What Should You Post On Instagram To Get Followers?

Gain followers by sharing engaging content, using trending hashtags, posting regularly, and interacting with your audience.

Instagram has evolved into a key platform for personal branding, business marketing, and creative expression. With a user base exceeding a billion globally, standing out and expanding your audience can be daunting. However, a well-crafted content strategy can help you grab attention and grow your following. This guide will explain the types of content that can strengthen your Instagram presence.

1. Knowing Your Audience

To create content that draws followers, you need to understand your target audience. Here’s how to get started:

• Find Your Niche:
  • Choose a specific niche that matches your interests or business.
  • Popular niches include fashion, travel, fitness, food, and technology.
  • Example: A travel enthusiast might focus on unique travel destinations and tips.
  • Understand Your Audience’s Interests:
  • Use surveys or polls to learn what your audience likes.
  • Review competitors’ profiles to see what content performs well.
  • Example: If your audience loves fitness, share workout routines and healthy meal ideas.
  • Utilize Analytics:
  • Use Instagram Insights to analyze your followers’ demographics and behavior.
  • Identify which posts get the most engagement.
  • Example: If posts about healthy recipes perform well, create more similar content.

2. Creating Engaging Content

Visual appeal is crucial on Instagram. Your content should be eye-catching and high quality.

• • High-Quality Images:
  • Use a good camera or a high-resolution smartphone.
  • Ensure proper lighting, clear focus, and good composition.
  • Example: A sharp, well-lit photo of a dish is more appealing than a blurry, dark image.
  • Consistent Aesthetics:
  • Develop a cohesive style or theme that reflects your brand.
  • Use consistent color palettes, filters, and editing styles.
  • Example: A fashion blogger might use a pastel color scheme for all posts.
  • Editing Tools:
  • Use editing apps to enhance your photos.
  • Adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation for better visuals.
  • Example: Adding a slight vignette can make the subject of a photo stand out.
  • Include Video Content:
  • Incorporate videos and Reels to engage followers.
  • Use editing tools to improve quality.
  • Example: Create a Reel showing a quick recipe or a day in your life.

3. Types of Content That Attract Followers

Different types of content can attract different followers. Experiment with various formats to see what works best.

• • Behind-the-Scenes:
  • Share what happens behind your polished posts.
  • Show processes, preparations, or daily activities.
  • Example: A photographer might post behind-the-scenes shots of a photo shoot.
  • User-Generated Content:
  • Encourage your followers to create content featuring your brand.
  • Repost their content with proper credit to engage your community.
  • Example: A clothing brand might share photos of customers wearing their products.
  • Tutorials and How-Tos:
  • Provide valuable educational content through step-by-step guides.
  • Use carousel posts for detailed tutorials.
  • Example: A beauty influencer could post a makeup tutorial with step-by-step photos.
  • Personal Stories:
  • Share relatable or inspirational stories from your life or business.
  • Use captions to narrate your experiences and connect with your audience emotionally.
  • Example: A small business owner might share the challenges and successes of starting their company.
  • Trending Content:
  • Participate in popular challenges, trends, or memes.
  • Use trending hashtags and sounds to increase visibility.
  • Example: Joining a dance challenge on Reels can attract more views and followers.

4. Engaging with Your Community

Interaction is vital to building a loyal following. Engage actively with your audience to foster community.

• Interactive Posts:
  • Use Stories features like polls, questions, and quizzes to engage followers.
  • Encourage comments and feedback on your posts.
  • Example: Ask followers to vote on their favourite outfit or suggest ideas for future content.
• Responding to Comments and DMs:
  • Reply promptly and genuinely to comments and direct messages.
  • Show appreciation and address questions or concerns.
  • Example: Thank a follower for their comment or provide more details if they have a query.
• Shoutouts and Collaborations:
  • Partner with influencers or other brands to reach new audiences.
  • Give shoutouts to other users or collaborate on joint projects.
  • Example: A fitness brand could collaborate with a famous fitness influencer for a joint workout video.
• Instagram Lives:
  • Host live sessions to connect with your audience in real time.
  • Use Lives for Q&A sessions, product launches, or live tutorials.
  • Example: A chef could go live to demonstrate cooking a recipe and answer questions from viewers.

5. Leveraging Hashtags and Geotags

Increase your content’s discoverability by using effective tags.

• Effective Hashtag Strategy:
  • Research and use relevant hashtags that align with your content and audience.
  • Mix popular hashtags with less competitive, niche-specific ones.
  • Example: A travel blogger might use #TravelInspiration alongside more specific tags like #SoloTravel.
• Branded Hashtags:
  • Create a unique hashtag for your brand and encourage followers to use it.
  • Monitor and repost content tagged with your hashtag.
  • Example: Nike’s #JustDoIt encourages users to share their athletic achievements.
• Geotagging:
  • Add location tags to your posts to attract local followers.
  • Use geotags for popular or relevant places to reach a broader audience.
  • Example: A restaurant might use its location geotag to attract nearby customers.

6. Posting Frequency and Timing

Finding the right balance of when and how often to post is crucial for maintaining engagement.

• Optimal Posting Schedule:
  • Determine how often to post based on your audience’s activity.
  • Use Instagram Insights to find when your followers are most active.
  • Example: Posting during peak times can lead to higher engagement rates.
• Consistency vs. Quality:
  • Maintain a balance between posting frequently and ensuring high-quality content.
  • Avoid posting for the sake of it; focus on meaningful and valuable posts.
  • Example: A well-crafted post every few days can be more effective than daily low-quality posts.
• Scheduling Tools:
  • Use scheduling tools like Buffer, Later, or Hootsuite to plan and automate posts.
  • Schedule posts to maintain a consistent presence without manual effort.
  • Example: Plan a month’s content to ensure regular posting.

7. Analyzing and Adjusting Your Strategy

Constantly review and refine your strategy based on performance and feedback.

• Tracking Performance:
  • Regularly check Instagram Insights to monitor your posts’ performance.
  • Analyse metrics like likes, comments, saves, and shares.
  • Example: If posts with motivational quotes receive more likes, consider posting them more frequently.
• Adjusting Based on Data:
  • Identify trends and patterns in your most successful posts.
  • Adjust your content strategy to focus more on what works.
  • Example: If video content receives more engagement than photos, incorporate more videos.
• Experimentation and Feedback:
  • Test new content types, formats, and posting times.
  • Seek feedback from followers and be open to making changes.
  • Example: Experiment with different kinds of Reels to see which format your audience prefers.

Conclusion

Growing your Instagram following requires a strategic approach and a deep audience understanding. You can attract and retain followers by posting high-quality, engaging content and actively interacting with your community. Remember to analyse your performance and continually adjust your strategy based on what resonates with your audience. Start implementing these tips today, and watch your Instagram following flourish!