Keep reading to learn ten different strategies you can use to grow your real<\/em> follower count on Instagram and drive real<\/em> engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Table of Contents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your audience interacts with your Instagram content in some way \u2014 such as a like, comment, share, video view, or DM \u2014 instead of simply scrolling past, it counts as engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there is no universal way to measure Instagram engagement, an accepted way is to add up the average likes and comments that you receive per post and divide it by your total number of followers. You can also consider views, DMs, etc., based on what\u2019s important for your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Engagement is a clear sign that your Instagram content is resonating well with your audience. And that\u2019s great, but what about people who haven\u2019t yet followed you? How do you reach them effectively and compel them to follow and engage with your brand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are ten powerful ways to drive real followers and engagement on Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located under your username, your bio is prime real estate on your Instagram profile. Most potential followers who visit your profile check out your bio description first. So you better make these 150 characters count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how to craft a bio that drives more followers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your Instagram bio is equivalent to your website\u2019s homepage \u2014 it should straight away convey that this is your brand\u2019s genuine account where you actively post fresh content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use an Instagram Bio Generator<\/a> to quickly and easily create an effective and memorable bio for your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back up your bio with a high-resolution logo. Sprinkle a few emojis as an alternative to bullet points if it fits your brand\u2019s style, but don\u2019t overboard with emoji usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your in-bio link is the only way to drive people to see your website or a particular landing page, so use it wisely. Instead of always pointing to your homepage, it\u2019s a good idea to change the link anytime you wish to increase sign-ups for an event, showcase a new product launch, or even attract visitors when you start a blog<\/a> for content promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also include a branded hashtag that tells people which hashtag to include in their posts to catch your attention. And when anyone clicks on the hashtag, they\u2019ll see user-generated content from your fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read that subheading again, with an emphasis on for you<\/em> \u2014 you\u2019ll often find people saying that a specific time and day is ideal to get the best possible engagement and reach for your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In truth, however, there is no all-embracing answer to the question \u201cwhat\u2019s the best time to post on Instagram?\u201d. You\u2019ll have to experiment with different posting times and track engagement to figure out the best times for your <\/em>audience and niche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram makes this easy. Use Instagram Insights (available on the Instagram mobile app) to learn more about your followers (age group, gender, most active times, etc.) and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On your business profile, tap \u201cInsights\u201d, scroll to \u201cYour Audience\u201d, and then click \u201cSee All.\u201d At the bottom, you\u2019ll find your audience\u2019s most active times.<\/p>\n\n\n Next, think about when your content will be most relevant. For instance, a quick follow-along workout video may garner more engagement outside of work hours when people are likely trying to squeeze in a workout session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides using this feature, it\u2019s a good idea to do your own research on audience behavior (for example, check out your competitors\u2019 post timings vs. engagement) and survey your customers about their social media preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you find the ideal times to post for your particular audience, use social media scheduling tools<\/a> to plan, schedule, and automate your Instagram posting and get detailed analytics reports on your content performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A recent study<\/a> across 14 industries suggests that on average, businesses share four Instagram posts per week. Aiming for this number is a good starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But ideally, to gain more followers and engagement, the more you post, the merrier. If you\u2019re able to share one post daily, you\u2019ll likely see far better results. That\u2019s because the more content you put out, the more opportunities you have to be noticed and shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That being said, quality is always a priority over quantity. Never cut corners in terms of quality just to get something out daily. And it\u2019s safe to say that Instagram success is all about posting visually enchanting content, so consider using high-quality photo editing software<\/a> to create stunning images rather than posting plain, unexciting photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Put simply, establish a posting schedule<\/a> that keeps you on track to post at least four to five days a week without compromising quality. As you gain traction, try to take it up to one post daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, be dynamic with your content types. Over the years, the platform has evolved greatly, with new ways to share content such as Stories, IGTV, and Reels. Take Instagram Reels for example \u2014 announced in August 2020<\/a>, Reels is one of the newest content types and Instagram always pushes its new features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since its launch, Reels has taken over a good chunk of the Explore page and appears larger than standard photo posts. With over 200 million people <\/a>visiting the Explore page each day, that extra visual real estate can substantially boost the number of people you reach.