Have you set the goal of growing your Instagram account, but continue to fall short? Are you wondering what you're doing wrong, as you watch other accounts in your space grow by leaps and bounds with each passing day?
Just because you've struggled to make progress to date doesn't mean things will remain this way in the future. All it takes is a few changes to your approach, and you'll soon find yourself growing your Instagram account and taking advantage of all the benefits that come along with doing so.
Start by taking an overview of your strategy. From how you repost content to the steps you're taking to convert followers into paying customers, you need to understand everything about your strategy and the impact it's having.
Once you do that, you can turn your attention to some of the more common reasons why people fail to grow their Instagram account. One or more of these reasons may be holding you back from reaching your goals:
1. They Give Up Too Soon
If you go into the process assuming that you'll achieve "fast and furious" growth, you may be disappointed with what you experience.
Typically, slow and steady is what you can expect when it comes to growing your Instagram account. Some days and weeks will be better than others, but this is what most people experience.
Don't count on one or two viral posts helping you grab a large chunk of followers in a short period of time. It could happen - and you hope that it does - but don't assume that it will. You don't want to be one of those people who gives up right before figuring things out. Stick with your plan, tweak it as necessary, and stay the course for as long as it takes.
2. They Don't Post Enough
Just the same as any social media platform, it's the content you share that will have the biggest impact on your growth. If you neglect to post often, you can't expect your Instagram account to grow. It takes a dedication to posting high quality, unique content as often as possible.
Protect against this setback by creating a publishing schedule. This will keep you focused, even when you feel like you're not making progress and it may make more sense to give up.
This doesn't mean you have to post 10+ times per day to grow your account. It simply means you need to create a schedule that you're comfortable following.
3. They Don't Engage With Other Accounts
When you engage with other accounts, such as by leaving comments and following individuals in your space, you get your name out there. You also position yourself to connect with people who have similar interests, which can pay off outside of Instagram.
You only have so much time for Instagram marketing tasks, and a good portion of it should go toward engaging with other accounts, although you can buy Instagram followers. The more you do this, the more you'll see what does and doesn't work. That allows you to adjust your strategy accordingly, so you can make the most of your time.
4. They Ignore Their Audience
As your Instagram account grows, you'll realize that engagement is on the rise (or at least you hope this happens). Rather than take it for granted, you should make it a point to engage with your audience.
If someone leaves a comment, answer them as quickly as possible. If someone follows you, visit their profile and comment on one of their posts. Yes, it takes time to do this, but that's how you build a strong following of people who truly care about what you're sharing.
You'll find it difficult to keep the pace as your account grows, and that's okay. Just make sure you continue to do what you can to pay as much attention as possible to your audience. Putting in some effort is better than putting it none at all.
5. They Try to Do it All Alone
There is no rule saying that you have to get help to grow your Instagram account. However, if you really want to accelerate your growth and make the most of all your marketing related decisions, it's something to consider.
You could hire someone to work as your social media assistant. Or you could hire a service that you pay to send followers to your profile.
Doing everything alone won't always result in failure, but it could slow down the rate at which you grow your following.
Even if you don't have a lot of money to spend, look into the way you can use your resources to get the help you need to speed up your growth. A few key decisions here and there could do wonders for the rate at which you grow your account.
Final Thoughts
There will always be people who become so frustrated with their Instagram marketing strategy that they give up. Some people only give up temporarily, while others jump ship entirely and turn their attention to other platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook.
If your Instagram account is slow to grow, review your strategy and make a note of what is and isn't working. Only then will you feel comfortable making decisions that have a positive influence on your strategy in the future.
Final tip: don't be one of those people who never get involved with Instagram out of a fear of failure. Overall, there is no such thing as failing on Instagram. Even if you don't grow a large following in a reasonable period of time, you haven't failed. You've made some progress, and that's a good foundation for the future.
How much success have you had on Instagram to date? Do you know what is and isn't working? Are you willing to make changes to your strategy to ensure better results in the days, weeks, and months to come? Share your thoughts and strategy in the comment section below.
