How To Get Noticed On Instagram

Instagram is a very visual social media platform. Simply put, the site focuses on the publishing and sharing of photos and other visual content in order to measure engagement and gain a following. Perhaps the first step you should take in your Instagram marketing process is to evaluate the types of images you post and make sure they are well-suited for both your profile and your target audience. When consumers are scrolling past dozens of business ads or posts each day, you need to make sure that your images are captivating and engaging enough to stand out from the rest. This is the first important step to take when learning how to get noticed on Instagram.

You should only post high-quality images or graphics so your customers can see the value in your services. (You might even want to invest in professional product photography, so your audience can be reassured that any products you sell are high-quality and worth purchasing.) Be aware of Instagram’s standard picture sizing and resolution, so that you can make the most of your space. Try to create visual content that is appealing and attention-grabbing, but not so full of material that it becomes overwhelming to look through. The main goal is to stand out, while also remaining professional. And since there are a lot of different ways to create unique and stunning images for your Instagram profile, you can experiment and find what works best for your business. 

Hashtags are a great way for Instagram users to find the content they want to see, so it benefits you to use them on your business account. A common issue, though, is that businesses tend to either use too many hashtags and/or use the wrong ones. You have the option to use up to 30 hashtags in each post, and while there’s no industry standard for how many you should limit yourself too, try to use only as many as you need. You want to attract people looking for tags relevant to your field, but that extra clutter could deter these potential customers from following you. 

Another tip is to avoid using excessively popular tags like “#love” or “#happy” because your post will be hard to find amidst the millions of others using the same tag. Try to vary your hashtags from post to post depending on the content and subject. Not only will your hashtags be more relevant and easier to find, but you’ll also attract a greater variety of people by switching them up occasionally.

Customers like to see consistency and credibility from brands. One way to ensure that your business profile comes off as trustworthy and professional is by establishing your digital brand image and aesthetic. Posting content that is similar in tone and appearance helps you represent your business in a more cohesive way, and it creates consistency for your online presence. Interested customers will be able to get a better sense of who you are and what you do, and they’ll be more likely to trust your business based on this aesthetic connection alone.

If you want to reach a certain audience, you have to focus your efforts around them. Some of the other tips on this list play into how you can appeal to your audience, but the overall goal is to create a space that your targeted customers want to be a part of. Making your content relevant to your target audience is necessary in gaining their attention and trust, and it makes them more likely to do business with you. Every part of your profile – from images, to captions, to hashtags, and more – should reflect what your business provides and how that’s relevant to users’ interests and needs. You have products or services that they’re looking for, so make sure that they can find you.

A really great way to build your Instagram following is by interacting with the people who engage with your content (or even content related to your field). By tagging people in your posts, responding to comments, liking or following other businesses in your industry, and more, you open yourself up to a bigger community. Boosting your posts through Instagram’s advertising platform is a great way to extend the reach of your posts and encourage more engagement as well. Customers want to do business with companies they trust, and there’s no better way to build relationships digitally than with Instagram. This platform sees much more customer activity than any other social media site, so not only is it easy to form bonds with your followers, it’s also extremely beneficial for your business. You’ll build meaningful relationships and create loyal customers that stay with you in the long-term.

One initial question you may have is, “how often should I post?” Businesses with successful Instagram followings have found that posting too much can actually hurt your image – so make sure you post at the right frequency, and at the right times. Posting too many times within a short period of time can overwhelm your followers and actually drive them away. Vice versa, only posting a couple times a week can make your account seem inactive to a degree. Try posting only a few times a day at most, and spreading them out throughout the day. You can even work your posting schedule around the times that most users are on the site. The Instagram algorithm takes both chronological time as well as engagement and relevance into consideration when determining which posts to share on a user’s feed. By taking these factors into account with your own posts and posting schedule, you can ensure that your posts have more visibility and are more meaningful to your viewers.