How can I increase my Instagram followers for my business?

No matter how much I do, my followers just couldn't grow!

Having more followers on your Instagram business may not equate to more sales. However, having more followers does reflect a store's reliability and increase the chances of potential customers through word of mouth. We have identified eight ways to help you grow your followers!

1) Giveaways

2) Hashtags

3) Competitors' Followers

4) Advertisements

5) Reaching Out First

6) Collaborations

7) Sponsorships

8) Be Unique

1) Giveaways

Giveaways mean that an item is given away for free, usually for promotional purposes.

How does it increase my followers?

- To enter the giveaway, followers have to repost your giveaway post on their Instagram story and follow your account

- Accounts who follow the giveaway participants will know about your business

- Giveaway participants may multiply, so does your Instagram followers

2) Hashtags

Hashtags are used to categorize content and make it more discoverable.

How does it increase my followers?

- Anyone who conducts a search on a hashtag, means they are interested in the content

- If your account has a particular hashtag and interest others, they may follow your account to see more related content in future

3) Competitors' Followers

Your competitors are businesses in the same industry or selling similar items as you. 

How does it increase my followers?

- Follow the accounts that follow your competitors

- When you follow your competitors' followers, they will receive a new follower notification on Instagram and may visit your account

- Accounts that follow your competitors means that they are interested in their product or service

- If they are more interested in your products, your competitors' customers may buy from you instead

4) Advertisements

Instagram allows paid advertisements, and you may choose to promote to your target audience.

How does it increase my followers?

- People within the target audience that you set will be eligible to see your promotion

- If they are interested, they will check out your account

5) Reaching Out First

Reaching out first means that you take the extra step to message others first instead of having them find your account. Example: "Hi! If you are interested in stationary, do check out my profile for affordable stationery starting from $1!"

How does it increase my followers?

If the person you reach out to are keen on purchasing stationary and likes your account, that will mean extra sales, and additional follower

6) Collaborations

A collaboration is usually unpaid. Sometimes, business will give a discount code for their store in return for the product to be promoted on their Instagram account.

How does it increase my followers?

Collaborators will have the benefit of receiving the product or service at a lower price compared to others; however, they can promote free on their Instagram page. Your Instagram followers will increase with the promotional post

7) Sponsorships

A sponsorship is when you approach an influencer or an Instagram account with many followers and send them a product for free to promote on their page.

Sometimes, they may request payment, and it depends on how you negotiate.

How does it increase my followers?

- Influencers have a trusted image. Fans or people who follow them will trust the brands they chose to promote.

- Your Instagram followers will increase with the promotional post and may even increase sales as well.

8) Be Unique

Being unique means that your business has something different from other stores. For example, having same day delivery or able to personalize their product

How does it increase my followers?

Having something different makes your business stand out from others. Many people will be more interested in something different and new!