So I have been asked this question quite often. There is no secret and I'm not going to say "do this" and it will work 100%. It's something that takes time and consistency. Below are just some of the things I have done over the past few years that have helped me grow my following and blog.
Tips for building a following on Instagram:
1) Hashtag when you post. This is the most evident, however you can use between 1-30 hashtags. I rarely use 30 anymore as it looks "spammy", and at most times I use the hashtags that are most relevant. I would suggest at least using 5-6 of the most descriptive hashtags.
2) Try to use Instagram stories everyday if you can. When you story you can also hashtag to get more views, and I always like to tag location. Location also gets more views. If you're not posting everyday, at least your followers are still seeing your stories.
3) Reply to every comment on your posts, like I said this takes time and I don't always do it. However, I try to reply to comments within the hour.
4) Post high quality pictures and you may want to consider a consistent color scheme for your Instagram feed. However, my photos are sort of random filters but I bought filters from Travel in Her Shoes Presets, and I try to use these consistently unless the photos are professional. Tip: Try to post your picture in portrait mode, rather than landscape mode. Why? Portrait takes up more of a person’s feed and therefore chances of your picture getting seen are higher. This may not be possible for some photos but I do portrait mode whenever I can.
5) Follow people, they will not always follow you back, but its good to start engaging with other people and following others. You can most likely find accounts related to yours. Find local accounts or businesses in your own hometown and try connecting with them.
6) Run a giveaway when you have built up a following. Giveaway a gift card or team up with other bloggers and giveaway something that relates to your Instagram niche.
7) Tag locations/restaurants/businesses in all your posts. Its always good when you do this, then you have a chance of the company or product that you tagged reposting your photo. If they have a lot of followers just think of how many people will see your photo which could lead them to your page.
8) Post at the right times. Once you start posting you will notice certain times do better than others, I usually like to post in the evenings from Mondays-Thursdays around 7:30pm. For some reason Saturday's around 5:00pm also do good for me. Mornings are also great, but you will see when your posts do well. If you don't have a business Instagram account, switch to a business account.This way you can see all your metrics for your account. 9) Pay for sponsored posts if you have the budget to do so, your post will be seen by a wider audience which will lead people to your Instagram page.
Good luck and I hope you picked up a few things from my tips! Please leave a comment below if you would like me to write a blog on collaborations next! Thanks again for reading! Ashley