Instagram encourages users to become followers of other accounts and to "like" the images they like the most. These two actions are essential for a person to become "famous" within the Instagram community. Don't worry if right now you don't feel like you're on your way to becoming an Instagram star; yours can become one of the most followed and famous accounts. All you have to do is refine your profile, develop the communication model you adopt and learn how to tell passionate and interesting stories through your photographs.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Developing your Instagram Profile
Step 1. Choose a username that is engaging and easy to memorize
Evaluate the type of content you've chosen to share with the world via Instagram, then choose a name that identifies with your theme. Choosing a username that fully reflects your personality is an excellent way to attract followers who share your interests.
- If you're having trouble choosing your account name, try using an auto-generator - spinxo.com/instagram-names might be an example.
- Don't be afraid to characterize your name using the underscore (_) or other symbols. Often these special characters help improve a name by making it more readable; just remember not to overdo it by just using 1 or 2 symbols to ensure that people can find you by simply searching for your username.
Step 2. Choose an original profile picture
If possible, try to use a photograph of yourself that you have taken creatively instead of an object. This way people will be able to link your username to a well-defined face. If you have a desire to become famous, the idea of posting some personal information shouldn't scare you.
Step 3. Choose a theme
Consider using a hobby, passion, or craving, then focus on focusing your Instagram account on your chosen theme. Add some useful and engaging information regarding the chosen theme within the profile page. Also, when posting new images and videos, be sure to always add a relevant title.
- Are you a cooking enthusiast? Well, focus on some images related to the world of food.
- Do you love the world of fashion and everything around it? Focus on the colors, styles and trends of the moment.
- Do you like a certain saga of video games or books? Take some interesting and creative photos and post them on Instagram!
- Do you currently have a passion for a particular show business character? Make your profile tell everything there is to know about this celebrity; in this way you can get in touch with other admirers and create your own community.
- Do you like cosplay? Instagram is a perfect place to put your passion into practice. Create a profile based on your favorite character, then join other user groups who share your passion! For example, if you love Naruto, you can play him or another character from the series.
Step 4. Develop a niche market
What can you share with the rest of the world that no one has thought of yet? Try to make your account unique, in order to entice your followers to stay with you because they are unable to find the content you offer anywhere else.
Part 2 of 4: Share Creative Photos and Videos
Step 1. Learn to use Instagram filters
Become a professional photographer by taking different types of photographs and using graphic filters. Notice how the use of different effects can increase the brightness of a slightly dull image or make its colors deeper and more vibrant. Before you find the perfect version of a photograph, you may need to preview it by applying different types of filters.
- Using graphic effects and colors evenly on most images is a great way to develop an understated and pleasing aesthetic style. Using a lot of different filters could make your profile look a bit kitschy. See the "#nofilter" hashtag page for examples.
- Some Instagram users voluntarily choose not to use any type of filter or graphic manipulation to highlight the natural beauty of their images to the maximum.
Step 2. Use a photo editing program
The filters built into the Instagram interface create an interesting and captivating effect, however they can sometimes appear limiting. There are countless software programs on the market that can significantly change any aspect of a photograph to make it even more vivid. Install one of the image editors most popular with users themselves, then start breathing new life into your posts.
- Try using Instagram's Boomerang app to create captivating, funny and surprising short videos.
- Also try Layout: an app that allows you to combine multiple images together to create a high-impact visual collage.
- Try VSCO Cam, Prisma, Aviary or Snapseed programs to retouch your images like a pro.
Step 3. Take a large number of photos, but choose to post only the best ones
You won't always be able to capture the perfect image on the first shot, so take plenty of photographs and choose the best one. Always post only the most beautiful and creative image, so that it can fuel your followers' interest in continuing to follow you.
Just like in traditional photography, the golden rule "practice makes perfect" applies to Instagram. The only way you can improve yourself as an "Instagram photographer" is to use the application regularly and always try out new features and new tools
Step 4. Be creative
Experiment and try out new ways to take always creative and interesting images. Try choosing new shots, different colors and subjects in a variety of interesting combinations.
Step 5. Tell a story
Use the Instagram account to create an original, interesting and sincere story. Take pictures that leave the "ending in suspense", so as to create suspense and make sure that your fans continue to follow you to always receive new updates.
For example, visually document your last trip, the approach of an important event or the beginning of living together with your new four-legged friend
Step 6. As the images you capture improve, prioritize quality over quantity
Spend more time creating great photographs than sharing a large number of mediocre images.
Step 7. Accompany videos and images with clever, creative and relevant titles
The short descriptions with which you can accompany your photos and videos can be witty or direct. Try to be playful and carefree, but at the same time flawless.
Step 8. Use Instagram's "Stories" feature to share your exciting moments
This Snapchat-inspired feature allows Instagram users to post images and videos that are automatically deleted after 24 hours. Anything you post via the "Stories" feature is not stored on the Instagram wall, so remember to use it to share any content you don't want to stay on your account. Stories you post will appear at the top of your followers' wall.
Part 3 of 4: Developing a Community
Step 1. Take advantage of hashtags
You take great care in identifying what is currently trending or in fashion, so remember to include hashtags in any photos you post. Many Instagram users carry out their searches based on hashtags in order to identify new accounts to follow. By identifying the right hashtags, you will be able to grab the attention of all the people who are looking for the content you post.