<\/p>\n\n\n Similarly, Stories is now one of the most popular Instagram features that lets you publish quick daily visuals that disappear after 24 hours. Stories are easy to post without needing much prep, show up on the top of your followers\u2019 homepage, and prove that you\u2019re an active brand.<\/p>\n\n\n Experimenting with a mix of content formats not only enables you to reach different audience segments with different preferences (and thus gain more followers) but also helps you solve the common puzzle \u201cwhat to post on Instagram\u201d and ultimately, stay consistent in posting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you can find full-fledged guides on beating the Instagram algorithm, at its core, the Instagram algorithm essentially favors content that satisfies the following six signals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The algorithm strives to showcase content that\u2019s more engaging for each individual user. So the more engagement (likes, comments, and shares) you\u2019re able to garner, the more likely your latest content will be discovered by potential followers. Be sure to initiate conversations (see Knix\u2019s example<\/a> below) with your posts and respond to comments.<\/p>\n\n\n Besides staying in the know about the latest deals and discounts, one of the biggest reasons people follow brands on social media is to know more about their personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram is not the place to constantly post sales pitches, and potential followers would likely never hit the follow button if that\u2019s all you have to offer. Instead, think about your brand voice<\/a> and showcase that in your Instagram content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t already, think of your brand as an individual and ask yourself \u2014 what\u2019s your brand\u2019s personality? Is it playful and cheeky? Or is it inspiring and straightforward? Keep that voice consistent across all your content marketing, be it on Instagram or your website\u2019s blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And regardless of what kind of brand voice you adopt, your content should reflect your brand\u2019s passion for its mission. Though they\u2019re niche rivals, both of these brand\u2019s voices work well to attract and retain their individual audience. So, be original with your voice and incorporate it in all your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gorgeous visuals work to capture your audience\u2019s attention \u2014 amazing captions work to keep it. Use these 2,200 characters available to give more context to the photo or video you post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few tips to write great Instagram captions<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, make sure to diversify your captions so they don\u2019t feel robotic and automated. Try different formats such as question-answers, recommendation requests, personal stories, tag-a-friend, share-your-content, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n And while it\u2019s a good idea to keep the caption crisp and to the point, try different lengths based on your sharing content. For example, long captions may work well for descriptive stories, while short and snappy ones may better showcase a product. The sweet spot of engaging caption length<\/a> is in the 500-1,000 and 1,000-2,000 characters range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re looking for an easy way to generate great Instagram captions, our free Instagram Caption Generator<\/a> can help. And if you don’t feel like writing your own caption, check out our list of 377 ready-made captions for Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, and don\u2019t forget to…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hashtags are similar to keywords in the sense that they help users find content on a particular topic. They are typically used in the captions or comments of a post and when included sensibly, they can help your content reach a larger audience, thus improving your brand\u2019s visibility and odds of gaining new followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the right hashtags, your content is more discoverable via search or filtering when users tap on the hashtag from another post. Users can also follow hashtags on their favorite topics and the top content with that hashtag will show up in their Instagram feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, if you wish for your post to reach people who are into running but are also mothers, you could use the hashtag #runningmom. And as mentioned earlier, creating and promoting a branded hashtag (such as Lululemon\u2019s #thesweatlife<\/a>) in your bio and posts is a smart way to encourage your community to produce free, user-generated content.<\/p>\n\n\n Mention\u2019s latest report<\/a> suggests that the average Instagram post has 6.93 hashtags, but the optimal number of hashtags to get the highest engagement rate is just one. So just because you can include up to 30 hashtags in an Instagram caption, doesn\u2019t mean you should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for a quick way to find relevant Instagram hashtags? Check out our free Instagram Hashtag Generator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See below how LEGO uses hashtags<\/a> that are relevant to both the post and the brand (#LEGO). They also use a neat blend of popular and specialized hashtags. #Holidays, for example, has over 60 million posts associated with it. #RebuildTheWorld has just under ten thousand posts, and many of them are LEGO-related. Also, #ChristmasDecor is a more niche, targeted hashtag.