How to break through on Instagram? - [22 essential secrets]

Have a luxurious life, travel the world, meet other famous and inspiring people, be adored'the list of benefits of breaking through on Instagram is long. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Becoming famous on Instagram or any other social network isn't something you set out to do, is it?

Want to know how to break through on Instagram? How do you gain thousands of followers?

Boostfluence has been working with thousands of people around the world for years to help them get their Instagram account known and explode on the network.

Today we're giving you the best practices for getting known on the Instagram social network as quickly as possible.

1. Why do you want to break through on Instagram?

The main question you need to ask yourself is: why do you want to be famous?

Is it because you're really funny and people are drawn to you because you make them laugh? Is it because you have great taste in fashion and people look to you for outfit inspiration? Or are you an expert in your field looking to help others become better at something?

What do these scenarios have in common? They all provide value to their audience. You have to provide value, otherwise there's no celebrity or subscribers or brand collaborations.

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End of story.

If you don't do anything for others with your content, then it's really hard to convince people to stay on your account. Think about the famous people you follow and the influencers. You follow them because you like them, you love their music, their lifestyle, etc. They inspire you. They inspire you.

If you want to be like them, then you'd better start acting like them - by providing valuable content.

Here's why you should consider Instagram as the platform on which to share your story.

Instagram is one of the hottest social media platforms. Many marketers say that'Instagram is the best place to engage with your audience. The engagement rate on Instagram is very high. Compared with other social networks (with the possible exception of TikTok) it's several times higher, thanks to the simple visual approach in which content is delivered.

It also depends a little on the niche, for example if you're in finance or politics, you might consider Twitter. If your niche is strongly related to images and videos, then Instagram could be the one for you.

At the start of 2021, there are more than 1 billion monthly active users on Instagram (source: statista.com). And the growth rate shows no sign of slowing.

So yes, it makes sense to'be present on Instagram to gather your audience.

2. What's your talent/passion?

To get started, you need to ask yourself this question: what's your talent or passion?

Ideally, you want to start your Instagram page around something you're passionate about and have a talent for. That's the surest way to get off to a good start on breaking through on Instagram.

If you have a great passion for starting a singing career, but you can't sing at all, then don't be sad. There are creative ways for you to shine in the spotlight.

For example, you can share your lack of talent and make fun of it. If you're authentic, people will love you and follow you.

Or why not open an Instagram account about your journey of learning to sing and share your experience with the world?

There are many ways to make yourself interesting.

3. Get the first 100 to 1,000 followers

We all have friends and family. Be sure to include them in your journey. It's something people often forget to do or, for one reason or another, simply don't.

It's normal to be nervous at first. The truth is, putting yourself out there is like walking in front of an unfamiliar audience for the first time on a big stage. There will be people who adore you as you are. There will be those who will hate you, and others who won't care. And yet!

As long as you're having fun and pleasing the people who love you, you'll do just fine!

These first subscribers are important so that you can really fine-tune your processes and start finding a rhythm for doing things.It's mainly thanks to this first audience that you can start gaining visibility.

4. Develop your own hashtag to break through on Instagram.

Most brands and major accounts have developed their own hashtag, which is only used by them and their followers. It's a great way to build your "tribe" and community of people engaged around a specific topic.

Of course, if you're Coca-Cola or Apple, people all over the world will use your hashtag without actually following you.

Having your own hashtag gives your account a more professional look that allows people to take an interest in you and the movement you're creating.

Finding a hashtag can take time, but it's worth it. Your hashtag can be your account name, the name of your product, program, movement, service or simply a creative combination of words related to your niche.

For example, here's Joe Wicks (@thebodycoach) with his hashtag #leanin15, which is the name of his diet program.

5. Use enough hashtags

If you've researched the use of hashtags, you've probably found contradictory advice.

Some say to only use a few hashtags so you don't look too spammy. Some say you should use 30 hashtags, which is currently the maximum amount of hashtags allowed by Instagram.

Research shows that using more than 11 hashtags elicits more reactions. Buffer has put together a great article on the use of hashtags.

