Key Ways to Retain and Grow Instagram Followers
According to Social Media Today’s article “10 Reasons Why Your Instagram Audience Isn’t Growing”, one of the primary areas companies need to improve upon is engagement. As the article mentions, if all a company does is post, then they are missing out on one of Instagram’s key advantages when it comes to marketing a brand, the comments section. A company should always comment back to their followers to show them they are important and to encourage them to keep following the brand. Not only will they keep following the company on Instagram, they will hopefully purchase products and remain engaged for longer periods of time.
Another key problem many companies face on Instagram occurs when they do not take full advantage of what Instagram has to offer. Instagram stories are the newest fad these days. Even if they do not last, a company should be aware of current social media trends and should be utilizing them while they are popular. Instagram stories, if executed correctly, can make content much more interesting and ultimately, can help retain followers.
Another common pitfall this article mentions is consistency. Many people believe that less is more, which may be true in another facets of life, but with regard to Instagram, companies should keep up a consistent level of posts to ensure followers continue to engage with the brand. People will unfollow a company if they stop posting relevant content. Instagram users want to see content that is applicable to them, and if a company stops posting or starts posting content their followers do not care about, the company will notice a drop in following.
Ultimately, many companies struggle with maintaining an Instagram following, and should remember this: Instagram will not add any value unless the company account posts in an engaging way that is appealing to their followers. It is so important to tune in to what followers want and need, so potential consumers continue following your brand.