ºÚÁÏÃÅ

With two billion active users, Instagram can work wonders forÌýyour business. Growing aÌýfollowing forÌýyour business page isÌýone ofÌýtheÌýfirst steps. Many business owners are eager toÌýinvest inÌýInstagram ads andÌýinfluencers. But did you know that there are free ways toÌýattract more followers toÌýyour Instagram page?

ToÌýmaximize success onÌýInstagram andÌýdraw inÌýmore followers, start with these simple steps. That will help you sell onÌýInstagram easier, faster, andÌýmore frugally.

First, Optimize Your Instagram Profile

Before you start growing followers, make sure your page isÌýready toÌýbeÌýfollowed. That means setting itÌýupÌýcorrectly andÌýmaking sure it’s attractive toÌýyour desired audience. Check some ofÌýtheÌýways toÌýmake potential customers feel welcome toÌýyour profile.

Choose anÌýInformative Username

When people search onÌýInstagram, they often search byÌýaÌýtopic they are interested in. The first step isÌýcreating anÌýinformative username that speaks toÌýtheÌýtarget audience. Include two orÌýthree keywords related toÌýwhat you are selling. Think ofÌýlanguage your customers would use toÌýget better visibility results.

For example, someone looking toÌýfind aÌýhandmade surfboard orÌýcustom t-shirt company might type inÌý“surfboards” orÌý“shirts.” The more you can squeeze into your username, theÌýeasier itÌýwill beÌýforÌýpeople toÌýfind you.

The target audience isÌýless likely toÌýfind you ifÌýyou write just your brand orÌýstore name inÌýtheÌý“Name” field. The only exception isÌýifÌýyour brand isÌýalready famous, like Nike orÌýPatagonia.

Write anÌýAttention-Grabbing Bio

With aÌýlimit ofÌý150Ìýcharacters, anÌýInstagram bio isÌýsmall but powerful. The major goal ofÌýtheÌýbio isÌýtoÌýattract new followers andÌýpotential customers. You have toÌýoptimize theÌýlimited amount ofÌýcharacters inÌýyour profile header toÌýyour advantage. Explain who you are, what you offer, andÌýwhy people should follow you.

WeÌýdid theÌýresearch forÌýyou andÌýfound out exactly how toÌýwrite anÌýamazing Instagram bio. Here’s what weÌýfound:

• Keep your bio short andÌýsweet. You can make itÌýfun andÌýquirky too, orÌýwhatever voice you think represents your brand.
• Make sure itÌýclearly states what you sell andÌýhow people can benefit from following you.
• Include your contact information soÌýyour customers can reach you inÌýwhatever way works best forÌýthem.
• Use emojis toÌýget theÌýmost out ofÌýtheÌýsmall space.
• Use hashtags sparingly andÌýonly ifÌýthey’re branded.
• Link toÌýyour website toÌýlet people know where they can buy your products.

Use Highlights toÌýShow More About Your Business

Your bio might beÌýprimed toÌýpull inÌýpotential followers, but don’t stop there! Use Instagram Highlights toÌýfurther introduce your business toÌýnew people.

Instagram Highlights are collections ofÌýyour stories that live onÌýyour profile permanently. They give visitors aÌýglimpse into what’s going onÌýwith your business. Here are some tips forÌýhow toÌýuse Highlights forÌýaÌýbusiness:

• Talk about your brand, like what itÌýstands for, its values, andÌýhow itÌýstands out from competitors.
• Feature your products andÌýexplain their value. IfÌýyou sell lots ofÌýproducts, start with your hits andÌýbestsellers.
• Showcase customer reviews andÌýtestimonials.
• Share helpful tips andÌýadvice related toÌýyour products orÌýservices.
• Answer theÌýmost common questions about your business, such asÌýproducts’ composition andÌýcare, shipping details, refund policy, andÌýsoÌýon.

Pin Some Introductory Posts

While bio andÌýhighlights help introduce your business toÌýnew followers, pinning aÌýfew informational posts atÌýtheÌýtop ofÌýyour post feed can beÌývery helpful. These can include anÌýintroduction toÌýyou asÌýtheÌýbusiness owner, aÌýpost that contains your branded hashtags toÌýmake navigating theÌýcontent onÌýyour page easier, and/or slideshows ofÌýyour most popular products.

You can even pin aÌýfun reel atÌýtheÌýtop ofÌýyour page ifÌýit’s relatable toÌýyour audience toÌýencourage them toÌýfollow you.

