Why Is Instagram Account Growth Important for Your Business? 

Social media platforms offer excellent promotional opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses. Instagram, in particular, is a popular online medium where you can effectively market your products and services using appealing visual content. If you’ve already set up your business account on this platform, you’ve likely noticed that achieving organic growth isn’t as simple as it may seem. Several factors, including Instagram shadowban, can make it challenging.

This article delves into ten practical tips on growing a presence on Instagram and promoting your account for your target audience. Read on to discover what to focus on and avoid in your pursuit of online success. 

10 advanced tips on growing your business account on Instagram 

Before promoting your business profile, check if Instagram has placed any restrictions on your account. For example, if you’ve engaged in suspicious activity like getting unusually high or atypical reach on your posts artificially, your content might be limited. Another challenge you might face is the dreaded Instagram shadowban.

But what exactly is an Instagram shadowban? It’s when your posts get censored or hidden for various reasons. This could happen if you use hashtags that violate Instagram’s rules, such as #anorexia, #cancer, or #endme. To avoid these restrictions, familiarize yourself with Instagram’s Community Guidelines.

#1 Make reels 

Based on research conducted by Emplifi, reels surpass all other types of Instagram content. They achieve a 55% higher level of engagement than feed posts and a 29% greater level than traditional videos. So, if you’re searching for organic Instagram growth strategies, reel production can be a good choice. 

Instagram reels are fun, engaging videos that marketers can use to demonstrate typical situations consumers face, provide solutions to clients’ pain points, and explain business products in a concise manner.

To make reels work for your businesses, follow these tips: 

1. Keep your videos short and funny;
2. Encourage viewers to interact with your brand through account following, commenting, or liking;
3. Show the personalities behind your company;
4. Incorporate trending and relevant music;
5. Provide subtitles;
6. Tell mini-stories. 

#2 Use the storytelling technique in your stories

Newbie entrepreneurs often overlook the potential of Instagram stories. Nonetheless, it’s a great way to engage and connect with your audience, especially for brands offering information-based services like courses, webinars, and paid checklists. It also works well for product-based brands. For example, if you’re into crafting handmade candles, why not share the story behind your goods? Talk about how you selected the scents for your creations and the challenges you encountered while choosing materials and suppliers.

#3 Highlight your Instagram account on the company website

An effective marketing strategy involves strategically guiding the user’s journey. Potential customers are likely interested in viewing your products, so they’ll start by visiting your website. Afterward, they’ll want to delve into your brand on social media, particularly Instagram, given its emphasis on visual content.

To maximize consumer engagement with your brand, feature links to your social media accounts on your website. They are usually displayed as platform-specific icons located in the website’s footer.

#4 Optimize your bio 

One common mistake that can slow down your business growth on Instagram is having an incorrectly filled-out bio section. Many entrepreneurs aim to add something unique and creative, but ironically, they miss the chance for potential customers to discover their brand through search. The truth is, most consumers find brands using keywords.

So, what should you include in your bio? 

• Your brand name;
• A brief business description;
• Contact information;
• Locations;
• Call-to-action (CTA);
• Website link. 

#5 Publish useful content

Social media platforms serve as entertainment hubs where people can have a good time or find valuable information. Direct and pushy advertising doesn’t perform well in this environment. Instead, content marketing is a valuable approach. You can captivate your audience with informative, well-crafted, and engaging posts. The important thing is to focus on content that revolves around your customers, not just your company.

Here are some Instagram content ideas for a small business that you can adopt depending on your goals and specifics: 

1. “How-to” posts;
2. Product showcases;
3. Behind the scenes of your business operations;
4. Your brand success stories;
5. Contests;
6. Seasonal holidays and worldwide events;
7. Milestone celebrations;
8. Q&A sessions;
9. Sneak peaks;
10. Interactive stories;
11. Customer spotlights; 
12. Tips and tricks with your products.

Instagram offers several post formats like feed posts, carousels, reels, and stories. Make sure to combine them all when developing your content plan. 

#6 Collaborate with Instagram influencers in your niche 

Instagram bloggers are thought leaders, so many people trust their recommendations when it comes to purchasing products and services. You can harness this by collaborating with popular influencers in your niche or by sending them your products for review. However, before deciding to work with a specific blogger, ensure that they have an authentic, real audience, not one that’s artificially inflated.

FAQ: Who is the highest-paid Instagrammer? 

As of 2023, the well-known Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid Instagram influencer, averaging $3.2 million per post. This marks an increase from the $2.3 million per post he made in the previous year.

#7 Utilize proper hashtags 

Instagram hashtags are a versatile way to achieve your business growth. They are keywords added to posts that allow users to quickly find relevant information. However, to make hashtags work, you should know how to select them properly. 

Here are some tips: 

• Assess hashtag popularity;
• Use up to five hashtags per post; 
• Combine low-frequency and high-frequency keywords;
• Develop unique branded hashtags;
• Utilize online hashtag generators like Ahrefs for assistance.

#8 Communicate with your audience 

When your posts receive comments and likes, it indicates a connection with your audience. Make sure to engage in this dialogue! Such community management allows you to find ways to enhance your business, address any issues, and show your audience that you’re attentive to their needs.

#9 Test the best time to post your content 

Low-reach issues can be due to posting at unpopular times for your audience. Since every business has its unique customer base, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here; you need to experiment with different timing options. You can also utilize analytics tools from the Meta Business Suite panel, which displays the most popular times your followers are active on social media.

#10 Reap the benefits of paid ads 

According to Metricool, getting organic followers is harder due to Instagram’s algorithms. That’s why paid Meta ads work better. In the Instagram interface, there are two types of promotion available: direct within the post panel or through Meta Business Suite. The latter offers a multitude of opportunities for precise targeting, making it a preferable choice.

FAQ: How can you make your Instagram business grow faster?

Since Meta has restrictions on organic promotions, you should be consistent. This requires regular posting, communication with your target audience, making relevant reels, and investing in paid advertising. Also, Instagram is a visual platform, so its users pay special attention to the design of your business account. You can also consider other social media, like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, for business promotions. 

FAQ: How do small businesses grow Instagram followers?

To increase your Instagram followers, it’s essential to regularly post content, utilize relevant hashtags, and respond to comments to foster organic growth. Some small businesses may attempt to boost their follower count by purchasing subscriptions. However, this approach is not recommended. Your account should have an authentic and engaged audience that shares your values and is genuinely interested in purchasing products from your brand.

Wrapping up 

Instagram and small businesses can be a good match for promotional campaigns. For this reason, we recommend tailoring your marketing strategy to the platform. It’s important to be consistent, engage your target audience, share valuable content, and refrain from using unethical promotion methods, such as mass follower boosting. With the right approach, you can expect to see positive results in no time.