Growth Hacking Tips to Scale Your Instagram Account in 2024
04 January, 2024
By 2024, the social media battlefield is more crowded than ever and Instagram leads by default. How will businesses or influencers be able to use growth hacking strategies? In this article, we will share growth hacking tips to grow your account and enable you to get noticed on Instagram. As one of the world’s most popular social networking services with over a billion monthly active users, Instagram has become fertile soil for anyone who knows how to use it.
Understanding the nuances of Instagram, and user behavior can help you leverage these growth hacks effectively. With the constantly changing nature of social media, becoming a trendsetter will put you one step ahead of everyone else. So, how about it? Let’s take a closer look at these growth hacks and give your 2024 Instagram strategy an overhaul. No matter whether you hire a digital marketing consultant in India or how many people are available as your own private social media department–these growth tipping points can scale your Instagram account.
Optimize your Instagram profile in the right way:
Profile Picture:
Your profile picture is the foundation of your Instagram account optimization. This goes a long way toward establishing an identity for your brand within the platform. A high-resolution picture which displays an actual likeness to either you personally (personal profiles) or your brand’s logo is important.
The image must also be cropped to fit into the 110×110 pixels provided by Instagram. But be aware that on mobile, profile pictures are only shown at 40×40 pixels (a little bit larger than thumbnails), and even a little smaller on desktop. It requires choosing a picture which retains good legibility when enlarged. The other important thing is that the profile pictures must be consistent in all social media channels. This consistency helps with brand recognition and recall, which is a good thing.
Username and Bio:
Optimization also involves thoughtful planning of your handle and bio. It’s recommended that your handle on Instagram (your username) match either your own name or the branding you’ve established for yourself, so it’s easy to find. On Instagram, usernames can be up to 30 characters long. But this space must be made use of properly in order to achieve maximum relevance and recognition.
Moving on to the bio section, this 150-character area is your chance for a quick pitch of what you or your product are all about. It should include important keywords related to your brand, industry or specialty. This will make it more likely that people searching will find their way onto the profile in question.
Furthermore, the inclusion of CTAs such as posting links to your website or most recent blog post can also greatly attract traction and conversion. What’s more, while emojis in the bio section can provide a little personality and add flavor to an overall appearance, they must be used sparingly. Otherwise it becomes unprofessional. Be it a digital marketing consultant in India or social media agency in the US, if you pick one and both of your bios are well formulated then they will leave a lasting impression on potential followers.
Create a comprehensive content strategic plan:
When trying to establish yourself on Instagram, one of the keys is surely planning and strategy. Just posting everything willy-nilly won’t get the desired effect. No matter what your niche is, as long as you make sure that the content appears both attractive and engaging, while also staying true to your brand’s narrative, it will succeed in business. Here are some tips to create a comprehensive content strategic plan for your Instagram account:
Prepare a detailed content calendar:
In creating a strategic plan for your content on Instagram, the first place to start is drawing up an outline content calendar. This will also allow you to have an orderly approach for your page, and not run out of information. A content calendar is a tool that sets dates and times for publishing types of posts, as well as highlighting special events or promotions. Follow the below steps to create an effective content calendar:
- Establish a clear sense of your target audience and their interests.
- Figuring out the ideal times to post requires understanding your audience’s demographics and habits.
- Plan what kind of content you’ll be posting, including photos and videos as well as stories.
- Include key dates or events affecting your company or industry.
- Work out a timetable for each post, captions and hashtags.
- Automate posts with tools such as Hootsuite, Later and the like.
So when you are planning your calendar, try to stay flexible. Mix it up a bit as different types of posts will keep things fresh and interesting for readers. That will also allow you to target a larger audience, because different people are affected by different types of content.
Diversifying the content creation:
No matter if you’re working with the best digital marketer in India, or have a department of your own content creators on staff– experimenting with your approach to marketing is fundamental. This means experimenting with different types of content and formats, such as photos, videos, stories, reels, etc. Below are the different types of content that you can post on Instagram:
- Image carousel: In addition to posting one photo, you can also post a carousel directly (up 10 photos or videos per post). This is a great way to show various products or illustrate a story right out there in the open.
- Video content: You’ll be able to produce various kinds of videos-such as tutorials, behind the scene footage, product demos and so on. Play around with different lengths so that you find out what your audience likes best.
- Stories: Stories are the perfect avenue for quick updates and interactive engagement with your audience via Insta? Polls, questions, quizzes and similar features provide ways for you to solicit feedback from your followers.
- Reels: Reels also support music, filters, effects and text overlays to allow you to have even more fun with your videos. Reels are being used by brands to display their products or services in entertaining fashion and expand reach.
