Creating a Social Media Plan {day eleven}

Welcome to Day Eleven of the Write 31 challenge!  If this is your first time stopping by, head over to Day One to get started from the beginning, and now on to Day Eleven…

Yesterday we talked about what to share on Instagram and today we’re going to discuss how to grow your Instagram followers.

Engage, engage, engage

You may have already heard me say this once or twice during this series but I truly believe it’s worth repeating because it is so important. Social media is meant to be a place where you can interact and connect with others, and Instagram is no exception. If someone comments on your photo, leave them a reply (don’t forget to tag them!), don’t hesitate to double tap others’ photos to leave them a little love, follow new people and be creative when it comes to engaging with others…as long as you are finding a way to engage!

Find new people to follow

Finding new people to follow can ultimately help grow your followers so always be on the lookout for new people to follow. Here is something I have found really helpful when I follow someone new…after I click “follow,” I also like 3 or 4 of their pictures. By doing this, you are going to show up several times in their notifications and they are more likely to check out your profile…and maybe follow back!

If you thought hashtags were important in Twitter, they’re even more important on Instagram!  I would highly recommend adding multiple hashtags to each photo…just make sure they are relevant. But don’t just add hashtags to your photos, explore those hashtags.  Exploring hashtags can be a great way to find new people to follow with similar interests to you. Hashtags are also a great way for brands to find you, so don’t hesitate to use them!

Photo Challenges

I’m sure you’ve seen one or more people you follow on Instagram participate in a #photoaday challenge…and they do it for good reason! One reason is that it offers guidance for what to photograph each day if you’re feeling unsure about what to post. These challenges can also help you improve your photography and editing skills and help you gain new followers!

Contests/Giveaways

Contests and giveaways can be a quick way to add new followers but I would like to add a disclaimer to this suggestion…not all of your new followers will engage with your content. You have to remember they most likely followed you for a chance to win a prize, not because they fell in love with all of the pictures you posted. I have participated in several different contests and giveaways on Instagram that have helped increase my number of followers, but I wouldn’t do this too often.

Tomorrow we’re going to put together our Instagram plan!

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to leave them in the comments below or email me at girlonthemoveblog01 {at} gmail {dot} com

What questions do you have about Instagram? What is one thing you are going to try this week related to your Instagram?