- For example, a user who posts pictures of his adventure hikes in the mountains around the world could tag #hikes, #mountain, #trekking, #camping, #exploregon and #mountain.
- People who want to share their illustrations could use the tags #illustrations, #illustrators, #illustrators, #artistsofinstagram, #penandink, and #womanartists.
- Some of Instagram's most popular hashtags are #nofilter (photographs posted without applying filters), #flawless (when you want to look your best), #nochill (when life shows its wonderful madness), and #tbt (the "Throwback Thursday ": the day when" Instagrammers "from all over the world post their old photos).
Step 2. Follow other Instagram accounts
Look for other Instagram users whose photos you like and excite you, then put them on the list of people you follow. Try to comment on their creations and "Like" their images every time you consult your profile. Know that it is really difficult to become popular on this social network without interacting and exchanging "likes" with other users.
Step 3. Connect the Instagram account with the Facebook one
Most likely, you will already have quite a number of friends who would like to be able to follow you on Instagram. Start by following your Facebook friends on Instagram; they will almost certainly return the favor.
Step 4. Share the images you post on Instagram also on the other social networks you have an account for
When posting a new photo, press the "Share" button, choose your preferred platform, then enter your account username and password. In this way, the photographs you post on Instagram will also be published on the selected platforms, giving your followers on other social networks the opportunity to follow you directly on Instagram.
Step 5. Publish exclusive content
While sharing some Instagram pictures on Facebook or on the blog can help you attract new followers, you should try to keep most of the material for Instagram only. Remember that the goal is to make people who follow you on Facebook or on your blog become your followers on Instagram in search of new images. Make sure that thanks to the Instagram account, people can discover one of your hidden sides.
Step 6. Encourage your followers to tag their friends
Whenever you post funny content, add descriptions, such as "Tag 3 friends you think might find it funny". When people tag their friends on their photos they can view the image and choose to like or follow you on Instagram.
Step 7. Consider using geolocation (aka "geotagging" or "geotagging") to include your location when posting
In this way, a link of the place will be included at the top of the photos you post on Instagram, which allows people who follow you to know where you are and to consult other images of the location. This is a good way to attract new followers, but remember that geolocation shares your location with anyone who has access to your Instagram profile (potentially everyone). For this reason it is best not to use "geotags" when you are at home or in another place where you do not want to be disturbed in person.
Part 4 of 4: Keeping Followers
Step 1. Update your profile constantly
According to studies by numerous statistical analysis companies, such as Union Metrics, when managers of a particular brand decrease their frequency and the number of posts, they tend to quickly lose followers as well. Your followers follow you because they want to see the content you post; for this reason you have to constantly publish new posts, but without exaggerating.
If you want to post more than 2-3 images or videos per day, choose to use Instagram's "Stories" feature so you don't flood your followers' wall with posts
Step 2. Communicate with those who follow you
When posting new content, add a title or short description that contains a few questions for the people who follow you. Try to choose a clever or funny message; the more people answer your questions, the higher the popularity of the post.
Step 3. Always reply to users who comment on your photos
To respond directly to people who leave you a comment, prefix the "@" symbol to their Instagram username. This will show everyone that you are an easy-going person who loves interacting with their admirers and supporters.
Step 4. Mention other Instagram users within the post descriptions
According to a study conducted by the managers of Instagram, posts in which other social network accounts (such as @instagram) are mentioned in the description attract 56% more comments and "likes".
- For example, if you took a photograph while in a restaurant, enter your Instagram account name in the post description (e.g. @LosCompadres).
- If something or someone has caught your attention in relation to another user on Instagram, take a picture, then post it including a title like "This is for you @ [username]!".
Step 5. Increase your interaction with the audience to increase the number of followers
Unless you are already an established celebrity, it will take time and energy to become one on Instagram. Increase responses to comments, reply using "Direct Messages" and "Like" thousands of photos!
Step 6. Organize a contest
If you have a creative and interesting idea and are followed by a good number of fans, you can grow your group by giving away prizes in exchange for new followers and "likes". Pick prizes worth participating in, photograph them and post them on Instagram to encourage your followers to like and play. Once the contest has concluded, randomly draw one of the following people as the winner!
Encourage your followers to tag their friends so that as many people as possible can enter the contest
Step 7. Check the popularity of your site using a site popularity program
Web services like Statigram, Websta.me, and Iconosquare provide a number of useful statistics to keep track of your popularity within Instagram. If you have discovered that you have lost some followers over a certain period, check the related posts you have published to try to understand why it happened. Conversely, if you notice a spike in interest when posting certain images, focus more on that type of subject.
Advice
- Don't beg people to follow you or "like" your photos; no one would like to see you humiliate like this. On the contrary, be patient, over time you will see both the number of followers and "Likes" grow naturally.
- Be yourself from the very first post. By presenting yourself honestly and sincerely indicating what you like and what you do in life, your followers will be much more enticed to stay in touch with you.
- When a user leaves a comment on your posts asking you to be able to publish it on his wall to get more visibility and entice his followers to follow you by asking you to do the same thing with his posts, where possible, always try to be collaborative and available. This type of exchange is very useful for rapidly increasing the number of followers.
