In today’s day and age, it is more important than ever to leverage your social media presence. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are just a few of the many social media platforms that can help you connect with your audience. In fact, an overwhelming number of marketers are using social media as a tool to drive their traditional marketing efforts. If you want an impressive online presence, a large social media following is indispensable. You can do this by increasing your Instagram followers with these expert tips.

1) Invest in an Instagram growth service

You can choose to boost your followers yourself or you can invest in an IG growth service that will do the bulk of the work for you. There are plenty of Instagram growth services out there and according to this article, the best ones include Social Buddy, Kicksta, Social Sensei, etc.

You can check out the Likes.io reviews posted on The Small Business Blog as well because this growth site is a great way to help you with a variety of different engagement needs.

Some growth services can offer you fake followers, which will harm your account in the long term, but there are several good Instagram growth services available today that will build your following organically and safely. That’s why it’s important to do your research before deciding on which IG growth service you want to use.

2) Post-High-Quality Photos And Videos

High-quality content is the foundation of every successful Instagram account, no matter what niche it’s for or who runs it. If you are running a personal account that isn’t related to your business then share lifestyle photos and videos of you hanging out with friends, attending events, or taking trips. However, if you are using Instagram to drive traffic to your business website then always remember that the images should revolve around what your company is selling. If you are selling women’s clothing for example then post high-quality photos that show off the latest trends in women’s fashion. Make sure that your photos and videos aren’t blurry and also make your photos stand out by using high-quality and sophisticated filters designed to beautify the photo and make it more aesthetically pleasing. You can use user-generated video platforms to collect, edit, and display user-generated video content for your marketing campaigns.

3) Interact with Your Followers Through Hashtags

One of the quickest ways to increase your Instagram following is by participating in conversations with other Instagrammers through hashtags. By interacting on a more personal level, you can strengthen your bond with your existing followers and potentially turn them into lifelong customers. However, don’t overdo it. If you are commenting on every other photo on your feed, you will appear desperate and spammy. Some examples of hashtags you can use to start a conversation include #photooftheday, #tbt, and even quirky hashtags like #fbf (Flashback Friday) or #wiwt (What I Wore Today).

4) Engage With Influencers Within Your Niche

There are always popular Instagram accounts within certain niches, for example, fashion bloggers or fitness gurus. Find out who the most popular influencers are in your niche and start following them. You can also comment on their photos or even send them a DM to let them know that you are looking to connect with similar Instagram accounts. If they think you could benefit from each other’s following then they will most likely follow you back. However, do not just blindly connect with influencers. Always take the time to understand their audience and if it is in line with the target market that you are trying to reach out to before following or connecting with them.

5) Don’t Ignore The Power Of Word-of-Mouth.

That’s right. Word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful marketing types in existence and it works just as well on social media. If you want to increase your Instagram followers then ask your friends, family members or colleagues to follow you on Instagram. You can also encourage your current followers to share and tag their friends and family in the comments section of your posts. If one of your followers shares one of your posts on social media, there is a good chance that some of their friends will take a look at it and click on your profile.

6) Use A Call-To-Action In Your Bio.

Every Instagram account has a bio section where you can write a short description about yourself or your business, and you should always include a call to action in this section. Tell your audience exactly what they need to do, for example, if you are a fitness blogger then you can write something like, “Click the link in my bio to shop my latest looks.” This way, people know exactly what they need to do to follow you and it encourages them to click on your link. You can also put links to various petitions in your bio so your followers can sign up. This way, they’ll know that you are trying to accomplish something while gaining more followers at the same time.

7) Link Your Social Media Accounts Together.

If you have a Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube account then make sure that you link all of these accounts together on your Instagram profile. This way, if one of your followers follows you on one of these social media sites then they are more likely to follow you on Instagram as well. If you don’t have an account for one of these sites, consider opening them to increase your social media presence.

8) Make Giveaway Contests

Social media users love free stuff, especially if there are changes to win prizes along the way. To increase your Instagram followers then make a contest where every follower you gain counts as a new entry. You can make this contest anything you like; for example, your contest could focus on the number of followers and the winner could receive an item from your store (if you run an online shop). If you do not have a shop then choose something else that is relevant to your business such as an iPad or some other gadget. Just make sure that you choose something worth winning because people will not follow you if they do not consider the prize worthwhile.

Online presence is important these days, and social media is where it’s at. That makes leveraging your Instagram presence even more important. These 8 tips should help you amp up the number of followers that see your posts and increase your exposure in general.