- IGTV: This functionality can be used for creating detailed how-tos, interviews or vlogs that add value to your subscribers. Writing an attractive title and description will make your video easier to find, as well.
- Live streaming: Streaming live lets you interact with your viewers and receive instant feedback. Hold Q&A sessions, product launches or even invite other creators for an in-person live.
Find the right posting schedule:
Posting regularly on Instagram is no less important, because it lets your followers know that you are active and invites new fans. However, the posting schedule is hard to find because it depends on audience demographics. Play around with different times and days on which to post, so you know when your audience is most active.
There are many tools out there that can analyze your posting schedule and advise you on when to post. Another approach is to keep an eye on your target audience’s activity via Instagram Insights and adapt accordingly. You should try posting at various frequencies and see which one works best.
Using popular Instagram features that bring growth:
Instagram Stories:
Stories are the most convenient and fastest mode of communication with your readers. You can post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, so your profile is always updated and active. You can use stories to give people a behind-the-scenes look, announce new products or deals, do surveys and even hold discussions. To make the most out of Instagram Stories, follow the below technical tips:
- Stories using hashtags and location tags have greater reach.
- Incorporate interactive features, such as polls, question stickers and quizzes to interact with readers.
- Take advantage of the swipe-up function to merge links into your website or any other outside link directly from your story.
- Use creative filters and effects to add visual interest.
- Tag other accounts who might be interested in the story to help with cross-promoting.
Businesses will be able to use Instagram Stories as a way of strengthening their connection with the audience and getting them in for more. Indeed–as people are so keen to interact with genuine content that they can identify with, Stories are an ideal way for your brand’s personality to shine.
IGTV:
IGTV is another strong suit of Instagram that enables users to post long-form videos up to an hour in length. Excellent for detailed how-tos, backstage access shows, product introductions or even interviews. Here are some tips to optimize IGTV for growth on Instagram:
- Take advantage of the cover photo function to enhance your own video.
- Put useful hashtags in the description text of your IGTV video to make yourself more easily searchable.
- Come up with catchy captions that get viewers interested and keep them watching the video to completion.
- Work with other accounts or influencers to achieve a more effective reach.
That’s when you can use IGTV series to keep your audience entertained and returning for more. If utilized effectively, IGTV can allow you to use your brand’s personality and get closer with audiences. No matter whether it is how-to videos or product demonstrations, IGTV gives you more space to remind people of your brand’s content.
Smartly using hashtags and captions:
The two best ways to get your content out there would be through the use of hashtags and captions. By using a few appropriate hashtags, you can cast out far beyond your follower base and get the attention of prospects.
How to use Hashtags correctly?
Your hashtags must be appropriate, narrow and in relevance with the content. Tools like Hashtagify or displaypurposes.com can help you determine what hashtags will best suit your content. Besides that, look up what hashtags your competitors are using and insert them into your posts. Below are some considerations that you should keep in mind while using hashtags:
- You need to use a combination of mainstream and specialist hashtags if you want your content seen by everyone.
- Be sure to update your hashtags and keep them relevant.
- Do not use hashtags that have nothing to do with your posts or are even banned, since they will damage your credibility.
Crafting effective captions:
Your captions are a chance for you to tell some sort of story and communicate with the audience. Take advantage of this space — write dynamically, behind-the-scenes content or ask questions to solicit interactivity. Below are some tips for crafting engaging captions:
- Make it brief and compelling.
- Add emojis to liven up the text and make it more readable.
- Put hashtags in the caption and not just in comments.
- Prompt viewers to get involved by ending your post with a question, call-to-action or both.
- Adding appropriate keywords will increase the likelihood of your post showing up in search results.
Engage audience with Instagram contests:
A wide presence isn’t enough, you also have to make sure your audience is paying attention. Holding an Instagram contest is also a good way of encouraging interaction and getting more followers. Examples of such contests include user-generated content competitions, captioning instructional videos or giveaway instructions. Below are some popular types of Instagram contests:
- Like-to-win: Participants need to vote on whether they like your post in order to enter the contest.
- Tag-a-friend: To enter the contest, participants leave their names in comments and tag a friend.
- Hashtag contests: If participants wish to enter the contest they must use a designated hashtag on their own posts. This can raise brand awareness, and increase user-generated content.
- User-generated content contests: To enter the contest, participants have to post a photo or video of themselves using a certain hashtag. This can also facilitate branding and user interaction.
Be sure to clearly describe the rules and procedures of showing your contest, as well as prizes that will be awarded. In addition, you can partner with other companies or influencers to cast a wider reach and increase the impact of your contest. Therefore, don’t be afraid to get silly when hosting your very own Instagram contest.
