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November 20, 2019

How to Get to Your First 20k Followers on Instagram



Getting more followers is the long-standing goal of all Instagram business profiles. Typically, business owners set their goals in increments of 5k or 10k. When you’ve earned 10,000 followers, the next logical step is to reach for 20k.



It’s often said that getting your first 10,000 followers is always the hardest. After that it’s supposed to be easier. That may be true for many businesses, but it will still require a lot of planning, energy, and even money on your part.

As you hit the road towards earning your first 20k followers, listen to the advice of those who have gone before. According to the experts, here are some of the best strategies for reaching 20k.

Buy Followers

You’ve likely heard about buying followers, but opinions on this matter vary. Some say it’s a mistake while others say it’s a great way to build momentum for your brand. Who’s right?

Both are right partway. If all you do is buy Instagram followers and likes with little regard to creating high-quality content and generating engagement, you’ll certainly tank. But if you use the purchase of followers to spearhead your campaign to increase followers, but don’t rely on it for the long-term, you’re doing it right. I would suggest buying followers from here: https://viralrace.com/buy-instagram-followers.

When buying followers, be very careful with the companies that advertise them. Some sell fake followers or run scams. Look for companies that sell real Instagram followers, and do a little research to make sure it’s legitimate. 

Cross-Promote on Forums and Groups

Don’t forget that your target Instagram followers don’t spend all their time on Instagram. Boosting your Instagram profile and content is helpful, but it can also be useful to promote your Instagram presence on other channels.

Forums and social media groups are great for spreading the word about your Instagram brand. Reddit, Quora, YouTube channels, relevant Facebook (News - Alert) groups, blogs, and any other relevant gatherings of your target audience can lead others to your group.

All you have to do is join these groups and comment. In some cases, you can set up analytics using Google (News - Alert) or an online tool to notify you when a specific keyword is mentioned. Then, you can hop on and share useful information, your Instagram profile, blog posts, and any other content that will draw consumers to your profile.

Up Your Hashtag Game

If you’ve reached 10,000 followers or more, you’re likely aware of the benefits of hashtags, but if not, here’s a brief overview: They make your posts searchable so that those interested in certain keywords and/or topics can find your page. If they like what they see, they’ll follow your page.

Analyze your current hashtag strategy. Define what’s working and double your efforts to include more relevant hashtags and increase traffic. Identify the areas that need improvement and resolve those problems for future campaigns.

It might also be helpful to look at highly successful Instagram pages and identify the way they use hashtags for their campaigns. You can mimic some of their tactics with your own unique spin.

Exchange Endorsements

You’re not the only small-time Instagram brand that’s trying to reach 20k followers. There are thousands in the same boat as you, and many of them may be complementary, but not competitive to your own brand. Find such a brand and offer to make a deal: You’ll endorse their brand if they’ll endorse yours.

This simple act exposes your brand to thousands of potential followers, many of which have been looking for a brand just like yours. It’s also free marketing since you’re making a clear exchange with the other party.

Finding the right brand to make this exchange will take some planning and work. It can be tough to find the perfect match of a non-competitive brand with a similar audience base as your own. Not all Instagrammers will be interested in an exchange of services either.

Start by checking your own followers. Perhaps there’s a brand that fits the bill within your own network. You could also check Instagram influencer databases that might have lists of people you could connect with.

Link to IGTV Videos

Many brands are unfamiliar with IGTV and have no plans to change that, but if you want to boost your following, it’s a good idea to tap into this market, as well as Instagram live.

In case you’re not familiar with IGTV, it’s basically a platform within the app that lets businesses and individuals make their own channels to share long-form videos rather than the short-form clips that Instagram is famous for. Since video is such a powerful aspect of marketing, you can make a lot of connections with this channel.

With the use of IGTV, you can stay competitive in the social media realm. It gives you more opportunities to share high-value content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, sneak previews of new products, and informative segments. When consumers who frequently interact on IGTV see your content and like it, you may make a few lasting connections.

Promote Stories Highlights

Instagram Stories is a great way to provide relevant content in the moment, but it’s not always enough to capture the attention of a growing audience. The Stories are only there for 24 hours, and if you don’t post daily, your target audience might miss your messages altogether.

That’s where Stories highlights come in handy. This is a group of saved Stories that appear at the top of your profile. You’ll save the best of the best in this region so your existing followers can return to their favorite Stories and share your content. Additionally, any consumer interested in your brand can visit your profile and review the Stories. If they like what they see and hear, you’ll win another follower.

Instagram growth is in your reach if you’re willing to put in the time, effort, and research necessary to make it happen. Apply these tactics, constantly readjusting and improving them as you go. With time, you’ll easily reach 20k followers and beyond.



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