Are you looking to grow your Instagram account but not seeing the results you want? Maybe you’re making one or more of these common mistakes that are preventing you from reaching your target audience.

Don’t worry, because this article will outline six of the most common mistakes people make when trying to grow their Instagram following, and how to avoid them. So read on and start seeing the results you deserve!

Buying Followers

One of the most common mistakes people make when growing their Instagram following is buying followers. This might seem like an easy solution at first, but it’s one of the worst things you can do.

Not only will your follower count be artificially inflated, but people will quickly catch on that you have fake followers and they’ll be less likely to follow you themselves. Therefore, avoid buying followers if you want to grow your Instagram the right way. There are plenty of organic methods that are much more effective and won’t get you in trouble.

Spamming

When you’re first starting, it can be tempting to spam people in the hopes that they’ll follow you back. But this is one of the surest ways to get people to unfollow you instead. No one wants to be bombarded with messages and requests from someone they don’t even know, so avoid spamming people if you want them to follow you. A much better approach is to connect with people genuinely and try to build relationships.

For example, if you’re a photographer, find other photographers on Instagram and leave thoughtful comments on their photos. Or if you’re a chef, fellow food bloggers and engage with them by sharing your recipes in the comments. By taking the time to connect with people, you’ll be much more likely to grow a following of people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say.

Posting Irrelevant Content

If you want people to follow you, you must post content that is relevant to them. For example, if you’re trying to grow a following of fashionistas, posting photos of your cats or your latest meal isn’t going to do much to engage them. But if you post photos of your latest fashion haul or share styling tips, you’ll be much more likely to get their attention. Therefore, make sure you’re posting content that is relevant to the audience you’re trying to reach.

Additionally, it’s important to avoid posting too much promotional content. Although you want people to follow you so you can promote your products or services, bombarding them with sales pitches is a surefire way to get them to unfollow you. Instead, focus on providing value and building relationships, and promoting your products or services in a way that is subtle and unobtrusive.

Not Interacting With Your Followers

Make sure you’re interacting with your followers regularly. Like and comment on their photos, answer their questions and start conversations. The more you interact with your followers, the more likely they are to stick around. Additionally, by interacting with your followers, you’ll be able to get to know them better and learn what kinds of content they want to see from you.

Make sure you’re also taking the time to interact with people who aren’t yet your followers. If someone leaves a comment on one of your photos, take the time to respond to them. Or if you see someone talking about your industry in a post, jump in and start a conversation. By being active and engaging with people, you’ll be much more likely to grow your Instagram following.

Failing to Use Hashtags

If you’re not using hashtags, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to reach new people. When you use relevant hashtags, your photos will be discoverable by people who are interested in that topic. For example, if you’re a travel photographer, using hashtags like #travelphotography or #wanderlust will help you reach people who are interested in that topic.

Additionally, make sure you’re using a mix of popular and niche hashtags. Popular hashtags like #instagood or #photooftheday will help you reach a wider audience, while niche hashtags like #leicacameraclub or #nikonnofilter will help you reach a more targeted audience.

Not Posting Regularly

Another mistake people make when trying to grow their Instagram following is not posting regularly. If you only post once in a while, people are going to forget about you and eventually stop following you. But if you post regularly, you’ll be able to keep your followers engaged and interested in what you have to say.

Ideally, you should be posting once or twice a day. But if that’s not possible, make sure you’re at least posting several times a week. Consistency is key when it comes to growing your Instagram following.

There are a few key mistakes you could be making that are preventing you from growing your Instagram account. By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll be able to grow a following of people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say.

Make sure you’re interacting with your followers regularly and post regularly to keep them engaged. Additionally, use hashtags to reach new people who are interested in your content.