3 ways to grow your Instagram reach
The number one thing I hear when I see family and friends nowadays is, “I love seeing you online,” and “don’t slow down anytime soon!” Through Facebook and Instagram, I have kept relatives updated about my life, my travels, and my business.
If you had asked me two years ago what I would have imagined my photography business would be like today, I never would have expected it to blow up as much as it has. Through the usage of shared media -- social media platforms – I have grown my business exponentially, now with over 1200 organic followers.
So how have I done it? And while, yes, 1200 is not necessarily a lot of followers right now, the biggest thing to consider is how long it has taken me to get here and how quickly my account has blossomed over the past six months especially.
1. Use Instagram what it’s meant for
As a photographer and a designer, it is easy for me to put out content on Instagram especially because it is a photo heavy platform. Simply put, I use Instagram to post photos, and GOOD photos, at that. In the case of Instagram, simplicity is best. People scrolling through their feed don’t want to go out of their way to understand what you are posting, nor do they want to be looking at long video content. Simply posting photos, as Instagram was originally intended for, has been a huge way to keep consistency in my brand.
That said, you must be mindful about what types of photos you are posting. As a photographer, I have a specific feel and look for all my photos. They are true-to-life in terms of color and tone and are centered around people. By having this consistency in my style, posting with consistency to ensure that my feed looks cohesive is super important in my Instagram strategy.
2. Take advantage of Instagram Reels
Although everyone hated it at first, and even though I just spent quite a few sentences explaining why you should be posting photos on Instagram, never underestimate the power of short form video on Instagram. Using Instagram reels has been a huge reason as to why my photography account has been so successful the past few months. Posting short videos to showcase behind the scenes of photo shoots and my travel has drawn people into my content and helped me gain a lot more followers!
The trick that I have learned with Instagram reels is again that simplicity is best. People don't want to be watching videos that are even over 30 seconds long, and they want quick tutorials and beautiful behind the scenes. By executing these types of videos, I am pulling in users that want to see more of my content.
Through lots of practice I have successfully been able to reach hundreds of thousands of people through Instagram reels, and I am even part of the Instagram reels bonus program where I now sometimes get paid to make Instagram Reels. Learning the platform is most important, and once you learn it, you can grab it by the reigns and take charge.
3. SEO and discoverability
Not many people are aware that you can increase your SEO and discoverability on your Instagram profile and posts.
The biggest place I see people and businesses struggle with is their actual Instagram Profiles – it is important to use purposeful and keyword-heavy text in both your Instagram name and bio.
For example, for my photography brand @ephemiamaria, my Instagram name simply isn’t “Ephe” -- I inserted additional keywords in the title to make my brand more searchable. “Ephe |Travel + Photography” is my full name. If a brand is more niched, they can add key words such as location or focus to their name instead, such as “Ephe | CT Portrait Photographer”. This way, someone can find my page more easily and once they access it they know who I am, and exactly what I do.
Another example I love is @gracetorresphoto. Her actual name is in the username, so she uses the “name” field as a place for SEO. Hers is simply “destination editorial wedding photographer videographer.” With these words, clients can find her easily and know exactly what she does.
The second most important thing is the Instagram bio. This is the second spot where key words are vital. Some of my favorite bio’s from photographers include the work they do, tags, where they are located, and more! Here are a few examples:
@ktmerry
Top luxury destination wedding + editorial photographer, named by @vogue @harpersbazaarus
KT uses attractive wording to lure in her clients, as well as tags the well-known places she has been published in.
@sarahnoele
wife • crunchy boy mom • conscious human
wedding & motherhood photographer
Sarah keeps it short and simple but uses specific wording to locate her niched audience.
@pavweddings
Fine Art Editorial Love Stories by @sophia.pav
Preserving your most iconic moments with style
SoFlo --> NYC & Destination
Sophia adds key words like locations she photographs in and what exactly her brand accomplishes.
The main point? Interact and connect with your audience. Keep clear and concise wording about your brand. And lastly, be genuinely yourself.