1. Save your cash We’ll start by saying you should never purchase likes or followers for Instagram (or any social media). The algorithms in place can detect this and it could lead to the deletion of your account. Grow organically.
2. Eye-catching content Instagram is all about grabbing attention through images. Like Pinterest , your content should be striking yet informative. It’s good to have a balance of what you publish. Images that are bright and bold typically do well. It may be worth using professional photography to showcase some of your products.
3. Descriptions, descriptions, descriptions! A photo by itself may get likes, but it won’t inspire your followers or get you new ones. Pair each shot with related text and try to keep the elements in sync. Instagram automatically condenses your descriptions to one to two lines which viewers must click to expand. Keep this in mind and offer something concise yet compelling to draw in new followers.

4. You can #hashtag that On Instagram, you’re allowed up to 30 hashtags on a single post. With the ability to connect to even more than just your followers, we suggest you use them all. Rather than in your description, add the hashtags in a comment. These tags should be relevant to what you offer but also connect with your target audience (read: your potential customers).Avoid tags such as #follow4follow, #f4f, and other spam-like tags. These won’t draw in valuable Instagrammers. You can certainly use your own unique tags too. Just check out our blog on how to Make the Most of Hashtags for Your Business.
5. More than just a pretty picture With Instagram, you have a variety of creative outlets. In addition to photos, you can also upload videos. But, there are a variety of apps to help you create even more. Instagram has three companion apps that are great: Boomerang, Layout, and Hyperlapse. Boomerang produces GIF-like videos, Layout allows for photo and video collages, and Hyperlapse lets you create timelapse videos.Using a variety of media types will keep your followers interested as well as attract a wider audience.
6. Content and Engagement go together like… …love and marriage. Like all social media, you should be interacting with your followers and potential followers. There’s no point in sharing striking content if you leave comments unanswered. Start replying and use Instagram’s latest feature: the ability to “heart” each comment. This sends a notification to the writer that you’ve liked their comment.Don’t stop at your own images. Go through other accounts and start up some engagement with comments. Keep in mind, it’s more valuable to engage with potential customers rather than similar accounts to yours (and possibly competitors).

7. Follow who matters On that note, you should only follow accounts that are worthwhile. Of course, following @dogsofinstagram will certainly brighten your day, but you won’t gain anything back for your business. Instead, go for would-be clientele or even fringe customers.If you’re a kitchens and bathrooms company, you may want to get involved with users who express interest in DIY, home accessories, and the like. You can begin to find these accounts by searching for relevant hashtags. You may even stumble upon an account with thousands of followers. Use the opportunity to research their hashtags to further your reach.
8. Liven things up Rather than the typical photos and videos of objects, inject some personality into your posts with behind-the-scenes images. These can be of you and your team, other departments, or even a portion of an on-going project.By putting this out there, potential followers can see the people behind the brand which can create a stronger connection. If they know who you are, they may be more willing to reach out with a comment.
9. Define and evolve With such a visual platform, you’re really able to define your brand from the very first post. Unlike your website, you can update your account daily with fun and exciting content to grab the attention of the masses.Some ideas include to have a running theme (make sure to pair it with a hashtag), a weekly or daily post, or even use a frame for all of your uploads to get really cohesive branding.
Keep in mind that the goal of your brand definition and Instagram business account is to attract more and more followers (which can turn into more and more opportunities). Your brand can evolve as you wish, but keep those potential followers at the forefront of your decisions.