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10 Easy Steps to Grow Your Instagram Following
I’ve already done one of these posts here but seen as I’ve learnt some more tips and instagram has decided to change . . . the word we all hate! I thought I’d do an updated version! You can also see how I take some of my instagram photos here! So here are my updated tips on how to grow your instagram following naturally :
#1 Use Brand Hashtags
A lot of brands have a hashtag for people to use when they’re wearing the brands clothing. It helps them to find the images to uses on their own instagrams. Reposts from brands are an amazing way of getting new followers so make sure you use any hashtags there are. They’re usually in the bio of the brand but below I’ve listed the ones I know :
Revolve Clothing – #RevolveME
Topshop – #TopshopStyle
River Island – #ImwearingRI
New Look – #Thisisnewlook
Asos – #Asseenonme
Net A Porter – #netaporter
H&M – #hmOOTD
Missguided – #babesofmissguided
Boohoo – #weareus #myboohoostyle
Public Desire – #pdbae
Dorothy Perkins – #lovedbydp
let me know if you know any I haven’t listed!!
#2 Use Trending & Relevant Hashtags
Using relevant & trending hashtags is a great way to get noticed, even more so since the instagram update. Now, if you go to hashtags there’s most recent and most popular. If you get a lot of likes on your post it will stay in most popular which means you’re more likely to be found. Before as it was sorted by date and time, your hashtags were null and void after an hour, now they can last for a fair while!
To learn more about what hashtags to use in this amazing post by Brittany from Thrifts & Threads. Make sure you check out her other blog tips posts!
#3 Tag Brands & Inspirational pages
Brands & Inspiration pages reposting me has accounted for a huge amount of my following. Make sure if you post about a brand you tag the brand, if you post a flatlay, tag the flatlay inspiration pages, if you post an outfit, tag an outfit inspiration page. In short, there’s an inspiration page for pretty much anything nowadays so just search what your posting and a page will pop up! You can tag up to 20 pages in your instagrams so make sure you make full use of that!
Some inspirational pages I regularly use are :
@streetstyleluxe
@OOTDmagazine
@OOTDSubmit
@Chictopia
@wearit_loveit
@Denimaddicted
@whiteaddicted
@minimalook.style
@stylesubmit
#4 Make sure you have consistent branding and a ‘theme’
Now I know people laugh in the face of bloggers who think too much about their theme and talk about how it should be more natural. Well, I totally disagree. If you want to grow your instagram following you need to have something identifiable, something that will make your page stand out and people will get. Think of yourself as a brand, when people look at your page they want to immediately understand you and your style, if they identify with it they’ll follow.
@LornaLuxe and @TheGlowEdit are both amazing examples of consistent theme and branding.
#5 Quality over Quantity
I always have to remind myself of this one. Resist the urge to post pictures if they don’t go with your theme and aren’t of good quality. You don’t have to post X amount of times a day, it’s better to not post than to post something shabby.
#6 Timing is everything
Think about where your following is and post at times that they’re likely to be active. I used to post before people go to work, lunch time and when they finish work but now the algorithms have messed it up and I actually find that sometimes posting in the quiet times can mean you’re image isn’t fighting to be noticed amongst many others!
Play around with it and once you find the times that work for you, stick to them!
#7 Be part of the instagram ‘community’ engage with other users
It’s also nice to check out your followers pages, showing an interest in them as they are so loyal to you. Liking and commenting and just generally engaging with people on instagram is a great way of building new insta friendships and a great way to grow your instagram following.
In order to grow your instagram following you need to keep those you already have. Remember that behind each number is a real person who is interested in YOU! Never ignore your followers. I am guilty of taking a day or so to reply sometimes but I always try to reply ASAP particularly when asked where something is from!
#8 Submit Images to online pages
There are some great websites you can use to submit your images to inspiration pages. I regularly submit my images to OOTD Magazine. Yes it can be a ball ache but if you have 5 minutes it’s worth doing, did I mention they have over 2.6 million instagram followers? Think how much a repost from them could grow your instagram following!!
