How To Grow On Instagram: 7 Strategies You Must Follow

Since its launch in October 2010, Instagram has taken the social media landscape by storm. Statistics show that the number of global users continues to grow, with an estimated 1.35 billion users in 2023. The platform's immense popularity gives influencers an incredible opportunity to connect with their target audiences.

But if you’re struggling to build your following, this guide outlines how to grow on Instagram. While we’ve previously discussed ways to gain Instagram followers, we’ll explore additional strategies to make your account more popular and successful. 

Dive into our resourceful post to learn all the secrets you need to know about becoming a successful content creator on one of the world’s most highly utilized social media platforms. 

Grow Your Instagram Following in 7 Steps

While no magic formula can turn your account into an overnight sensation, solid account-building strategies exist. Purchasing automatic likes is certainly one option, but if you need more tips focused on how to grow on Instagram, keep reading.

1. Select a Niche

Finding a niche on Instagram is crucial for fostering audience engagement and growing your following. Start by identifying your passions, expertise, and interests. Consider what sets you apart from others and what you can offer your audience that is unique. Research trending topics within your niche and explore related hashtags to gauge audience interest. Analyze your target audience demographics and preferences to tailor your content accordingly.

Consistency is key, so develop a content strategy that aligns with your niche and post regularly to keep your audience engaged. Interact with your followers by responding to comments, liking their posts, and collaborating with other creators in your niche. Remember to stay authentic and genuine in your content, as building trust with your audience is essential for long-term growth on Instagram. If you post about things you genuinely love, are interested or have expertise in, then it will not only FEEL more authentic to your audience, but for you it won’t feel like “work” since you are posting about content you like!  

2. Optimize Your Profile 

Optimizing your Instagram profile is essential for attracting followers and increasing engagement. First, ensure your profile picture accurately represents your brand or persona and is recognizable even in a small thumbnail. Craft a compelling bio that succinctly describes who you are or what your brand offers, including relevant keywords and emojis to enhance readability. 

Your Instagram profile should include:

• Detailed contact information

• A clear call to action

• A custom link directing users to your website

• A clear photo of yourself or your company

• A brief description of your offers

• High-quality posts that illustrate your niche

Utilize the link in your bio strategically, directing followers to your website, blog, or latest content. Switch up this link regularly to promote new initiatives or products. Consistency in posting high-quality content is key, so establish a cohesive visual theme or aesthetic that reflects your brand identity. Utilize Instagram's features such as Stories, IGTV, and Reels to diversify your content and engage with your audience in different ways. And don’t forget to group together relevant content in highlights or as a reel so that it makes sense conceptually for your audience.

3. Experiment with Different Content Types

If you’re asking, “How can I grow my Instagram,” a great way to do so is by experimenting with different forms of content. Here is just a sample of the different types of content you can experiment with.​​

• Static posts: Share visually appealing photos or graphics that represent your brand or persona. Use high-quality images with consistent editing style to maintain a cohesive feed. For example, fashion influencer @songofstyle consistently posts stylish outfit photos that showcase her personal style and attract followers interested in fashion inspiration.
• Reels: Think of reels as short-form videos designed to boost audience reach and engagement. You can use them to showcase the authentic side of your brand, along with your products and services. Since videos get 61% more audience engagement than static posts, it’s evident that they’re a critical aspect of a social media strategy. Short form video is the future of social media! Punk band @themeanjeans does a good job of conveying their silly, fun personality through their reels.
• Carousel posts: Take advantage of carousel posts to share multiple images or videos in a single post, allowing for more storytelling or product showcases. Carousel posts are just multiple images or videos—like you would do for a static post—put together into one group as a single post. For example, travel influencer @theblondeabroad often shares carousel posts featuring a series of photos from her travels, accompanied by detailed captions that provide travel tips and insights, captivating her followers and encouraging them to explore more of her content. A lot of travel influencers simply have too many beautiful images to share in a single post, so carousel posts are a good option for these content creators, or any brand that works with or products visually compelling media (fashion, design, architecture, high-end food, etc.)
• Stories: If you want content that increases customer engagement, interaction, and loyalty, stories are your best friend. Use these short-term elements to highlight the unique side of your brand and give users a behind-the-scenes look at your day-to-day. Stories provide behind-the-scenes glimpses, let you share quick updates, and even conduct polls and Q&A sessions to engage with your audience. For instance, comedian and actress @averagefashionblogger often shares humorous or interesting behind the scenes content that helps her audience get to know her better.
• Live videos: Going live is also helpful in increasing audience engagement. You can reshare live videos and encourage viewers to ask questions in real time, reinforcing brand loyalty. This is also a good opportunity to have influencers or employees do a takeover to talk about products, behind-the-scenes information, contests, collaborations, countdowns, and more.
• IGTV: Create longer-form video content to showcase tutorials, interviews, or product demonstrations. For example, cooking influencer @minimalistbaker uses IGTV to share detailed recipe tutorials, providing valuable content for her followers interested in easy and healthy cooking. 