Like them, we recommend using at least 15 hashtags per post. Just keep them relevant and change them from time to time to reach different audiences.

In 2020, we did some experimenting with using fewer hashtags and using them in the post caption rather than in the first comment. The result was that engagement decreased. So try to use enough and make sure they're relevant to your post and niche.

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If you need help figuring out which hashtags to use, check out these hashtag generation tools.

Instagram tip: Don't use super-popular hashtags like #life #love etc. Instead, try to use hashtags that have between 100,000 and a few million shares to get better reach.

6. Track your exposure with different hashtags

Most of us don't realize that people don't just browse their friends'profiles. Many people are also looking for new and interesting content.

If you want your posts to appear in the "best posts" section of certain hashtags, you need to get massive traction within a short time of publication. In general, your posts can stay online for around 48 hours. It depends on the hashtag and the other accounts using it.

We recommend checking all your hashtags a few hours after publication. Have you reached the top publications section with any of them?

If not, you're probably using tags that are too broad and too popular. Try using less popular ones to get some traction. When your account is already large, you can practically reach "exploration" even without using hashtags (Instagram also reads other signs than hashtags). The Instagram algorithm highlights your content to more users.

On the other hand, if you've achieved "l'exploration" with all the hashtags used, you should consider using even more popular hashtags. This will enable you to reach an even wider audience.

Continue to test which hashtags work for you and which don't.

It's not always about popularity, either. Instagram's algorithm is somewhat similar to Google's. It also takes into account factors such as click-through rate and account activity. So if people don't find your content relevant with a certain hashtag, then they don't click on your post. This gives Instagram an indication not to keep it in the top posts section.

Does this make sense to you?

7. Make a list of competitors and idols

This is important for many reasons.

First of all, it's good to have an idea of their profile. How do they interact with their followers (could you do better)? What types of posts are most shared? (Real? Video? Product user's opinion? ) etc.

Secondly, it's better to be friends and collaborate with your competitors, rather than fight for followers. I suggest you constantly interact with your competitors and exchange " mentions " if possible (more on this later, so stick around).

Thirdly, if you want to interact with certain influencers or competitors, but you don't really get their attention, don't take it personally. We're all human, and we all have 24 hours in the day. They're probably just overloaded with everything that's happening on their social networks.

However, you might occasionally mention them in the captions of your posts. S'they see this, they might respond by leaving a comment. In this case, your post is more likely to be pushed into the exploration feed.

Note: A comment from an account with a very high follower count is considered very valuable.

8. Your bio is important, but don't overthink it.

Tell something about yourself in 150 characters.

This is a challenge if you have a lot to say.

When it comes to writing an outstanding bio, there really isn't a magic bullet. If you're familiar with the AIDA concept (Attract, Interest, Desire, Action), your biography will focus on the "Attract" or "Interest" part.

Create a bio that immediately grabs your potential subscribers'attention and interest so they'll want to scroll through your articles.

If you have a link in your bio, it's definitely a good idea to draw attention to that link. You can spice up your bio by using your personal hashtag (which we've already talked about).

You can also use 🤩😏 emojis in the bio, which is a nice addition to make your bio more lively. Although, it really depends on your niche and target audience. I'm pretty sure everyone on Instagram gets emojis, but it might not be appropriate for some profiles.

Let your potential followers know what your account is about and suggest they follow you. Something like "Follow my journey to learning to sing from scratch".

9. Set the theme of your feed

You obviously want to stand out and not be just another indie lifestyle blogger, food lover or world traveler.

No matter what, you should always try to stick to a certain color palette or photo style. Don't copy it from someone else, but think about what you like and how you can make your feed unique.

Of course, the more people see the real you, the easier it will be for you to create quality content. That's how you'll be able to get people to fall in love with the real you.

Now, if you're lazy, you can use templates to get started. You can also read this article to improve your Instagram feed.

10. Telling a story

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Telling a story online isn't that hard. We all have stories to tell. The concierge in your building has a story, the CEO of Google has a story and YOU have a story.

How we present those stories is critical. There are 3 key elements for which people interact in social media.

They want to be entertained, inspired and educated. These elements tie in with what we talked about in the first point.