NoÌýmatter what you decide toÌýpin atÌýtheÌýtop ofÌýyour Instagram page, ensure that itÌýserves theÌýultimate purpose ofÌýinspiring your target audience toÌýfollow your page.

Also: 5ÌýEasy Steps toÌýOrganize your Instagram Profile forÌýBusiness

With aÌýcatchy name, value-demonstrating bio, informative highlights, andÌýpinned posts, your profile should beÌýattractive enough toÌýdraw inÌýnew followers!

Now, let’s talk about how toÌýgrow your page’s reach.

Create Reels Consistently toÌýGet Discovered

IÌýknow what you’re thinking: why won’t Instagram stick toÌýphoto posts?

While photos are not going anywhere yet, you can’t ignore theÌýgrowing popularity ofÌýreels. Reels allow businesses toÌýshow off their products andÌýservices inÌýaÌýmore engaging way. Plus, videos often tend toÌýget more organic reach than photos.

Reels are great forÌýbrand discovery! Reels can appear inÌýtheÌýExplore tab andÌýbeÌýdiscovered beyond your current following. This isÌýgreat forÌýincreasing your visibility onÌýtheÌýplatform.

SoÌýwhy not use this opportunity toÌýyour advantage? Create fun reels that demonstrate what your page has toÌýoffer toÌýpotential followers, whether it’s educational content orÌýaÌýdose ofÌýdaily laughs.

Here are aÌýcouple ofÌýideas onÌýhow businesses can grow followers with reels:

• Make educational content that debunks common misconceptions about your product orÌýindustry. For example, “Top 3Ìýmyths about sunscreen.”
• Inject humor into reels that your target audience can relate to. Keep track ofÌýcurrent trending audio andÌýuse itÌýwhen appropriate.
• Share aÌýfun reel about running aÌýbusiness. For example, “Running anÌýapparel business: Expectations vsÌýReality.”
• Show your expertise inÌýyour niche. For example, “Foods IÌýAvoid asÌýaÌýLicensed Dietician.”
• Offer anÌýinsider look into your niche. For example, “New Skincare Trends That Are Actually Helpful.”

Use Geotags forÌýIncreased Visibility

Sometimes users search photos byÌýplace, soÌýadd geotags toÌýyour posts whenever possible. For example, ifÌýyou have aÌýphysical store inÌýaÌýshopping mall, make sure toÌýadd its geotag toÌýyour product photos. Or, ifÌýyou take photos ofÌýaÌýnew clothes collection inÌýtheÌýstreet, tag this particular place inÌýtheÌýcity.

Users may find your profile byÌýtheÌýgeotag andÌýthen follow your Instagram account, soÌýutilize geotags asÌýmuch asÌýpossible.

Use Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags are simple andÌýfree. They are also very useful ifÌýyou want toÌýmake money onÌýInstagram. They work by:

• Getting more followers who search byÌýhashtags.
• Keeping yourself informed ofÌýwhat competitors are doing.

You can add upÌýtoÌý30Ìýhashtags toÌýanÌýInstagram post. However, Instagram’s @creators page advises using three toÌýfive hashtags per post. Remember that tags should always beÌýrelevant. Instagram bans those who frequently use hashtags inadequately.

Instagram hashtags are aÌýgreat resource… But use them sparingly. Too many hashtags may turn off aÌýcustomer who was originally interested inÌýyour business.

What does “use hashtags sparingly” mean? Well, you only want toÌýuse theÌýhashtags that get more followers. First, think about which hashtags might attract your audience andÌýfollow them. After observing theÌýmost popular andÌýeffective hashtags, you can start using them inÌýyour own content.

Hashtags can also help you stay upÌýtoÌýdate with current events. Local street markets orÌýstreet fairs you want toÌýattend might have their own hashtags, soÌýyou want toÌýdoÌýyour research. ByÌýfollowing such hashtags, you can keep track ofÌýwhat’s going onÌýinÌýyour community andÌýdecide ifÌýyou can join in.

Follow theÌýhashtags that inspire you. IfÌýyou sell teen clothes, #youth can give you aÌýcontent idea orÌýtwo that you can post inÌýyour profile. Check out your business rivals’ hashtags too! Hashtags are useful forÌýboth attracting followers andÌýdiscovering what kind ofÌýcontent works.

