you can check your Instagram stats to find out when your followers are most active by day of the week and time of day.
Post when most of your audience is online.
2. Hashtags matter, they just need to be chosen well
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Hashtags matter, they just need to be chosen well
You can increase your Instagram reach at no cost thanks to hashtags. But you need to choose the right ones for each post.
The ideal mix of hashtags is:
- up to 15 high-, medium-, and low-frequency ones,
- up to 4 geotags and personal tags, and
- up to 4 viral tags.
Here is a quick explanation of the types of tags:
frequency: categorized by how popular they are among users: the most popular, medium, and occasionally posted ones (all of them matter)
geotags: they help attract audiences from a desired region
personal: related to your brand, product, name, etc.
viral: the currently most popular hashtags (but they must fit your topic).
3. Be innovative and follow trends
Be innovative and follow trends
Effective strategies for increasing Instagram reach
Follow Instagram news and be the first to try new tools.
Right now it is all about posting new products in Stories, creating carousels with several photos, and going live (even if it is short, just a few minutes).
4. Organize contests and giveaways
Organize contests and giveaways
Want to increase your reach? Organize a contest with a giveaway.
It is a great way to boost engagement, which results in new followers and user-generated content. Of course, everything depends on the rules for taking part in the contest. It is worth considering ones in which users reply in a comment or tag the brand and their friends in their stories or posts.
Also make sure you follow Instagram's official guidelines when organizing giveaways and contests on your account.
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5. Repost content
Repost content
Publish content created by your followers and tag them when creating content, and there is a high chance they will repost it. Your engagement will increase and you will reach people who are not among your followers, or at least some of them ;)
6. Be engaged
Many brands make the mistake of focusing on likes and comments without considering the people behind those metrics. If you really want to gain more followers on Instagram, you need to engage your fans in conversation. If you have a chance to interact with a potential follower, you should take it. Every comment is an opportunity to gain a new follower (or keep an existing one), so make sure you reply to every comment you receive. Also browse your followers' profiles yourself and leave comments under them.
7. Share feed posts in Stories
For people who missed your post in their feed, create Stories letting them know there is something new on your main feed. This will remind them and let a broader audience see the content.
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Following the rules above will result in audience growth, which will in turn increase the reach of the content you display.
But do not forget: success is directly tied to the quality of the content you publish.
Summary
Increasing your reach on Instagram requires combining several strategies: posting at optimal times, using a varied mix of hashtags, following trends, and organizing contests that engage the community. It is also key to reply to comments and share posts in Stories, which builds relationships and reaches new audiences.
Remember that none of these techniques can replace valuable content — it is what determines lasting success and follower loyalty.