#9 Use Original Content – not all blog photos
It’s great to use instagram for blog photos but make sure its not all you use it for. Instagram is meant to be more instant and people who follow your blog will want something different. Otherwise, why would they follow you on both? Make sure you have the right balance between life and blog to give an all round view of you.
#10 Use your camera where possible
I know not everyone has a camera, mines not exactly an all singing all dancing SLR. I have the Samsung NX3000
People love quality images. Camera wins over iPhone every time. If you don’t have a camera, make sure the pictures your uploading are of good quality!
What About Instagram Stories?
Instagram stories is still a super new thing so I haven’t tried and tested it myself! Personally I think it’s so much better than Snapchat (soz snapchat) because you already have your following so a much wider reach. Other people who aren’t following you can also see it so it’s worth remembering that this too could help to grow your instagram following if used in the right way!
I think it’s good to have a strategy to these things even if your strategy is just to be yourself. Personally I’m going for ‘behind the scenes’ trying to be more relatable and turn my instagram followers into blog readers!
If you don’t already then make sure you follow me on Instagram and say hey!
Make sure you’re following me on Bloglovin’ to stay up to date with the latest fashion & mindfulness posts along with more blogging tips of course!!
If you’re on Pinterest, then let me know if you would like to be added to my group board blogging tips and advice where you can post your own blog tips!
MY BLOG KIT
Camera : Samsung NX3000
Lens : 45mm
Editing Suite : Adobe Lightroom
Marble Backdrop : DIY with this
These are such great, specific tips – thanks for sharing! Steph x
http://www.stephstyle.com
Author
No problem my love it’s what I’m here for! Glad you liked them and found them helpful!!!
This is the best ‘how to’ post I think i’ve ever read! Will definitely be implementing these great tips – thank you!
Author
WoW! such a great compliment! I’m glad you found it useful and you have just made my day/week!
This is the first post of its kind that I find useful! Thank you so much
Author
That’s ok my love! THanks so much for taking the time to comment! I always love to read your guys feedback! I’m going to do one on twitter same time this week!
Thank you for all the links and brand hashtags, I regularly forget to add these! Great post as always!
Abbi | http://www.simplyabbi.com
Author
Its a bit annoying when you just want to post but unfortunately it does make a difference so it is worth it!!!
Really helpful tipps, loves this post <3
And yes, I also think that instagram stories is better in terms of followers – but they don't have so many cool filters 😛 haha but lets see, whats coming though…
xxx
Tina
Author
I’m sure the filters will be coming! I’ve seen a lot of people using the snapchat filters then saving and loading to Instagram – v.sneaky!!! I can’t be doing that to be honest though – far too much effort!
I actually never hashtag on Instagram, it never really worked for me but it might’ve been because I was using the wrong hashtags!
Author
If you use certain hashtags that are banned such as #sexy it makes all of the other hashtags void so just be careful!
i always use hashtags and tag brands when I can. It usually paid off and they post the image on their Instagram’s. Interacting like you mentioned is also important and I think many forget about this on Instagram.
Author
Definitely! It’s a social network and should therefore not be seen as a one way conversation!
Awwww this is such a handy post! Have noted the hashtags and who to tag in posts ? We are all about that organic, real growth and your insta is the perfect example of a fab feed – we love it! Agree so important to have an identifiable theme for sure – it is your brand.
Thanks for sharing!
Nicky and Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN HQ x
http://www.fashiondujour.co.uk
Author
Thanks so much lovely! I’m glad you found it helpful and it helps you to grow!!
Such a fantastic post and there are so many tips on here that I am yet to try! I haven’t used Insta-stories yet but I’m definitely going to start! xx
Jessie | allthingsbeautiful-x
Author
Did you start!? Glad you liked the tips lovely!
