As the New Year has kicked in, content creators and influencers are looking at ways to get their Instagram feed to that next level. Even as a nano-influencer or micro-influencer, you may also be looking at ways you can develop your page to grow your following and look appealing to brands you’re interested in working with.
Here are some simple steps you need to take this 2023 in order to see your following grow from 100-10,000 with hard work and dedication.
Hard work & dedication
This is the first thing you need to think about when working on your Instagram following is to keep up the hard work and make sure you’re dedicated to posting content online. This is also about consistency – in order to grow, you have to be consistent with what you’re posting.
TASK: Think about when you post on Instagram. Go onto your insights and check what date and what time most of your followers are on Instagram. Your insights are there to help you and do the work for you so you have the simpler tasks of just posting!
1 Post a day makes the followers stay
No one likes to follow a person who hardly posts on their feed or on their stories. Make sure you’re keeping active on your page with at least one post a day, especially if you’re starting the influencer and content creator business. This is also important as you are going up against the rest of the world who are on Instagram and who is posting. You have to stay on top of people’s feeds whether that be on your followers’ home feed or on a new person’s homepage.
TIP: Instagram is always updating and changing with new posts which is why you would want to stay on top, and again, be consistent with your posts.
Clickable content
It’s one thing to post content, but it’s another thing to get it right. Don’t just post for the sake of it, make sure you’re posting content that is interesting, captivating, and unique as it will make you stand out from the rest.
TIP: Spend one full day creating bulk content. This could be creating different fashion looks or creating makeup looks. Once you have finished, you can edit the content you have made and schedule it for the week – that is a week’s content done in just a few hours!
Stay true to your niche
If you’ve gone slightly off-topic on what your page is about or looking to try something different, or still finding out what you would like to post, then jot down some ideas. Think about what you enjoy and what content you like creating to get you back on track. Some people say it doesn’t matter what or who your niche is, but we like structure and so does social media!
TIP: By tightening your niche, you are more searchable online.
TASK: Ask your followers about your story. Doing your own market research by asking your followers rather than guessing is the perfect way to understand what they want to see.
Reel your Reels
Instagram has been spending a lot of time on making Reels better and therefore you should spend time working on them! Reels are a great way to get seen and be heard on Instagram and have proven to grow followers dramatically. However, remember our previous point of creating clickable content? Don’t just create videos for the sake of it, put thought into what you’re creating no matter how simple it is as that is what will set you apart from the rest.
TASK: If you don’t have any idea what to post, then do a “day in the life of” – create short videos, and put them together with a voiceover or music. Everyone likes to see what you’re doing and how you’re spending your day!
Update your bio
Make sure your bio is straight to the point and get rid of the fluff. You want to make it really clear what your profile is about as soon as someone clicks on your page. They should know who you are, and what you’re posting. They’re not interested in how many members you have in your family or about you collecting stamps (well, the stamp one they might), but they care more about what they will get out of your profile once they have left it.
THINK: when you have gone off someone’s profile, do you feel like you have taken anything away or learned anything? If the answer is yes, then do the same for your own profile. Is it just pretty to look at or are you giving someone something they can take away with them?
TASK: Switch to a professional account, add your title (for example, Digital Creator), where you reside (UAE), and what you’re posting (fashion content & style tips).
Collaborate with creators
Is there an influencer or content creator that you have been following for a while and would like to create content with? Why not reach out to them and ask? You don’t have anything to lose and might actually have a lot to gain. Collaborating with others opens up your network and pushes your profile/content out further.
TIP: Don’t be scared to ask. Would you rather live with fear or regret?
Message brands
Similar to messaging your favourite creator or influencer, message brands and collaborate with them. You’re not going to get far just by sitting and scrolling through your phone! You have to take action! Brands, especially start-up brands want to grow their profile, so you will be doing a favour for both of you!
TIP: Make sure you do research into the brand so it aligns with your profile. Once you’re ready to send the message, ensure you have told the brand that you are inspired by their page and want to help them grow. Make it about them rather than you.
Engage with your audience
Imagine complimenting someone on their post and not getting a response. Now imagine you comment on a post and get a response from the influencer, celebrity, or creator. What was the difference in feeling? You probably felt more excited or appreciative that the person got back to you rather than just being silent.
It is so important to engage with your followers and listen to what they have to say. It might not mean much to you, but the personal touches matter to them. If others see you are engaging with your followers, they are more likely to follow you knowing they will get a response.
Giveaways
Everyone loves a giveaway no matter if it’s big or small. Why not put a bundle together, depending on your niche, and people to like the post, share it with others and follow your page. Giving people a giveaway is a good insentive for them to follow your page as they will look out for more giveaways.
TIP: Make it into a monthly incentive for your followers – it’s a naughty way of getting followers!
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate Marketing is a great way to make money as well as promoting your page. If you are new to the term, it means to promote a product (relevant to your page) with a code that your followers can use. This code which is usually a discount code will give your followers money off the product and with every purchase, you will get paid.
Not only is it a great way of making money, but you also get to work with brands who create a code for you, and also gain followers as who doesn’t love a good discount?
Hopefully this guide will help you get your following up dramatically if you are consistent with it. 2023 is your year and we can’t wait to see what you do with it!
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