Let's get back to your talent. If singing is your thing, here are some cool ways to tell a story:

• Have you learned or are you learning a new vocal technique? Great! Let your followers know how you did or what progress you've made. Maybe you can give them tips on how they too could master this technique.
• Were you turned down for a gig? That's a positive thing. Now you can share this story with your followers and maybe even arrange a live concert for them via the Instagram Live feature. People are mostly emphatic and this would be a very engaging thing to do.
• Heard a great joke the other day? Well, why not turn it into a song and record a 60-second video of you performing it?
• You want to have some fun because you're happy to have achieved your goal. Take a video and show that you're just like them.

11. Create a stunning news feed

Instagram is all about beautiful content. Don't expect to get away with low-resolution or poorly lit photos.

Never publish content you're not entirely happy with. Make every publication look like you've been working on it all day.

Here's an article on planning and designing your Instagram feed and how to make it stand out. You can also schedule your posts with the Boostfluence tool.

What about selfies?

Happy you asked. If you're building your personal brand and not managing your company's account, then selfies are definitely at the center of your Instagram feed.

Dan Zarrella, Hubspot's social media expert, has put together some interesting findings on what makes a good selfie. Of course, if you're a pretty person, the chances are better, but there are actually other factors to consider. Studying over 160,000 photos with the hashtag #selfie, Zarrella discovered on her blog:

• Using the right color combinations elicits more reactions. These include cool, earthy tones, such as blue, green and beige.
• The use of filters isn't always the best solution. Although the "Willow" filter takes first place, "Normal" comes in second. Similarly, selfies with the hashtag "nofilter" got almost 10% more engagement. If you're taking photos with a professional camera (which we highly recommend), all you need to do is do some retouching in Photoshop.

12. To break through on insta, be regular

Decide on the number of posts you'll make per day or per week. If you really want to become famous on Instagram, you should aim to post at least 5 or 6 posts a week. It's true - it's a lot of work.

And no, it doesn't look like spam. As long as you post high-quality, valuable posts, you'll be fine.

Instagram loves accounts that post regularly and publish quality content. So get Instagram to like you, and they'll reward you with higher engagement rates. This will give you a better chance of hitting exploration every time you post.

On the other hand, if you're struggling to produce lots of content, don't stress. Build up your feed and post a few times a week and spend more time interacting with the community and building those lasting relationships.

It's important to note that sending DMs, replying to comments and interacting with new accounts will dramatically increase likes and comments. Pay attention to these activities.

Tip: Take time over the weekend to produce a majority of content for the week ahead. This will keep you from wondering "But what on earth am I going to post today?".

13. Find the best times to post

Many marketers say that'there are certain times of the day or week when you should be posting.

While there is some truth to this statement (weekends tend to work better), everyone should determine the best time to post based on their own account and followers.

All accounts are different, and the way your audience consumes social media may be totally different from that of your competitors. I suggest using a service like Iconosquare to get to know your audience better and determine the best times to post.

Be sure to visit this article to learn when to post on Instagram.

14. Select your tagged photos

Soon, when you start breaking through on Instagram, people will start tagging you. Unfortunately, some of these tagged photos are of poor quality and posted by questionable accounts.

You want to be responsible for the impression you make and not let everyone else do it for you. Although some user-generated content is good for you. For example, being tagged by magazines and other PR-related users is most likely good for you.

Thankfully, you can remove the tagged photo from your profile, by visiting the photo and choosing "photo options". You have the option of deleting the tag while keeping it in your "photos of you" section. But the best thing would be to disable the "keep in photos" option and leave the tag itself.

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Another thing you can do is change your Instagram settings so that tagged photos don't appear unless you approve them first. You can change these settings in "Options" -> "Photos of you" -> "Add manually". Don't worry, people will still tag you, but now you have better control over what content is visibly associated with your account.

15. Get local exposure

Don't forget that people all over the world use Instagram. If you're traveling somewhere, make sure you interact with the local community on Instagram too. Make photos, videos and stories. Geotag them and interact with similar accounts nearby.