This was so helpful! I love Lorna Luxe and The Glow Edit, they have nailed it with their instagrams! Also I never even knew half of those tag pages existed, safe to say I’m off on a following spree, great for inspiration too!
Author
So good for inspiration!!! I get stuck in an Instagram hole some days! I love those two so much! The Glow Edit always has me green with envy and Lorna has me drinking rose!
This is so SO helpful, thanks so much!! I’ve read a few different ‘how to’ posts regarding Insta and by far this is the most useful – it’s really specific and actually links to everything you reference, fabulous!!!!
Heather x
Suitablyscruffy@wordpress.com
Author
Thanks lovely! I know there’s a lot of bashing of all the ‘blog tips’ posts out there but I only ever do them if I feel I have something new to bring to the table!
This is so helpful – thank you! I love your blog and your Instagram feed xx
Author
Ah thanks so much! Super kin dof you and in my opinion someone complimenting your insta feed is the best compliment a girl can get these days – – so sad isn’t it!
I loved reading this! It is really helpful!
http://www.thoughtsinstyle.com/
Author
Thanks lovely! Glad it’s been of use to you!
Thank you for sharing your tips, these will come in very handy! 🙂 xx
Yasmina
Author
I’m glad you enjoyed the post lovely! Good luck!
I need to work on a theme but I’m sure your tips will help 🙂
Author
I am still working on my theme hun! It’s never ending! One day I want cool tones then I want warm tones – oh the insta struggles!
This was really helpful, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Author
That’s ok my love, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and foun dit helpful I hope you can put the tips to some good use!!!
Great tips 🙂 I really must work on my insta!
Author
If you need any more tips hun just let me know xxx Good luck!
Loved your tips! x
Sofia | http://www.theglamchapter.blogspot.com
Great tips!! Thanks for sharing all the pages 🙂 xx
Thanks for the great tips! Might double check what theme my insta really has. :p
Thank you so much for these great tips! I will definitely try out a bunch of them. Thanks for sharing!
Best wishes
Fabienne x http://www.fabiennemaxi.com
Thanks so much for all the new tips I’m always looking improve my social media accounts!
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/life-in-lipstick-leggings-16909109
Great tips! I agree posting at the right time definitely helps, I have found times that work but sometimes try other times to see if it works or not. I always make sure to tag brands and the hashtags and it really does help.
Emma,
I do the same. And sometimes – there are different result fr the same time, the same day 🙂 🙂 🙂
Author
Its so dependant on so many things that it’s impossible to work out a failsafe formula!!! I think the same person could look at something two days in a row and just be in a bad mood one day and it could affect how they react to it!!!
Great post!
I REALLY don’t love instagram stories! I love snapchat so much more, but I do want to get to like it! Xx
These are great tips but it’s so annoying to get into Insta stories and adapting to the change of the algorithm process they have going on!
Agnes x
BlvckBee.Com
Agree! Sometime stories take too much time to make it and not every of stories of followings is interesting to watch 🙂
Anna
Amazing post with amazing tips! Really enjoyed this – thank you :).
very useful post 🙂
Mikixx
littletasteofbeauty.blogspot.it
Author
Thanks Michela! I hope you can put my tips to good use!!!
Such a great article, thank you! Espesially, for the mention of Insta fashion communities 🙂
I have a question about the timing – there are 40% of our Instagram auditory is USA. But! There are 7 time zones in USA. On what timezone should we be focused? Thank you in advance!
Author
If I was you I would post when all time zones are active! Try and find the times that make the most of all time zones!
THanks for this ace post!! Followed here from Julia Day’s blog – great tips – thank you!
Author
Thanks so much hun! So glad you liked it and I had no idea I was featured there! Which post was it lovely I would love to see!
Again so helpful!!! Really loving your tips and how detailed you are in giving them
Author
Ah thank you so much! I’m so glad I could be of help to you!