Niche-specific influencers collaboration:
Working with niche-oriented influencers is a great way to find your target audience and pick up new followers. They also have authentic audiences who follow their recommendations and are more likely to be paying attention when your brand shows up. Search out a couple of influencers in your field who are compatible with the value and image of your brand. Then offer them a collaboration sponsored post, takeover or contest giveaway, product sale and so on. It not only helps to extend your brand’s influence and credibility, but can also attract potential customers or followers who are truly interested in what you offer.
Getting the right influencers to represent your brand is important, and can be done with assistance from the best digital marketer in India. They will also help you in terms of end-to-end implementation and monitoring, to get the most out of your cooperation. In addition, it can also be a good way to get high quality UGC (user-generated content) about your brand that you post onto the company’s own account on Instagram.
Leveraging Instagram Ads:
Offering a range of different ad formats, it represents an excellent opportunity for businesses to get their message out there. Types of Instagram ads that you can use for your brand:
Instagram Photo Ads
These are shown as a post in users ‘timelines and allow you to present an entire product or service encapsulated into one image. Photo ads should be in either JPG or PNG format. Technical specifications are a maximum resolution of 1936×1936 pixels.
Instagram Video Ads
These ads are as long as 60 seconds and show automatically in users’ feeds. Videos must be in MP4 format, with size no more than 4GB and a resolution of at least 600×600.
Carousel Ads
Users can scroll through a series of images or videos in carousel ads. Carousel ads can feature up to 10 images or videos, all of which must meet the technical specifications for photo and video ad formats.
Story Ads
Story ads are great for building an experience. Story and technical specifications specify a resolution of 1080×1920, and limited to files no larger than about thirty million megabytes for photos or four gigabytes for videos.
Instagram Collection and Shopping Ads
These ads place a catalog of business products directly within the collection feature used by consumers. On the other hand, shopping ads let users buy products directly from the ad.
Wrapping up!!
The growing popularity suggests that in 2024 the currently rapid growth of Instagram will not slow, which makes it an excellent platform for companies to target their consumers. You must use the scale of your brand to build a successful followership for its profile on Instagram. If you want to stay ahead of the game in social media marketing, think of these growth hacker tips as an arrow pointed toward your future. Moreover, if you don’t have an in-house team, consider working with a professional digital marketing consultant in India.
FAQs
How do I grow my Instagram followers in 2024?
To grow your Instagram following, 2024 demands a strategy. Take advantage of growth hacking techniques like maximizing your profile, producing quality content and using hashtags to catch the attention of potential fans.
How can I grow my Instagram account for free?
The only truly sure-fire way to organically build your Instagram is to stick with the basics, posting top-notch content regularly and interacting with other users while using hashtags and any number of techniques aimed at boosting exposure.
How can I grow my Instagram account overnight?
It’s not possible to grow one’s instagram overnight. Instead, what’s important is to devise long-term and short-term growth strategies as well as continually optimizing your profile and content so that you can draw new followers over time. In fact, there are digital marketing consultants in India who can give you the required assistance to grow your Instagram.
Why is my Instagram account not growing?
If your account isn’t getting any growth, it could be because you aren’t posting interesting content regularly or using hashtags. Take a step back, reassess your strategy and course-correct to add new fans and better communicate with existing ones.
How to organically grow your Instagram from scratch?
To build up an account the old-fashioned way from scratch, you must work hard at producing content, interacting with other users and using matching hashtags. Or team up with influencers or host giveaways to raise your profile and pull in new fans. Organic growth requires proper consistency.
How can you grow your personal account on Instagram in 2024?
The overriding consideration in creating a personal Instagram account is that your posts must reflect who you are and what life looks like through your eyes. Interact with other users in your chosen field, and post quality content to win followers who identify with you and the image that accompanies it.
Should I buy Instagram followers?
While buying followers can give you a quick spike in numbers, it won’t result in real interaction and will only hurt your credibility on Instagram. It’s better to concentrate on organic growth techniques that will bring in followers who are truly interested.
Is it better to have a public or private Instagram account?
This choice depends on your personal preference and what you want out of the account. A public account means more exposure and opportunities to gain new followers, a private one lets you decide who can see what. The reasons for your account should be considered before making privacy decisions.
How to get more local followers on Instagram?
To attract local followers on Instagram, use location tags for posts and interact with other users nearby. Work with local companies or participate in activities to get more exposure within your community.
Which are some good tools to grow your Instagram?
Some of the popular tools for your instagram account are Hootsuite, Later, Buffer and Sprout Social. Their tools provide services such as analysis, posting times and hashtags to give you the best advantage so that your content reaches even more people.