Simple, Proven Methods to Grow Quickly and Authentically on Instagram
As we approach the new year, we start to plan and dream about where we can take our business in 2021. At the top of that list for many creative entrepreneurs is growing our Instagram accounts.
With all of the users on Instagram, most brands have thousands of potential clients and customers hanging out on the social media platform. But it seems to become ever more difficult to grow our accounts due to industry saturation, algorithms, and just plain overwhelm.
Despite the odds, we sometimes discover new accounts who are surging with popularity.
How are they getting so much traction? What are they doing to gain followers so easily? How are they completely sold out after each product launch or shop update? What magic beans do they have that my brand is missing out on? There must be strategies they follow.
Can you relate to some of these questions and thoughts?
Well, today, I’m sharing the best methods for growing quickly and authentically on Instagram. They’re the simple techniques that all thriving accounts utilize, and I can’t wait to spill the beans with you in this blog post!
P.S. I’m hosting an Instagram Challenge starting January 18th. Sign up to grow your account and reach your Instagram goals in 2021.
Simple, Proven Methods to Grow Quickly and Authentically on Instagram
Be creative and original
When you’re running low on ideas, it’s easy to turn to other people for content inspiration. And when your Instagram account isn’t gaining much traction, it’s tempting to look around for the latest fad in hopes of getting in on the attention.
But one of the best ways to grow on Instagram is to do something original. People are always looking for new ways to be inspired, so when they see something fresh and unique, it’s much easier for them to get excited about your brand.
The more hype you can create, the more attention and engagement you’re likely to get. This, in turn, leads to quicker growth. When you gain an audience that notices your authentic approach, it means your engagement will be higher since you stand out in your industry. Your followers will care about your creativity and will be much more likely to check up on your profile and stories to see what’s new from you.
So don’t just do what everyone else is doing, or try keep up with other accounts; it’s best to carve out your own path and stand out by being unique with the content you create.
I designed an Instagram Marketing and Content Planner to help creative entrepreneurs, bloggers, and influencers map out one-of-a-kind ideas for their accounts. So if you’re on the hunt for a helpful tool, feel free to take a look at it below.
Specialize, and stay focused
You may have heard the phrase, “stay in your lane.” It describes the importance of sticking to one specialization in order to stand out, to be seen as genuine, and to grow a following.
It sometimes might sound a little jarring because people often say it on Instagram when they’re tired of seeing copy-cats and competition ripping off others ideas in order to get in on the hype.
But on the flip side, it is a true statement about growth. When you put all of your focus into one thing—whether a service, product, topic, approach, or idea—it lets you become known for that. Others begin to notice and follow along, and they identify you with that specialization.
In fact, this is one of the keys to growth for your entire business and brand—not just for Instagram. It’s one of my favorite strategies to help clients with here at Ponder Trail because it’s what sets you apart from everyone else in your field.
Not only does specializing help you stand out, but it also makes your competition irrelevant because what you offer is specific to your brand alone. So be sure to use the same principle for your social media content.
When it comes to Instagram, it’s okay to pursue more than one idea, but it’s helpful to focus on one at a time so you can see it through to the end. Then, move onto the next idea.
This shows that you’re authentic and professional and not just a brand throwing spaghetti on the wall, trying one idea after the next. So put yourself in the driver seat of ideas, and break away from the urge to do “all the things” with this simple, yet crucial, tip for Instagram growth.
Create high quality content
We’re bombarded with content online everywhere we look these days. This is especially true for Instagram because everyone is trying to get in on the benefits that come from a thriving account.
Not only does that make it more difficult for us to weed through images, videos, and captions in our own searches, but it makes it harder for others to find the Instagram content we create.
If we want to stand out and grow on Instagram, it’s important to publish content that is high in quality and value. Avoid publishing photos and videos just to stay ahead of the game, and avoid throwing up a half-hearted post each day just to stay on track of a posting schedule.
It’ll take time away from you, and it probably won’t benefit anyone. In fact, it will likely scare people away because it might seem spammy.
Instead, it’s much more beneficial to publish content that is strictly valuable for your ideal customer or client. People want to get something out of the people they follow (and they’re likely already following some great accounts), so be sure to put out awesome and genuine content.
Show up consistently
Once someone notices your original content and sees the value they get from your posts, they will likely hit the follow button. Once they do that, they’re ready and expecting to hear from you regularly.
But if they’re greeted with silence, they’ll likely forget about your account as it gets buried under Instagram’s algorithm.
The algorithm currently prioritizes content that your followers like engaging with. So you don’t want to miss out on the chance to stay on the top of their feed once you have a new subscriber.
This is why it’s crucial to show up consistently on Instagram.
It might sound a bit overwhelming to have Instagram on your to-do list every single day, but not to worry: I have some tricks up my sleeve that I’ll be sharing in my Instagram Challenge in just a few short weeks! So be sure to sign up below.
And to give you a little sneak peek, I will be showing you how to create daily Story videos without even spending 5 minutes on the app—and without filming each day. Hint: it includes one of my favorite time-saving strategies: batching.
Stay tuned, and sign up here:
Reach out, and respond
Another fundamental for speedy and authentic growth is to engage with your followers and other accounts.
Make the effort to reach out and build relationships with potential clients and customers. It’s also important to connect with others in your industry if it makes sense for your brand. When you network and make genuine friendships, you can help each other grow by sharing each other’s content and getting your brands out there.
In the same manner, when someone takes the time to leave a comment or share one of your posts, the best way to nurture that new relationship is to say “thank you.” So be sure to respond to each and every comment or message you receive.
You never want your followers to be greeted with crickets when they make the effort to connect with you or share your content. That doesn’t build trust, and it can make you seem less than genuine.
It’s also helpful to take it a step farther by leaving a few comments back to that person on their Instagram profile to give them some engagement, too.
Responding back and forth might seem simple, or it might sound time-consuming, but it is so important to show that you prioritize and care about cultivating friendships. It’s also the basis of growing an Instagram following and community.
Of course, don’t feel discouraged if you haven’t kept up with comments in the past. You can always reach back out or just take a new step forward.
And if you have floods of comments coming in, it can be difficult to stay on top of every response. That comes with the territory of growing, and it’s okay to ease away from responding once you move into that new phase.
But for starters, be sure you respond to every comment and message you receive, and make sure you reach out to others on the platform.
Create and follow a marketing strategy
With so much competition on Instagram, we can only hope to grow if our content is high-quality and helpful to our followers.
That’s where having an Instagram strategy and plan can help you; it ensures each piece of content you create has a purpose for both your business and your followers.
A defined marketing plan also helps you stay focused so you can select which of your ideas to pursue. It’s often easy to brainstorm ideas and want to implement all of them at once. But the key is to map out a path with key ideas that link together and lead you to an authentic Instagram account.
This is key for both swift and longterm growth.
So keep your audience’s time and needs in mind when you set out to create something to share. A high-quality account is the best way to get people onboard with your brand so they show up again and again looking for more.
Join the 2021 Instagram Challenge
And that’s why I am hosting the Ponder Trail Instagram Challenge this January.
Want to level-up your Instagram account and see fast and genuine growth this coming year? Join me along with hundreds of other creatives as we elevate our Instagrams, set goals, and benefit our businesses in 2021. It would be great to have you!