Instagram has rapidly grown over the years as one of the strongest social media platforms. It has become one of the go-to avenues for individuals and companies alike to establish their brand identity and connect with their target audience. Naturally, with a platform that boasts over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, many are fixated on the one metric that seems to define popular success - followers count.
While a high number of followers does translate to greater visibility, it’s essential to note that the metrics are a means and not an end to brand growth on Instagram. In this article, we will explore how else you can hack the optics, leverage other key metrics and build a lasting brand on Instagram.
1. Branding Beyond Followers:
While growing your followers count is great in the short term, it’s not sustainable growth in the long run. Focusing on building your brand identity is key. To do this, authenticity is everything, so be consistent in your visual identity, style, and tone of your content. Your brand aesthetic is like its digital fingerprint, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your content to find what works. A consistent aesthetic can be the difference between someone scrolling past your content and a potential follow. Create a story through your content and prompt your audience to engage with you.
2. Engagement Rate & Reputation:
Your engagement rate is a key indicator of how well your audience perceives your content. Beyond the number of likes and comments, your engagement rate reflects how receptive your audience is to your message. If your content resonates with your audience, they’re likely to engage in meaningful conversations in your post. The ability to generate discussions and participate in them naturally boosts your reputation, and having a strong one will keep your followers coming back to your page for more insightful and engaging content.
3. Niche is Critical:
Specialized pages with a particular niche have a better chance of attracting a loyal following. Your content should reflect the specifics of your niche, and your captions should be detailed to showcase your unique perspective. People on Instagram are looking for unique and genuine content they can connect with. Being too broad in your content can be overwhelming for your audience, and they may lose sight of why they follow you in the first place.
4. Consistency is Key:
Instagram rewards pages that are consistent with their content. Your audience will always look forward to consistent content from you. You could leverage Instagram’s scheduling feature to maintain weekly or bi-weekly posts to serve your audience. Additionally, maintaining an effective content calendar could make your posting easier while maintaining a consistent tone and quality.
5. Beyond Instagram:
Lastly, it’s crucial to remember that Instagram should only be used as a supporting platform. Use Instagram as an avenue to direct your followers to your website, blog, or other social media platforms where they can learn more about you. Cross-promoting your other channels helps in growth and increases your brand visibility.
Growing your followers on Instagram is not the ultimate goal for your brand identity or digital marketing. While the followers are essential, the quality of followers and content engagement rate, branding, niche, and consistency are equally important. By prioritizing these metrics, you are positioning and building your brand in a platform overflowing with creative content. These strategies take time and patience, but with a dedicated and consistent approach to your content in branding and maintaining a voice, the benefits of social media platform Instagram go beyond the number of followers you have.