How Do People Find You On Instagram?

In this article, I will go over some of the ways people can find you on Instagram as well as some ways to make sure your account is up to its full potential.

There are multiple ways people can find you on Instagram. Some of them you can be directly involved in, while others take time and depend on Instagram and its algorithm.

Here are 7 different ways people can stumble onto your account:

1. Keywords

   A major way people can discover you on Instagram is through the use of keywords. Place keywords in your username, name field, and bio. Try using different keywords for each category to help raise your chances of being found.

   If you are comfortable with it, put your real name within either your username or name field. This can help personal friends to find you and also make it easier for fans to share you with their friends via word of mouth if they know who you are.

2. Hashtags

   It’s so important to use multiple hashtags whenever you post. Make sure the hashtags align with the content you are posting. No one knows what exactly classifies a post to be featured when a particular hashtag is searched, but the more popularity you gain and the more likes and comments you bring in, the likelihood of your posts being the ones featured greatly increases.

   Use a mix of popular and less popular hashtags. The more popular the hashtag, the less likely you will be featured unless you have a solid following with a lot of activity. The less popular a hashtag, the more likely you will find your post featured with the rest.

3. Activity on other accounts

   It is just as important to be active on other Instagrammers’ accounts as it is your own. The more you love and comment on others’ posts, the more they will begin to recognize you and consider following you as well. Many Instagrammers have gained a lot of followers this way.

   Along with this, I have seen some Instagrammers post a comment on some popular accounts they are following that are similar to their own, and add a tidbit of what they are doing on their own page if it flows well with the post they are commenting on. This can help another Instagrammer’s followers be more aware of who you are and potentially follow you if your content is something they are interested in.

4. Shared Posts or Private Messaging

   Another big way people can discover you is through sharing posts and/or private messaging. The more valuable content you share, the more likely your followers are going to want to spread it around to all their friends. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a video or saw a meme that striked me funny and I had to just share it with all the people in my life I knew shared similar humor.

   Similarly, you can gain followers through word of mouth. There have been many times I have suggested to friends to view a specific Instagrammer because they have good tips on a specific topic or content I think they would find funny.

5. Shout Outs or Tagging

   The more active you are on other accounts, and the more you post strong, solid, valuable content on your own account, the more likely it is to receive a shoutout or be tagged by other accounts. The benefits of this are obvious, as all the followers of these other accounts may see the shout outs and potentially follow you if they like your bio and content.

6. Cross-Platforming

   Cross-platforming can be a huge boost in growing your Instagram following. Even if Facebook or Twitter isn’t your main social media outlet, you may still have followers on those accounts who are not yet following you on Instagram. Occasionally link or put one of your Instagram posts on Twitter or Facebook, so those exclusive followers are aware of your Instagram account.

   Another good idea I saw a friend do the other day when they were posting on Facebook about their van life, is they mentioned they are more active on Instagram. I immediately hopped off Facebook and added them on Instagram so I could view more of their fun photos and stories from their way of life.

   Note: If at all possible, keep the same username on all of your cross-platform accounts. This will make it much easier for your followers to find you.

7. Instagram Suggestions

   Whenever you follow someone new on Instagram, a new panel called ‘suggested for you’ pops up with several more Instagrammers you may be interested in following. This is one of the key reasons it is important to have a niche and be continually active on your page so you will eventually be aligned with similar accounts and pop up within a potential viewers suggestions every time they follow one of these other accounts.

   With this, it is also very beneficial to have a solid, attractive bio describing you and your niche so any potential followers considering following you in this way, will be more inclined to do so.

Here are a few ways you can maximize your Instagram potential to help bring in a good following:

1. Utilize your Username and Name Field

   Make sure your username is memorable. It can incorporate your real name and/or an aspect of the niche you are designing your account around. If at all possible, make sure your username is the same as the one you are using on any other cross-platforms. This will help followers from other platforms to find you on Instagram.

   Utilize your name field. If your real name isn’t in your username, you can put it here along with any certificates or qualifications you have for your niche. Your name field is a major trigger for keywords, so make sure you use it wisely and add something about your niche to help people find you.

2. Have a Solid Bio

   The first thing a potential follower is going to look at is your bio to see if you are someone they are interested in following. If you leave it blank, they have nothing to go on. Make sure you utilize your space with some information on who you are and what your niche is.

   Think about your ideal audience and what they would be looking for. Try writing your bio with them in mind. Use different colors and fonts where appropriate to catch their attention.

3. Post Often

   It is important to post often but not too often. Try to post 1 or 2 posts a day if possible and at different times throughout the day. Posting too often can overwhelm your audience, yet posting not enough can make your audience forget why they are even following you.

   Put a lot of thought in your content to make sure it is high quality and leaves your followers wanting more. The higher quality the content, the more likely your fans will want to share it with all their friends and following as well, helping others stumble onto your account.

4. Be Active

   As mentioned above, it is so important to be active on other peoples accounts. I’ve noticed some of the fast growing Instagrammers I follow are just as active if not more active on other people’s accounts than on their own account.

   When you are continually commenting and liking other posts from different accounts, not only are the accounts you are posting on likely to eventually follow you, but you have a potential on reaching some of their followers as well. It can be a lot of work and take some time, but it is well worth it in the end if you are trying to rapidly grow your following.