Welcome to the exciting world of Instagram in 2023! As the platform continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve. To enhance your success on this visual storytelling community, you need to understand its current state and future prospects. With over one billion users, the potential for achievement on Instagram is vast. So, let’s explore these 9 strategies for growing your Instagram in 2023.
Strategies for Growing Your Instagram
Leverage Instagram Reels for Growth
Instagram is one of the world’s top 10 most-visited websites with 4.25 billion total visits per month. To grow on this platform, one must utilize Instagram Reels, which is the best place to grow creatively and increase your community. Currently, users spend about 20% of their time on the app watching Reels, making it the fastest-growing format.
It’s worth mentioning that sharing content across various formats such as Reels, Stories, Instagram Video, etc. can help you reach a new audience and expand your touch. However, photo posts are the least likely to get in front of new eyes, so it’s better to focus on video content.
Note that Instagram has a staggering 1.386 billion daily active users, placing it only behind Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Although it currently leads TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, and Snapchat, 2023 may bring changes as TikTok’s growth surges.
Finding the Ideal Rhythm
To drive success on Instagram, it’s crucial to maintain and engage your existing followers while attracting new ones. The key is to consistently provide valuable content that keeps them interested, but not overwhelming their feeds.
A healthy balance, according to Instagram’s Creator Week in June 2021, is a couple of posts per week and a few Stories a day. Nevertheless, finding the right rhythm for your brand may require experimentation, and it’s always wise to monitor your Instagram analytics to gauge the effectiveness of your strategies.
On Instagram, the gender split showcases a near equal representation with 52.2% male users and 47.8% female users, as per available metadata reporting options. This change from a previously female-dominant audience highlights the platform’s relevance for targeting a diverse range of genders.
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation!
Niche Emphasis on Quality Accounts
Instagram’s algorithm considers multiple signals when suggesting content to users. Engaging with relevant accounts in your niche and attracting high-value accounts in your field to follow you can increase your chances of appearing in in-feed recommendations. With 249 million users in India, followed by 147 million in the US, Instagram offers access to a global audience.
Well, understanding where your ideal customers are located and what kind of material resonates with them is essential for effective content creation on the platform.
Building Stronger Bonds with Your Audience
To effectively convert Reels’ new viewers into dedicated followers, be proactive in your engagement efforts by consistently liking, commenting, and sharing their posts.
Enlarge interaction by asking thought-provoking questions through Story stickers or by replying with your own Reels videos.
Moreover, respond to Direct Messages promptly and utilize tools such as Hootsuite’s Inbox to manage your team. This level of active involvement will trigger the algorithm, maintain your content’s visibility among followers, and decrease the likelihood of unfollows.
It’s vital to keep in mind that, on average, users spend 11.7 hours per month on Instagram, making it the fifth most widely used social media platform.
Avoid purchasing followers as the algorithm can detect fake engagement and result in consequences.
Opt for Relevant Hashtags
The appropriate hashtags can broaden your reach in three ways: by appearing on related hashtag pages, in Instagram search results, and in the main feeds of users who are interested in your subject area.
Furthermore, Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post and 10 per story, but it is advisable to use between 3-5 hashtags to characterize your business, product, or service. The best hashtags are not necessarily the most well-known or widely used, but rather specific, targeted hashtags with less competition and a clear focus on your content.
Bear in mind that to improve your Instagram SEO, hashtags should be located in the caption, not the comments!
Creating Compelling Captions and Bio
Captions can vary from short and concise with the use of emojis, keywords, and hashtags, to lengthy narratives. In addition to content, your Instagram bio also plays a decisive role in growing your following.
Ensure your handle and profile name are clear and suitable, with the option to incorporate keywords. Also, use the 150 characters in your bio to describe yourself and your brand.
Remember, adding a location, if relevant, can also help build a local following and connect with other native businesses.
Align with key opinion leaders.
Partnering with Instagram creators can be a potent way to advance your brand. It presents an opportunity to connect with a particular, involved audience and also gain fresh content ideas and prospects.
Plus, you can discover brand-aligned creators with the aid of social listening techniques. Instagram’s Creator Marketplace, currently in testing, is another tool to help connect with pertinent creators by streamlining communication between brands and makers.
Branded content created by authors should feel authentic and not like an advertisement, though it must be properly labeled as such. Opt for creators who are passionate about your brand and can genuinely share your message with their followers.
The most active brands post an average of 17 Stories per month, so busy social media managers can feel confident in taking a break and not feeling the pressure to post daily Stories content.
Timing is Key: Posting for Optimal Viewership
Rearrange an assignment schedule by determining the best time to post through using Instagram Insights.
Besides, stay current with the constantly advancing social media habits of the youth demographic, especially with an increase in Instagram use among 12-to-17-year-olds, and implement a strong social listening strategy to stay ahead in your marketing efforts.
As well, the exception to the rule of original content is when using features such as Remix or Collabs, as incorporating your own spin through these features is considered unique content and can be suggested by the algorithm.
Advertise on Instagram
While focusing on organic growth, it is important to mention the use of Instagram ads. One effective way to do this is by boosting a post or story, and targeting the right audience using Analytics or Meta Ads Manager.
On top of that, tools like Hootsuite Social Advertising can help you manage and track both organic and paid advertisements.
Instagram advertising has seen an increase in its audience, with 20.3% growth.
Finally, incorporating advertising can be a key factor in growing your Instagram in 2023. By focusing on improving your profile, creating dynamic content, and writing captions and hashtags that captivate your audience, you will see a stable rise in followers, reach, and engagement. Take action now and make these Instagram growth strategies a part of your plan.
As Meister Eckhart, a German theologian, once said, “Be willing to be a beginner every single morning”.