Try toÌýGet onÌýtheÌýExplore Page

The Explore page onÌýInstagram isÌýaÌýway toÌýget your content inÌýfront ofÌýnew users who don’t already follow you. ItÌýisÌýanÌýalgorithm-based section ofÌýtheÌýapp that displays what Instagram thinks its users might beÌýinterested in. ItÌýpulls from posts andÌýaccounts based onÌýtheÌýtypes ofÌýthings theÌýuser has liked, commented on, orÌýinteracted with inÌýtheÌýpast.

IfÌýyou want toÌýappear more often onÌýpeople’s Explore Pages, ensure your content isÌýtailored toÌýyour target audience. What doÌýyour potential customers want toÌýknow about? What doÌýthey find funny? What are theÌýproblems they want toÌýsolve?

Entertaining andÌýcaptivating reels are especially great forÌýboosting brand discovery. Don’t forget about captions. Since reels have aÌýhigh chance ofÌýbeing discovered byÌýpeople outside your following, write captions that draw people in. Adding aÌýcall toÌýaction won’t hurt either, like, “Follow forÌýmore helpful content forÌýpet owners.”

Using relevant niche-specific hashtags, geotagging your content, andÌýengaging with similar pages also help toÌýtell theÌýalgorithm what your content isÌýabout. Hence, itÌýgets aÌýhigher chance ofÌýbeing recommended toÌýother users.

Collaborate with Other Creators

ByÌýpartnering with influencers andÌýother content creators, businesses can leverage existing audiences toÌýgain more visibility andÌýexpand their reach. This can beÌýespecially helpful ifÌýyou are just starting out andÌýdon’t have many followers yet.

WeÌýrecommend collaborating with nano-influencers orÌýsmall business owners from your niche. This way, you can make aÌýcollaboration forÌýfree orÌýinÌýexchange forÌýyour product orÌýservice.

For example, ifÌýyou sell pet products, look forÌýother businesses that cater toÌýtheÌýsame audience andÌýoffer services orÌýproducts complementary toÌýyours. IfÌýyou sell pet toys, you could collaborate with aÌýdog trainer andÌýmake aÌýreel forÌýtheir page about theÌýbest types ofÌýproducts forÌýpuppies learning how toÌýpotty train.

The key here isÌýtoÌýcollaborate with creators whose audience might beÌýinterested inÌýyour business. For example, skincare brands can collaborate with influencers that review different skincare products orÌýanÌýesthetician.

Collaborations also provide aÌýgreat opportunity toÌýbuild relationships with like-minded people inÌýyour industry. Connections can help you create better content forÌýyour page inÌýtheÌýlong term andÌýalso create channels forÌýcustomers toÌýfind your products.

Get Published inÌýCommunities

Look forÌýInstagram accounts with aÌýsimilar theme asÌýyours andÌýfollow them. ToÌýfind those profiles, search forÌýrelevant keywords. Check out theÌýposts andÌýlook forÌýtheÌýcommunity accounts.

Communities usually have their own hashtag. Accounts can use their hashtags toÌýrepost theÌýbest photos andÌýthen credit theÌýowner. You can tag communities inÌýyour Instagram posts toÌýbring attention toÌýyourself. Success depends onÌýwhether followers like your post andÌýtheir willingness toÌýfollow you.

Remember that your post should beÌýinteresting toÌýspecific audiences andÌýcorrespond toÌýtheir theme. You should also make contacts with useful community accounts, comment onÌýrelevant posts, andÌýshare interesting posts with your audience. These techniques all bring desired attention toÌýyour business.

Create Content That Generates Interactions

You might have heard aÌýthing orÌýtwo about theÌýInstagram algorithm. ItÌýdetermines which posts appear inÌýusers’ feeds andÌýaffects how visible your content isÌýtoÌýyour existing andÌýpotential followers.

The Instagram algorithm isÌýdesigned toÌýprioritize posts that generate more interactions, such asÌýreel views orÌýpost comments. SoÌýtheÌýcontent you create should beÌýengaging enough forÌýusers toÌýinteract with it. Engaging content encourages people toÌýcomment, share, andÌýlike posts, reels, andÌýstories.

ByÌýposting content your followers interact with, you increase theÌýchance ofÌýyour profile being recommended byÌýtheÌýalgorithm toÌýnew audiences interested inÌýyour content.

