How to Grow Your Brand on Instagram

Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users, so it comes as no surprise that many brands are struggling to grow on the platform. With the number of business accounts increasing on the platform daily, how does a brand grow on Instagram?

1. Define Your Target Audience

Before you start posting, it’s important to define your target audience via setting up a marketing strategy. This will help you understand the type of content that will resonate with your audience and attract the right kind of followers. Consider factors like demographics, interests, and location when scoping out your target audience.

2. Use a Consistent Visual Identity

Creating a consistent visual identity is essential for building brand recognition. Use the same colour scheme, fonts, and aesthetic in your posts and stories to establish a cohesive look and feel for your brand. This will help you to stand out and make your content more recognisable to your followers.

3. Post Quality Content Regularly

Consistency is key when it comes to growing your brand on Instagram. Posting high-quality content on a regular basis will not only signal to your followers what to expect from your brand, but will keep them engaged whilst attracting new followers. Consider creating a content calendar with planned reactive content for relevant awareness days and, as you would when creating any piece of content, ensure that what you’re creating is valuable to your audience.

4. Use Hashtags and Location Tags

Hashtags and location tags are a great way to increase the visibility of your posts and reach a wider audience. Use relevant hashtags that your target audience are likely to search for, but don’t overdo it! You can also create your own branded hashtags to encourage your followers to share content featuring your brand. Location tags are a great way to connect with users in your area.

5. Engage with Your Followers

Interacting with your followers is crucial for cultivating a sense of community. However, don’t just be reactive in your communications, you can like and comment on other users posts, and ask for feedback from your followers.

6. Collaborate with Influencers

Influencer partnerships can allow you to tap into an already engaged audience whilst building your brand credibility. Look for influencers who align with your brand values and who have a following that’s a match for your target audience.

7. Utilise Instagram Stories and Highlights

Instagram Stories and Highlights are a great way to showcase your brand personality, offering your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Use stories to share sneak peeks, announce promotions, and share customer testimonials. You can also use highlights to create a curated collection of your best content, making it easy for new followers to catch up on your brand’s story.

8. Make Use Of Paid Ads

Running Instagram Ads can be an effective way to increase the visibility of your brand and reach a larger audience than you would organically. Be sure to set clear goals for your ads, so you can measure how effective they are. You can target your audience based on demographics, interests and behaviours. Don’t be afraid to test different ads on your audience to find which works best.

9. Analyse Your Results

Measuring the success of your marketing efforts is crucial for improving your strategy and growing your brand. Use Instagram’s built-in analytics or third-party tools to track key metrics like engagement, reach, and conversion rates. This will help you to understand what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.

Your follower count won’t increase overnight, but remember, slow and steady wins the race. By consistently posting quality content, cultivating that community feel and adapting your social media strategy, you’ll see growth in the long term.