With so much competition for attention on social media and everywhere else, users crave genuine friendships on Instagram. Therefore, companies are seeking ways to grow organically through word-of-mouth rather than using ads and bots. Wise creators are using strategies that affect our minds and our social connections to attract attention.
Instead of treating followers as numbers, we should start relating to them as real people. Any person who follows you could become a customer, client, or someone you connect with. You should give them something useful first, rather than focusing on a hard sale.
Leverage The Power of Niche Communities
As there are more people on Instagram, focusing on a specific audience is the best way to stand out. Trying to please everyone with a generic message usually doesn’t work. Top creators are very interested in learning what their viewers’ needs and values are.
The Path Social platform: https://www.reviews.io/company-reviews/store/pathsocial-com, for example, relies on advanced segmentation tools to match users with influencers and brands relevant to their passions. Instead of spam blasting irrelevant content, they foster meaningful connections between aligned interests.
Conduct in-depth buyer persona research and tap into existing niche communities to locate your tribe. Participate by providing value before overtly promoting. Human psychology is wired to reciprocate kindness and assistance.
Optimized Hashtags Are Your Best Friend
Strategic hashtag usage is still one of the most effective tactics for getting discovered by your ideal audience. But generic tags like #marketing or #socialmedia attract lots of competition. The key is finding a sweet spot between high volume and relevance.
Path Social’s free Hashtag Generator tool analyzes Instagram data to find optimal niche hashtags and help estimate potential reach. Look beyond obvious tags by brainstorming specifics related to emotions, challenges, and desired outcomes for your target audience.
Follow influencers in your industry and engage with their content using relevant hashtags. Also, encourage happy customers to tag your brand so you can re-share user-generated content. These seeds are your organic reach.
Subtly Weave In Social Proof
People are wired to emulate the behaviors of others as a shortcut for decision making. Displaying social proof indicators on your Instagram profile and posts taps into these deep psychological triggers.
Subtly showcase metrics like follower counts, engagement rates, positive comments, and tags from influencers or industry leaders. Path Social’s free tools even allow downloading Instagram photos or videos to repost and analyzing engagement levels.
Social proof builds authority and credibility for your brand or business. But focus on relaying authentic value instead of bragging. Remind followers you were once in their shoes by sharing vulnerable lessons learned along your journey.
Seed Giveaways and Loyalty Programs
The idea of getting something for free still carries tremendous weight, even if what you offer holds little tangible value. It comes down to triggering reciprocity and exclusivity. Giveaways, contests, and loyalty programs cost almost nothing to set up on Instagram but pay dividends in engagement and followers.
Encourage users to tag friends or take simple actions to increase awareness. Path Social’s fleet of influencers spotlights brands running clever giveaways, which you can emulate or put your spin on. Even small prizes feel more exciting when competition is required to win them.
To incentivize loyalty, offer exclusive early access to new products or VIP discounts in exchange for follower growth milestones. Reward momentum to keep momentum going.
Become An Active Community Member First
The hardest Instagram growth hurdle for any brand is overcoming that initial cold start. Sprinkling in a few ads can help, but nothing beats showing up consistently where your audience already hangs out.
Seek out popular hashtags and influencers related to your niche. Engage authentically with community members by commenting, liking, and re-sharing content you resonate with. Be helpful and add value before any sales pitches.
Path Social’s influencer network provides a launchpad to tap into existing Instagram communities aligned with your brand values. Collaborating on co-created content campaigns activates new audiences.
Once you gain traction, Instagram’s algorithm will begin actively recommending you. But first, you must demonstrate your commitment through active participation.
The Authenticity Game Wins Long-Term
In an increasingly cynical social media landscape, desperate for genuine connection, transparency, and authenticity, rise above all else. People crave getting a raw, unfiltered glimpse behind the scenes of personal brands and businesses.
Include the difficulties and challenges your brand experienced on its journey. Try to share honest company culture pictures and videos, not just those that seem too polished. Take time to highlight employees and the things they enjoy.
As a result, your followers are likely to view your brand as honest and sincere. They choose to stick with the company instead of making just a single purchase. This way, the community shields you from outside threats as well.
Although seeing your account explode on the internet is thrilling, the real benefit is forming a loyal group of followers both online and offline. Real results only come from being committed to what you do.
Conclusion
Using advanced ways to target users and limiting annoying ads, Instagram is now focusing on small communities and using organic techniques to succeed. Real relationships will be the ones that last in the end.
Those who are ahead in the industry always put effort into learning about their audience’s unique habits and preferences. They are active in the communities they want to change before promoting their ideas. They try to make a difference wherever they can by being generous and reciprocating.
Though some tools help with profile improvement, following interactions, and reaching more people, building strong relationships one at a time cannot be replaced. As passionate creators invest time in building a community, they help their business grow steadily by relying on people recommending them and staying true to the brand.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
