More than 500 million people surf Instagram every day, and interest in social media is at an all-time high. The proportion of daily active content creators is comparatively small. You have an Instagram page and want to promote it more actively?
In the following article, we want to show you how to use Instagram most effectively and build an active community over time.
1. use the right hashtags
After you have created your content, it’s time to present it to the community and at the same time introduce new people for whom this post could be equally interesting.
Using hashtags makes it easier for people searching for specific posts to find your content.
Which hashtags you should use depends heavily on your niche and should always be analyzed in advance. There are many free online tools that can help you analyze the right hashtags, as well as it’s always worth taking a look at your competitors.
Refrain from using a huge number of hashtags, it affects the readability of your posts and can have a negative impact on their reach.
2. timing of the posts
In addition to using the right hashtags, you should also consider the timing of your posts.
One approach is to analyze what has and hasn’t worked for you in the past. Another approach is to work with a marketing agency. This can track and analyze your data and provide you with valuable insights and tips.
3. collaboration with other Creator
Classically according to the motto: “Team work makes the dream work!”
Get together with other creatives from your niche and collaborate on joint concepts. There are many ways to contact them, be it via direct message on the platform or at trade shows and events.
Possible concepts could include challenges, sweepstakes, or a joint content project.
4. influencer marketing & sponsored ads
Influencer marketing and sponsored ads can help you reach a broad audience tailored to your niche.
With Sponsored Ads, you can use audience-specific targeting to determine in advance who your posts are of interest to, and the platform will show your post primarily to that audience. This has the advantage that you reach exactly the people you want to reach.
If you don’t have the resources to do this, you have the option of getting support from an agency there and using their pool of content creators.
5. trends
Whether it’s a trending topic or a current event, aligning your content with trends can increase engagement on your platforms and generate viral reach. A good example from the past of this is the
Ice Bucket Challenge.
Influencers from all over the world cooled down for a good cause. See for yourself:
6. story highlights
Once a user interacts with your content and subsequently visits your site, they should immediately recognize the value your site offers and have access to content that your community has enjoyed so far.
One approach to solving this is Instagram’s Story Highlight feature. There you can immortalize your favorite stories and make them accessible in the upper part of the profile.
7. optimize your layout
Your audience doesn’t just follow you for your past content, they want to know what you’re planning for the future and what ideas you’re pursuing. It should be obvious at first glance what content to expect on your page and what it’s all about.
Pro tip: Look at your last 9 posts and analyze the first impression when visiting your site. How do filters, posts, and the site’s structure work for you?
Do you feel your own content speaks to you?
The layout of your page is an underrated way to increase engagement on your own platforms.
8. continuity
Do you follow a certain rhythm or consistent strategy when posting? You’ll save a lot of time and effort if you prepare a portion of your posts and share them in a consistent rhythm.
An example of a well-known Instagram blogger is ” New Music Friday”. Every Friday, the Content Creator presents his new favorite songs just in time for the weekend.
Due to the continuity of its content, a large following of this format has formed, which illustrates the importance of planning and perseverance.
9. content strategy
To stand out from the crowd of content creators, good content is the key to success. You should make a plan for what content you want to post and when, and constantly think about new formats.
Pay attention to what language the platform currently speaks. Using Instagram as an example, it is currently easy to see that reels are now primarily centered as content from earlier image series. Integrate this into your strategy and your reach on Instagram will increase significantly.
10. authenticity
Perhaps the most important point. Be yourself. It’s refreshing to see a content creator on fire for their topic and not pretending.
Authentic content and eye-level insights will help you build your own community.
Show glimpses behind the scenes, that is super authentic and also shows once the unglamorous side of the Creator everyday life.
