How do I grow my Instagram account?  This is probably one of the top questions I receive that is not home decor related.  I briefly talked about this subject over on Instagram a few weeks ago.  And, I’ve had hundreds of messages wanting me to repeat several things, so I decided it would be easier to put it all in a blog post so it’s ALWAYS available for anyone interested.

First things first.  I’m not an expert on growing Instagram accounts.  I’m not an expert on anything really.  ????  I know a little about LOTS of subjects, but that’s about it.  I am not writing this post to discredit anyone who has written posts before on this subject either.  What worked for them a year or two ago, may not work now.  I am only sharing what I do know that has worked FOR ME.

Instagram and THE ALGORITHM

Algorithm:  A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer…..  A procedure that determines what kind of information is retrieved from a large mass of data

Instagram is forever changing the way they allow people to view different accounts.  It’s called an algorithm.  Six months before I started, there was no such thing as an algorithm.  People would post a picture and it would be seen by nearly EVERYONE on the platform.  Which made it so simple for people to grow their account without really trying.  I’m not at all saying people back then didn’t work hard at it…..  I’m saying that there is no way anyone could get 75,000 followers in less than three months these days.  NO.FREAKING.WAY.

For those of you who have been on Instagram for months, you can attest to that statement.  You know how hard you work for every single follower you have.

So….. Let’s talk Followers

Why do you want to grow your account?

The first question you should ask yourself is why do you want to grow your account?  Do you specifically want to grow your Instagram account just to say you have X amount of followers?   Do you own a business and use Instagram as a means for advertising?  Is it a goal for you to become on online influencer and work with companies?   There are several ways people gain followers on Instagram.

Giveaways, Follow Trains, and Hashtags

Giveaways

There are different types of giveaways.  There are giveaways when you work with companies to promote certain products.  Example:  Follow me and Company Bee and you will be entered to win this prize. Or, lots of people do giveaways in conjunction with holidays to give back to their followers as a thank you.

There are International giveaways.  Example:  Pay $60 and don’t post anything on your feed.  You will gain 5,000 followers overnight.  These work to gain a ton of followers if that is your main goal.

Follow Trains

Follow Trains are another common way to gain followers.  It’s like a “you follow me and I will follow you” type of thing.

Hashtags

Several people host and play hashtags to gain followers.  Example:   Add a hashtag to your photo and follow all hosts for a chance to get picked to be their feature for the week.  Your feature photo will be shared with all of the hosts the next week and be seen by lots of people.

Let’s Refocus

What are the Important Numbers on Your Account

I talked above about different ways to gain followers and now I’m telling you to refocus.  I’m sure you are thinking, “Listen old lady… you aren’t making any sense.”  But ALL of the above is very, very important for what I’m going to tell you next.  I asked you above WHY you want to grow your account.  I’m going to specifically talk about working with companies.  Because that’s what I do.

I pay attention to my follower account somewhat.  I use it as a gauge to make sure I’m on the right track with my content.  But, I don’t obsess on wanting it higher… or to reach a certain number.  Because that is not the number that is important anymore when working with companies.  This day and age, what is important is the engagement rate…..  How many people interact with your photos and stories?

Here is an example that I like to give.

Karen’s goal is to have a HUGE follower count.  That’s it.  She entered several international giveaways and gained 6,000 followers over night.    She finally reached her goal of 100,000 followers.  Woohoo!  Her photos on her feed get 250 likes and 10 comments.

CAROL has 15,000 followers that seems like took an eternity to get.  But, every time she posts on her feed, she gets 1,000 likes and 200 comments.

What Companies Want from Me These Days

Remember:   I’m no expert.  I’m not at all claiming to know everything about this subject.  All I know is what I know from my own experience.

Over the last year, I’ve seen a shift in what companies want from me.  I am asked to screen shot my numbers.  And by numbers, I’m not talking my follower count.  They want to see screenshots of the following stats on my Instagram business account:

• My demographics – The top five cities of where my followers live  (I can only assume this is to make sure that most of my followers aren’t from overseas. When I am working with a company within the United States, they will want their audience near.)
• The average age of my followers
• A screen shot of how many people are watching my stories every day which boils down to engagement.

This tells me that companies are way smarter than what we think.  ????  Like the rest of us, they want the most for their money.  Again… I’m only sharing what I know.  Because what I know, is all I know.  ????

Let me know if I missed anything in this post by either commenting below or chatting with me over on Instagram.