4. Engage with Followers

Respond regularly to comments on your posts, videos, and other types of content on your page. By listening to and communicating with your followers regularly, you can increase awareness of your page and establish yourself as a leading authority figure in your niche. Here are some other helpful tips along with real-life examples:

• Ask Questions in Your Captions: Encourage interaction by posing questions related to your post content. For instance, a travel blogger might ask, What's your dream vacation destination? This prompts followers to leave comments and share their thoughts, fostering engagement.
• Actually Respond to Comments: Take the time to reply to comments on your posts, showing appreciation for your followers' input. A fitness influencer should reply to comments on workout videos, providing additional tips or encouragement to followers, which strengthens their connection to his/her brand.
• Use Instagram Polls and Question Stickers: Take advantage of Instagram's interactive features like polls and question stickers in your Stories. For example, a food blogger might use a poll to ask followers which recipe they want to see next
• Host Live Q&A Sessions: Go live on Instagram to host Q&A sessions where you can directly interact with your followers in real-time. A fashion influencer might host a live Q&A sessions with a skincare or tailoring expert, addressing common concerns and questions from their audience, which deepens their engagement and trust.
• Share User-Generated Content: UGC (user-generated content) is pure gold in the world of social media. Showcase content created by your followers to make them feel appreciated and valued. For example, a home decor brand might repost photos of customers using their products in their own homes. This not only highlights your followers but also encourages others to engage with your brand in hopes of being featured.
• Create Interactive Challenges or Campaigns: Launch challenges or campaigns that encourage participation from your followers. For instance, a fitness coach might create a 30-day workout challenge and encourage followers to share their progress using a branded hashtag. This not only engages your current followers but also attracts new ones who want to join in on the challenge.

By implementing these engagement strategies, you can foster a sense of community on Instagram and strengthen your relationship with your followers, ultimately leading to increased loyalty and growth for your brand or personal account.

5. Collaborate with Other Instagram Influencers 

Here’s an interesting fact: Approximately 71% of consumers trust advertisements from influencers-much more than trust traditional brand-sponsored advertising. Collaborating with top influencers on the platform is a great starting point to earn consumer trust and grow your page. 

By partnering with other content creators, you can grow your online presence and connect with new audiences who will resonate with you and find value in your content. You might not want to partner with another brand that does EXACTLY what you do, but the trick is to partner with collaborators targeting similar audiences. Figure out what they’re doing to acquire followers for their accounts. For example, Nike probably wouldn’t do a collaboration with Adidas or Reebok, since they are competitors, but they might work with a nutrition or workout company, since those consumer could conceivably also be Nike customers.

6 Cross-Promote on Other Platforms

As you create and share content through Instagram, make sure followers on other platforms can see it. Cross-promote your posts through other social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). By taking this step, you can also save the time spent creating unique content for every platform.

To further strengthen engagement, consider using cross-promoted posts for giveaways. Encourage followers on one platform to find and follow your account elsewhere to earn extra entries. Just remember to make sure your branding is consistent across all platforms, so if someone finds your account on Instagram, they will IMMEDIATELY recognize it from seeing you on TikTok, Facebook, or wherever else they came from.

7. Track Progress with Metrics

Instagram’s metrics provide a comprehensive overview of your account. By digging into those metrics, you can monitor the performance of the content, including stories, reels, live videos, and other posts. You should:

• Regularly monitor key metrics such as engagement rate, reach, and follower growth using Instagram Insights or third-party analytics tools.
• Pay attention to your top-performing content to identify patterns in theme, style, or topic that resonate with your audience.
• Analyze audience demographics including age, gender, location, and interests to tailor your content strategy to your audience's preferences.
• Track Instagram Stories metrics such as completion rate, taps forward, taps backward, and exits to gauge engagement with your Stories content.
• Utilize trackable links in your bio to measure profile and website traffic, identifying which content or calls-to-action drive the most clicks and conversions.
• Regularly review and adjust your content strategy based on insights gained from metrics analysis to optimize engagement, reach, and growth on Instagram.

Without metrics, you’re taking a shot in the dark when modifying your content distribution strategies since you have no quantifiable data to justify your marketing decisions. Look at the numbers and adjust your approach accordingly. 

Elevate Your Instagram Presence with Superviral

All of these steps are vital in learning how to grow on Instagram. If you want to take your account to a whole new level, Superviral can give you a boost. Purchase Instagram likes and witness a surge in your engagement rates and account views.

Don’t fall behind in the complex world of social media marketing—buy Instagram followers to grow your account today.