This feature is a great way to build new relationships and increase your following. You really shouldn't use geographic tags haphazardly. Make sure they're relevant to your actual location.

The use of geotags in your Instagram stories is also very important. Some accounts using geotags in their stories get nearly 2-3x more views.

The more relevant it is'the more clicks you'll get in the exploration feed. Again, this gives Instagram's algorithm indications that you have good content and it starts to push it even more.

16. Double tap that

The power of using CTAs (Call-to-Action).

Various research shows that using an appropriate CTA in your bio or posts dramatically increases engagement. A consistently high engagement rate puts you in touch with more people and gets you more followers.

So, every time you publish something, think about a call to action. Here are some CTAs that usually work:

• Press twice if you agree
• Tag a friend, family member or partner (someone who needs to see this post).
• Leave your comment below
• Tell me what you think
• Yes or no?
• Comment to enter the contest or sweepstakes

17. Buy Instagram followers?

"Acheter des followers, c'est comme truquer son CV. You'll get noticed, but you'll never pass the interview."

There are certainly positive aspects to buying instagram followers.

Social proof - people want to follow accounts that are popular. And joking aside, follower count is still one of the most important numbers potential new followers look at. What's more, the number of media and the number of followers are important, and especially the relationship between the two.

Let us explain.

Let's say you've just started out and you have 5 publications. You've followed a few of your friends and all your posts have 12 likes accompanied by 3 comments. Now you decide to buy 30,000 followers. Instant fame, isn't it?

Well, if a potential new follower visits your profile, what do you think will happen?

Will you follow yourself and think.... "wow, this girl/this person is really cool, I'm going to follow her" or will you say to yourself "30,000 followers with 5 posts? Really? Probably a fake account that will soon be deleted anyway". That person won't subscribe to your profile and you'll never break through on Instagram.

In perspective, just having a high number of followers means nothing. NOTHING AT ALL! If you have a bunch of random (fake) people following you, ask yourself what good it really does?

Real engagement is the only metric you should be working with. You don't want to have passive fans. You need to devote your energy to pleasing the few super-engaged fans (even if they're less than 100).

In conclusion, don't buy followers if your account is already growing. Instead, favor Instagram automation, which is much safer for your account, much more efficient and much cheaper.

18. Mention other accounts

Mentions are a great way to gain new followers. This strategy isn't very successful when the account is still small, but it works very well when you already have over 10,000 followers.

A mention is nothing more than a simple mention of someone in your description or story.

You can mention the account in the post caption, mention (tag) them on the image of your publication or take a screenshot of their account profile and use it as the post image. A post or story in which you both feature is even better.

You can either swap mentions or buy mentions.

Mention for mention

This involves exchanging mentions with accounts that are in similar niches and in similar sizes. It's about contacting accounts of similar size and seeing if they're willing to participate in a mention exchange. Use this script for example:

"Hello, how are you? I found your Instagram account and really like your posts. I was wondering if you'd be interested in mentioning each other and crossing our communities? Either way, keep up the good work!

Here's to you,

[your name]"

Paid Testimonials

That's basically what it means. You pay a user to mention your account. Ad rates generally start around €5 and can run into the thousands. Usually, the price is dictated by the number of followers and/or engagement. The more followers and engagement an account has, the higher the price it can charge for exposure.

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Unfortunately, few people care about engagement and end up paying something like €50 for a mention of an account with 50,000 followers, whose engagement is horrible. The result: maybe 5 to 10 followers if you're lucky.

We therefore suggest paying according to average engagement and not the number of followers. For your information, €20 to €30 per " mention " of an account whose average engagement (comments + likes) per post is around 1,500 to 2,000 is quite correct.

You can of course contact them in the same way as you would for a mention request. But don't overdo it. With paid ads, it's your money you're spending, but with mention exchanges, you run the risk of upsetting your followers.

Imagine you follow a cool account and all of a sudden, it starts publishing content from someone else you don't like or know. You're bound to stop following it at some point.

19. Draw attention to yourself

If you're sharing real value and are in a niche worthy of interest, don't be afraid to contact journalists and other media publications to be featured.

