Stories that Inform
3 min read
How to grow an Instagram account from scratch to 1,000 followers in a year
CELEST THAM shows you that it is all about knowing three key things and having some perseverance.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a student who’s working towards reaching a certain number of followers on your Instagram account in a short period. For reasons that include gaining yourself some business opportunities and building your portfolio.
Follow the tips below if you want to increase your Instagram account followers fast!
Know yourself
Find out what you like to share and what resonates with you.
Miss Rachel Cheah, 21, a university student, has a study account with over 40,000 followers on Instagram. By sharing O-level notes, she started her account as a creative outlet, which has now evolved to a study, journal and lifestyle account. Her account gained traction when her A-level notes went viral. Today, she has paid sponsorships and collaborations with brands such as Muji.
“I recommend experimenting with your style and finding something that represents you, so people follow you for who you are rather than just for a singular thing!” says Miss Cheah.
When asked about how to set yourself apart from your competition, she suggests asking yourself this question, “How can I do something similar in my style?”
“One example would be taking an idea of a daily vlog as an Instagram Reels, and filming my day on top of adding my style of text and editing. In this manner, you can still produce original content that is true to you because it has your flair to it,” she says.
Know your audience
Research about who your audience is, the reason why they use Instagram, and the content that could satisfy their interests.
Miss Jessie Chong, founder and design director of Delitier & Co., a digital branding and content agency, says that relevant content that your target audience likes helps your account grow.
“They may be a loyal fan or feel that by following them, it adds value to their lifestyle and overall well-being, [giving] them the feel-good factor,” she says.
Miss Cheah suggests making good use of profile analytics to view which posts and stories did best.
“From there, you will find out what your audience likes best and then you can share more similar images to continue to gain more reach,” she says.
Know the platform
According to 2021 statistics, there are 2.56 million Instagram users in Singapore, which is about 41.5 per cent of the population.
In comparison to TikTok’s rising popularity, Miss Chong believes that “user-friendliness”, “bite-size information”, a “curated feed to users liking” and the “short form Instagram Reels” are some of Instagram’s attractive points.
You win a game only if you understand the rules well, and knowing the platform well helps you to work efficiently.
INFOGRAPHIC: CELEST THAM
Use relevant hashtags
A hashtag is “used to categorise content and make it more discoverable” according to a Hootsuite article. Good use of hashtags on Instagram is effective in expanding your reach.
Miss Cheah agrees with this, that using relevant hashtags helps in “getting exposed and increasing [her] audience”.
Avoid using repetitive hashtags as the Instagram Community Guidelines has clearly stated they discourage “repetitive comments or content”.
Jump on the bandwagon of “Reels”
At the end of 2021, Instagram’s chief, Adam Mosseri said that Instagram will “double-down on [its] focus on video” and “consolidate all of [its] video formats around Reels”, the function that allows users to “record and edit 15-second multi-clip video with audio, effects, and new creative tools”.
Reels was also announced as the platform’s “primary driver of engagement growth” according to an article published by Social Media Today. The most recent Instagram typeface shows that it has now been placed in the middle of the page. PHOTO: CELEST THAM
Miss Cheah has also joined the learning curve.
“One thing I have noticed is that using trendy audio from a Reels does actually put you one step ahead,” she says.
When clicking on the audio, it will lead to the page where people can view all the videos made with the same audio, which is how trendy audio would increase the possibility of your Reels being chanced upon.
PHOTO: CELEST THAM
Post consistently
“Another thing that really helped me was consistent posting, I used to post daily for nearly two years,” says Miss Cheah.
Miss Kwong Jia Wen, 20, who is growing an Instagram account of her K-pop collections, stopped posting for a month as she was struggling to generate content ideas, resulting in her followers’ number stagnating.
However, she started posting about three to four times a week again and her account grew.
As for Miss Cheah, passion is what kept her going.
“Setting a goal would be helpful in terms of aiming for more reach, but it’s important to not let that be of utmost importance,” says Miss Cheah. “I also know goals can sometimes backfire and you end up trying to reach the goal with the wrong intentions. I think 1,000 followers in the first year is a manageable target. However, if you don’t reach it, it’s still OK!”