<\/p>\n\n\n So, create relevant, targeted hashtags<\/a> with smaller, yet still sizeable followings rather than only using all the popular generic hashtags on a broad topic. Also, it\u2019s a good idea to group your go-to hashtags by category so you can readily add a few relevant ones to each post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An effective way to reach new audiences and gain followers is to join forces with influencers in your niche who already have a notable following. But standard influencers with a near-celebrity status and hundreds of thousands of followers often have exorbitant price tags per promotional post and often, low engagement rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So your better bet is to collaborate with micro-influencers<\/a> \u2014 who have a smaller but stronger social following of between 1,000 to 100,000 followers and are regarded as trustworthy experts in their niche. Some examples include travel vloggers, food bloggers, fitness enthusiasts, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are considered more authentic and have more intimate relations with their followers. They connect on a much deeper level with their audience and thus, have far better engagement rates<\/a>. Plus, you can easily figure out if their follower base and engagement are real or fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So with a micro-influencer, you can have a low-budget (such as by offering your best product or subscription for free) yet a highly impactful partnership that may also turn that luminary into your brand advocate for years to come. The collaboration exposes your brand to a bigger audience in the right light and boosts engagement for your content.<\/p>\n\n\n Besides, such partnerships give you a chance to showcase your brand\u2019s values and personality through association, as the people you associate with say a lot about your own brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out how Mention can help you find the best influencers to work with!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t limit your efforts to promoting your business on Instagram<\/a> only. If you have a respectable following on other social platforms, a decent-sized email list, or steady website traffic, try to funnel those people to your Instagram profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make it easy for people to find your Instagram, by adding your account\u2019s link to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many businesses feature their Instagram accounts through live feeds as well, as Casper<\/a> does below. This also helps boost their social proof and may encourage the visitor to give the brand a follow.<\/p>\n\n\n Last but not least, location tagging on Instagram is a useful feature you can use to gain more followers for your local business. Instagram is a platform for discovering new products, travel destinations, retail brands, cafes, etc. \u2014 and many users geotag their posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you tag your post with a location, it has the potential to surface when a user searches the location or keyword under the Places tab. Not only does this bring you more local exposure but posts with a tagged location result in 79% higher engagement<\/a> than posts without a tagged location.<\/p>\n\n\n And so, include your whereabouts whenever you can across all content types \u2014 carousel posts, videos, Stories, Reels, etc. Also, create a location tag for your business. Once people start to check into it, you can see all posts tagged with it and learn how your local community is talking about your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any strategy is only as good as its execution. It\u2019s time to put all these points into practice. While you\u2019re at it, check out our latest Instagram Engagement Report<\/a> that features data and insights collected from over 100 million Instagram posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s time to start growing your Instagram today! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
What is Instagram engagement and why do you need it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Strategies to grow your Instagram followers today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Optimize your bio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Check out Mention\u2019s Instagram bio<\/a> below for inspiration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1-optimize-your-bio-1024x488.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n2. Find the best time for you to post on Instagram<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2-find-the-best-time-for-you-to-post-on-instagra.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n3. Post regularly and dynamically<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/3-post-regularly-and-dynamically.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/3-post-regularly-and-dynamically-2.gif\")
4. Become familiar with the Instagram algorithm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/4-become-familiar-with-the-instagram-algorithm-1024x669.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n5. Showcase your brand voice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For instance, Kate Spade<\/a> and Privacy Please<\/a> are direct competitors with opposite brand voices. The former has a more inspiring personality, whereas the latter has a rather edgy one.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/5-showcase-your-brand-voice-1024x313.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/5-showcase-your-brand-voice-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n6. Write amazing captions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/6-write-amazing-captions-1024x728.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/6-write-amazing-captions-2-1024x738.jpg\")
7. Use smart hashtags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/7-use-smart-hashtags-1024x601.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/7-use-smart-hashtags-2-1024x718.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n8. Collaborate with influencers and brand advocates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-collaborate-with-influencers-and-brand-advocates-1024x717.jpg\")
9. Promote your Instagram everywhere<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/9-promote-your-instagram-everywhere-1024x516.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/9-promote-your-instagram-everywhere-2-1024x442.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n10. Don\u2019t be afraid to get local<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/10-dont-be-afraid-to-get-local.jpg\")
Time to Grow Your \u2018Gram<\/h2>\n\n\n\n