How to Grow on Instagram Fast: 1000 Followers in Under 3 Months.

After three months of posting almost every day to my instagram - I finally hit 1000 followers! This feels like a massive milestone as I remember saying when I started my account that if I ever make it that far I'll consider it a success. At the time I didn't really know how long it would take or if I would even stick it out that long - I had a blog instagram a few years ago that took me AGES to grow. I posted semi regularly (approx 3 times a week) and it took me a year to hit 300 followers. However, since then I have worked as a Social Media Manager and I feel like I understand the platform a lot better from both a professional and individual sense. So today I wanted to share my top tips on how to reach your first 1000 followers AND have a high engagement rate (Mine is 9.96%).

1. Be Consistent

There is a lot of debate at the minute as to whether posting every day or a few times a week is best. In my experience the Instagram algorithm favours consistency - meaning posting daily at roughly the same time each day. 

I would suggest looking at your insights and going to the audience tab. If you scroll down a little, Instagram will show you when your audience is most active. Aim to post everyday at this point. This will give you the best chance of increasing your reach and engagement. For me this is between 6 and 9pm so I aim to post at about 6:30pm to get the most views possible. Remember: photos on Instagram have a limited lifespan so post towards the start of your audiences most active hours. 

Being consistent with your posts not only helps the algorithm, but it makes you more memorable to your audience. If you follow 800 people and post everyday, your audience is more likely to remember your face / posts than someone who only posts once a week and may get caught up in the feed.  

2. Use Instagram Stories Daily

I know that sometimes this is easier said than done. I have days when I feel like I have nothing to post about. Like literally nothing. But Instagram stories is such a fantastic tool because it shows a less 'filtered' version of the person you follow and they're a great way to make a real connection with your audience. I know that when I watch people's stories, I like to feel like I'm getting a glimpse into their real life. It makes Instagram more personal and less polished.

On stories I still try and post things that are relevant to my niche, but you can be a bit more relaxed here. If you strictly post fashion content, showing your new makeup finds or what you're having for dinner wouldn't feel out of place on your stories.

*Top Tip* Be sure to use Instagrams built in features like gifs and the temperature symbol etc. I don't have any solid evidence but my views tend to be better when I do which makes me think the algorithm prefers it.

3. Follow loops, engagement pods etc

I think everyone has their opinion on whether using follow threads and that kind of thing is worth it. On the one hand, it's a great way for a quick follow boost, on the other: is it actually going to be worth it in the long run because your followers won't be genuine 'fans' of your content. 

My opinion is that follow threats with no firm requirement to follow back (I've seen Facebook groups that kick you out of the group for not following back all 100+ people in under 15 mins) and that are relevant to your niche are no problem. It can actually be a great way to discover new accounts and build connections. 

I have a problem with them (as I said above) when they become a high pressure thing where everyone MUST follow everyone else regardless of their gender, age, content and niche. Having an extra 300 followers means nothing if they're not interested in what you post and won't engage with it. In fact all this will do is negatively impact your engagement rate. 

My recommendation would be: be careful. By all means use some of follow threads on Twitter that are targeted to your niche, but don't rely on them. You want people to find your content organically however that being said, they can be a great way to give your numbers a boost now and then. 

4. Use Twitter to Your Advantage

Twitter has the best blogger community from what I've found. Facebook is too focused on 'follow groups' and 'engagement pods' and it all seems very fake to me. No one genuinely seems to want to connect it's just a constant stream of 'follow me, I don't care who you are, I just need 10K so brands will give me more free stuff'. I doubt most of the people on these groups have genuine engaged audiences. 

But Twitter is a more friendly community for bloggers to get to know each other and ask questions and engage with people they wouldn't have previously found. Even if you don't use your Twitter to constantly tweet about your Instagram, it's a great way to meet more likeminded people and get more involved in the blogging world. 

5. Curate your Feed with Inspiring Content

This really should have come at the start because I truly believe that without an aesthetically beautiful Instagram it probably won't go that far. That might sound really blunt but Instagram is a visual platform and we are bombarded with beautiful content on the daily. If your individual photos and your feed as a whole doesn't look stylised then a possible new follower will probably just click off your profile. 

Some of the apps that I use and their purpose:

Facetune: Renowned as the retouch app, this does way more than just give the Kylie Jenner fake waist look. Personally I don't edit my body in my photos but I do use some of the amazing tools such as 'makeup' to go over background and enhance individual colours. I could literally do a whole post about this app, I think it's one of the best on the market.

Preview / Planoly: Instagram feed planning apps. Both are free and absolutely ESSENTIAL if you want your feed to look curated.

Lightroom App: General touch ups like exposure, saturation and contrast. If you use presets this is the app to have as well.

Unfold: If you want to take your stories up a notch - this is the app for you. I use the free version but there is a paid one too. 

I'm actually thinking about doing a whole post dedicated to how to achieve a seamless and attractive feed so let me know if that's something you would like to see!

So they're my main tips! Be sure to follow my Instagram as I post daily and follow back all bloggers!

If you want to see anymore posts about instagram such as a more detailed look into some of the best photo editing apps or how to achieve a curated theme, let me know and I'll be sure to write it!