I'm Suehiro from the Hide&Seek Social Media Team!
We currently operate a business specializing in social commerce, such as D2C and social media. As for our track record, on Instagram alone,A total of more than 30 accountsWe operate this service, and from the moment you open an account,Gain over 5,000 followers in two months. We propose strategies that leverage the mechanics of social media to drive sales.
In addition, we manage social media from a multifaceted perspective for businesses specializing in D2C, while keeping an eye on the company’s overall metrics.
This time,[For accounts in the early stages of Instagram (0–3,000 followers)]This article is highly recommended!
How can I gain more followers on Instagram?
This is a question I’m often asked when speaking with social media managers.
First, there are two main stages in managing an Instagram account.
First isAccount Setup, Second,Account Growth PhaseThat's it.
The difference between the early stage and the growth stage isAs a general guideline, aim for around 1,500 to 3,000 followers.でWill the post appear on the Discover tab?What do you think?
The number of followers displayed in the Discover tab varies depending on your account’s cumulative engagement and whether your niche has a lot of competition or not.
Case Studies
For the student-focused accounts we manage on Hide&Seek, they started appearing in the Discover tab once they reached 1,500 followers, while our food-focused accounts didn’t appear in the Discover tab until they reached 3,000 followers.
What is the Discover tab?
This feature uses Instagram's algorithm to display posts tailored to each user's interests and preferences.
As a result, you can reach users without having to actively search for them.
Three Specific Strategies for Gaining Followers
Ways for users to discover accounts in the early stages include:“Search for an account name”Or“Discover Through Hashtags”
Basically, these are the only two accounts I can find.
In the early stages, you can only reach users who are actively seeking information, so it’s difficult to gain followers simply by continuing to post.
So, how do we gain followers? We’ll use the following three strategies to gain followers.
① Follow and Like Campaigns
As the name suggests, we’ll raise awareness by taking actions such as following and liking users’ posts.
Please be careful when performing these actions, as they may be blocked if you perform too many in a single day or if the intervals between them are too short.
▼Estimated Number of Actions
The number of all actions, such as “Likes, Follows, Comments, Unfollows, and New DMs,”A total of 100 times or fewer per daySet it to.
▼Guidelines for Action Intervals
The number of all actions, such as “Likes, Follows, Comments, Unfollows, and New DMs,”20 times or fewer per hourSet it to.
Also,Don't follow accounts that aren't closely related to yoursLet's do that.
Example: Following a male account on an account that posts beauty tips
The reason is that,It's unlikely that they'll follow you backThat may be part of it, but that user commented on the post,It's highly likely that they won't engage.That's why.
② Display at the top of the hashtag list
For hashtags,"Top"と"Lately"There are two of them.
To have your post appear at the top, your account needs to have a certain level of engagement and be well-rated, but there are a few other things you can keep in mind as well.
▼Don't use irrelevant hashtags
If you use irrelevant hashtags, your posts will be less likely to appear high in the search results for other hashtags as well.
Example: Tagging a landscape photo with "# Cosmetics"
▼ Be mindful of hashtag volume
Since hashtags with too many posts are less likely to appear in the “Top” section, check to see if the number of “likes” on the posts appearing in the “Top” section is roughly the same as the number of “likes” on your own posts.
One thing to keep in mind here is that if the top posts are mostly informational posts, there’s a high likelihood that there will be a difference in the number of saves, so it’s best not to target them.
▼Posting Reels Videos
Reel videos are now displayed at the very top of the page.
Currently, since there aren’t many Reels videos posted under the hashtags that brands typically use, it’s easier to get your content featured at the top.
In our case, our “# Carbonated Shampoo” has reached the top of the Reels rankings.
③ Manage Ads
Source: House of Instagram Japan 2020
In the early stages, running ads is an effective way to reach users.
Since Instagram ads recognize users as individual users across devices and browsers, there is no duplicate reach.
In addition, compared to 2017, in 2020Cost per impression is 41% lowerIt is.
If you're running ads to gain followers, holding a giveaway campaign is an effective way to do so.
Tips for Gift Campaigns
▼Get people to engage with all posts during the campaign period
▼Make well-known products available as multiple-choice options
▼ Create a survey-style Stories ad
Important Notes on the Gift Campaign
- Do not give "cash" or "gift certificates" as gifts.
- Instead of everyone being selected, select winners by lottery
- Rewrite the wording to convey that, rather than offering a gift in exchange for a follow, a random drawing will be held among followers.
Also, the cost per followerThe guideline is 100 yenwill be.
If the cost per acquisition significantly exceeds the target,
“Swap out the creative to match the cost per acquisition”
“Cut advertising costs and redirect the savings to the next campaign”
I recommend one of the two options listed above.
In Closing
While this article focused specifically on gaining followers in the early stages, it’s also important for new accounts to lay the groundwork to appear in the Discover tab.
Hide&Seek, the author of this blog, is,
We provide social media management, e-commerce platform management, and advertising management services.
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