Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms. Brands and influencers are flocking it in order to gain their share of fame. The posting, sharing and scrolling on this platform is round the clock, though it may look fun and easy, there’s a lot that goes into building a famous account. If you want to up your ‘gram game’, here are a few tips on how to go about that; Post consistently Julius Mutaganzwa, a social media user, says it’s important to understand who your social media users are and post accordingly. First of all, you need to be very active and you need to post consistently, funny videos mostly, and inspiring ones. “Then you try to see that you are followed by your real friends before jumping to celebrities who can’t even give you a ‘like’. Slowly by slowly, people will like your posts,” he says. Instagram is mostly used by the youth. They are mostly interested in amazing photos and if you can post such, you are most likely to have more followers, Mutaganzwa adds. Authentic content Authenticity is the best way your followers can relate to you. It is, therefore, recommended to share content that is true to yourself, that depicts who you truly are and the things you love. Though this can be hard, especially when one wants to be ahead of the competition, it is better to be truthful and honest about who you are both online and offline. Influencers say this is the best way of building a personal brand. Define your niche On Instagram, just like with other social media platforms, it’s always better to have a niche. This makes it easier to gain followers, because with a niche you easily find your target audience. Do you want to focus on fashion, food recipes, or sports? Choosing your niche helps you and your audience know your area of focus, and apparently this is key to gaining followers. Build on engagement Mariah Tyler and Hillary Maglin write that engagement is allowing your follower base to get to know you (or at least a version of you). Consider telling a story or anecdote in the Instagram caption. When you’re commenting on another account’s post that you love, share your thoughts and try to personalise it so it doesn’t come across as spam. Through geotags and localised hashtags, engage with the community around you, as they may be interested in your posts while you’re sharing from that location. The frequency of posting also matters. It’s best to decide what sounds right for you and what time of day you notice your followers are more active. It’s important to follow accounts that you admire and that post similar content as you and even follow some of their followers to attract attention to your profile. Post quality content With Instagram, quality wins over quantity. Whether it’s a photo or video, make sure it’s of good quality. Actress Kevine Mudeyi Iradukunda thinks it a great strategy to post photos with attractive views and backgrounds. “Post cute pictures and do this a lot of times. Share them, do tags and mentions. The more you use Instagram, the more you get a lot of followers, likes and comments,” she says. Quality also applies to the relevance of the content—let your audience have access to content they would gain from; you can make it informative, supportive or even entertaining. This is the definite way to conquer the social media game. It is also said to be the best way to essentially build esteem and trust with your audience.