Here are aÌýfew ways toÌýmake Instagram content that generates interactions:

• Use story stickers forÌýrunning polls orÌýsurveys related toÌýyour business orÌýindustry.
• Add emoji sliders andÌýreaction buttons toÌýyour stories.
• Add captions toÌýreels andÌýposts that invite users toÌýdiscuss aÌýtopic ¾±²ÔÌý³Ù³ó±ðÌý³¦´Ç³¾³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õ.
• Invite your followers toÌýDMÌýyou with questions orÌýfeedback.
• Remind followers that they can save your reels orÌýposts when you share helpful tips.
• ±õ²ÔÌý²¹Ìý³¦²¹±è³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô, offer toÌýsend aÌýreel orÌýpost toÌýsomeone who might benefit from your content.

Encourage Followers toÌýTag You inÌýTheir Content

AsÌýweÌýdiscussed above, playing along theÌýInstagram algorithm isÌýkey toÌýgetting your profile recommended toÌýpeople who don’t follow you but might beÌýinterested inÌýyour content. However, not only theÌýInstagram algorithm can recommend your content toÌýyour target ²¹³Ü»å¾±±ð²Ô³¦±ðâ€À¹±ð³¦´Ç³¾³¾±ð²Ô»å²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ from your own followers can work just asÌýwell!

Ask customers toÌýshare aÌýpicture orÌývideo ofÌýthem using your product andÌýtag your profile. ItÌýalso serves asÌýsocial proof that your product isÌýworth buying! Don’t forget toÌýsave that content toÌýreuse forÌýyour page later.

Create educational content that offers anÌýinsider look into theÌýtopic relevant toÌýyour audience andÌýadd aÌýcall toÌýaction. For example, aÌýteacher can make aÌýreel about self-soothing techniques forÌýkids andÌýadd aÌýCTA like, “Know other tips? Share them andÌýtag usÌýsoÌýweÌýcan repost andÌýhelp more parents!”

You can also goÌýforÌýmore light-hearted content andÌýmake aÌýgallery post with fun images onÌýtheÌýsame topic. For example, “Choose your mood today” orÌý“What type ofÌýflower are you?” Remind followers toÌýtag your account ifÌýthey share their choice inÌýtheir stories.

Another way toÌýgenerate more mentions ofÌýyour profile isÌýtoÌýthrow out aÌýchallenge orÌýtrend. For example, ifÌýyou sell mental health journals, make aÌýreel asking forÌýyour followers’ tips forÌýself-care. InÌýtheÌýcaption, ask them toÌýtag your profile soÌýthat you can reshare all theÌýtips.

Or, you can run aÌýgiveaway andÌýask participants toÌýrepost your content toÌýtheir stories andÌýtag you.

Comment onÌýRelevant Instagram Accounts

Join conversations onÌýother Instagram pages relevant toÌýyour niche. ItÌýcan beÌýother creators, brands, orÌýcommunities.

ToÌýfind relevant profiles, search forÌýthematic keywords. The accounts that come upÌýfirst inÌýtheÌýsearch are theÌýleaders. Share expert opinions, give advice, respond toÌýcomments, andÌýjust communicate naturally.

Remember that politeness andÌýfriendliness attract people more than sales language. DoÌýnot post CTAs like, “Buy theÌýbest watches here.” Those look spammy andÌýare seen asÌýdisrespectful inÌýtheÌýInstagram space. Language like that might even get your profile banned.

Start Growing Instagram Followers

Growing your Instagram followers forÌýfree doesn’t have toÌýbeÌýanÌýimpossible task. You can grow aÌýlarger audience without spending money byÌýcreating engaging content, encouraging followers toÌýinteract with your profile andÌýtag you inÌýtheir posts, commenting onÌýrelevant accounts, andÌýmore.

ToÌýmake theÌýmost ofÌýthese tips andÌýtricks, it’s important toÌýunderstand how theÌýInstagram algorithm works. AsÌýsuch, weÌýrecommend that you read our article about that topic asÌýwell. With dedication andÌýcreativity, anyone can create great content that attracts more followers without spending aÌýdime.

Ìý

• How toÌýSell onÌýInstagram: Complete Guide forÌýBeginners
• How toÌýSell onÌýInstagram Without aÌýWebsite
• How theÌýInstagram Algorithm Works
• 10ÌýIdeas forÌýCreative Product Presentation
• How toÌýCreate aÌýContent Plan forÌýInstagram
• How toÌýWrite Engaging Instagram Captions
• How toÌýMonetize Your Instagram
• 10ÌýFree Ways toÌýGet More Instagram Followers
• How toÌýChange Your Instagram Name
• What IsÌýThe Best Time toÌýPost onÌýInstagram?