If you have something to offer, there are probably others out there who want to share it. You can be featured on blogs, news sites and also on other Instagram and social media accounts.

We've already touched on " mentions " but some Instagram accounts offer the option " be reposted " when you use their hashtag. That's the case with @motivational.diary in the fitness industry.

Always try to find ways to get real stories about you. Buying posts or visibility is a short-term solution. Remember what we said about buying followers? Good!

20. Engagement groups

Engagement groups are essentially group conversations within Instagram and also on other platforms (there are several on the Telegram app). The idea is that all participants in the group engage with (like and/or comment on) each other's posts. This can be done asynchronously or at specific times of the day.

To get massive growth, it's best to plan when you'll get lots of engagement. It's important to get a lot of engagement in the first hour you post, as this tells Instagram that your content is good and should be pushed to the Explore section.

When participating in these groups, disregard "good posting times". You should post at the times when these engagement groups start engagement or a tour as they say.

These groups are rather underground and can really explode your growth if used regularly. Many accounts have gone from 100 followers a day to 1,000 followers a day just by participating in these groups twice a day.

However, getting likes from the same accounts over and over again doesn't really help much. Comment groups are still great, though.

At Boostfluence, our tools let you get the same results without even joining this type of engagement group. Start now to boost your likes and followers automatically.

21. Engage with your audience

This is probably one of the most important things you should focus on.

If you've gained a follower, interact with them. Send him a DM to say hello and introduce yourself. With Boostfluence, it's very easy. You can also set up quick replies. To do this, go to your Instagram settings and add a welcome message.

It could be something like this:

"Hi (name)! Thanks for following me. How's your day going?"

Next. Respond to all your comments and take some time out of your busy day to reach out to your followers yourself. Go and like and comment on their posts.

Moreover, if you interact constantly with your audience, Instagram will start pushing your content to their feeds. If your content is good, they'll like and comment. When you have good engagement, Instagram will start promoting your content in the best posts section and in the explore feed.

So keep this in mind. It's not just about accumulating as many new followers as possible, but also about building strong and lasting relationships with your followers.

In particular, all the actions to engage this relationship with your followers can be automated with Boostfluence tools so you can focus on creating your content.

22. Advertising

If your account hasn't yet been switched to professional mode, it's time to do so.

You may be telling yourself that you're not a business and don't want to sell anything. That's cool, but without a business account, you can't do promotions on Instagram.

Promotions or ads, whatever you call them, are about to become more relevant than ever. Instagram hasn't lived up to investors'expectations in terms of revenue and share price. In order to increase shareholder confidence, we're likely to see new advertising products on Instagram and Facebook.

For example, ads between our stories, in the middle of IGTV, advertising goals could be suggested, accounts to follow, DMs promoted, etc.

Bref, advertising on Facebook and Instagram is likely to grow and be an important element for your strategy. For now, we simply recommend that you go to business.facebook.com and create a Business Manager account. Add your Instagram account there and create a new advertising account. Under your add account, you can create custom audiences. A good idea would be to create an audience of all the people who have visited your Instagram profile and offer them a promotion.

Warning though, Instagram advertising isn't for everyone, so if you have a small budget (less than 500 euros a month), we'd rather recommend you turn solely to Instagram automation.

Mistakes to avoid if you want to break through on Instagram

1. The Instagram account isn't public - if people can't find you, they won't follow you!
2. Follow a bunch of random accounts. Without specific targeting.
3. Following / liking too quickly (as in 200 in a few minutes) - You'll probably get banned!!
4. Publishing duplicate content all the time.
5. Don't reply to comments or do it badly.
6. Focus on quantity rather than quality.
7. Use irrelevant hashtags.
8. Publish overly promotional content.

Conclusion

Instagram is a wonderful platform and you can break through on it. At Boostfluence, we're convinced it's still one of the best social networks, and will be for a few more years.

It's all about providing good, valuable content. The more time you spend talking to your followers and reaching out to new followers and partners, the more success you'll have.

It may seem like a struggle at first, but after you reach 1,000 followers, it starts to feel fun and your growth should start to accelerate. Put into practice the principles discussed in this article and you'll be good to break through on Instagram.