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5 Steps to Becoming an Instagram Sensation

Polaroid photograph held up against a natural landscape featuring a rocky mountain and a lake.

Many businesses are taking advantage of Instagram's 500 million daily active users to gain popularity and increase their customer base, so why would your business pass up this opportunity? If you’re not a regular instagrammer, starting and growing your own page can be overwhelming. These Instagram tips will help you gain a booming following and lead the way to sensation status.

1- #Hashtags

Hashtags are probably the most important component of gaining popularity on Instagram. Posts that include at least one hashtag have seen up to 13% increased engagement. To put it simply, hashtags help categorize photos with the same theme or content.

Make sure to keep hashtags short, simple and most importantly, relevant. For example, when posting a photo of a fancy watch, I may use the hashtags #watch, #michaelkors and #rosegold.

Hashtags with your location are a good idea if you're looking to connect with local instagrammers.

2- Use Visually Appealing Photos

Although it seems obvious, this point is extremely important. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to have a stellar collection of Instagram photos. One of the most important bits of advice is to keep it simple. A cluttered photo will take away from what you are trying to promote.

Instagram has many filters and editing tools to choose from. Try as many as you like until you get the desired result. If your photo already looks good, simply leave it alone.

Take a few different photos and decide which is the most visually appealing. Taking good photos may take a bit of time, but like anything, practice makes perfect. Don’t give up, and you’ll be taking photos like a pro in no time!

3- Know Your Audience

Cater your posts to your audience. Whether the purpose of your Instagram page is to educate, promote, or entertain, keep it in mind with each and every photo and caption. If your account is purely professional, keep it informative. If you're marketing towards a younger audience, keep it fun and upbeat. Show people what you are passionate about, and just remember to target the people with your same interests.

4- Tag a Brand

When you tag other Instagram accounts in your photos, your photo will show up in their “tagged” section. They'll receive a notification, and with any luck, may even engage with your post! Better yet, they could also follow you or even re-gram your photo! When tagging a brand, make sure the photo actually features the brand, otherwise, they could flag your account as spam.

5- Call to Action

Most followers scroll through their feed passively. Give them a call to action, and ask them to take action. For example: "Double tap if you like coffee", "tag a friend who likes coffee", "click the link in our bio for free coffee"… If your customers oblige, this will increase your page’s activity, likes, and followers.

Most importantly, have fun!

Don't forget to contact My Creative Mark if you need help with your brand's social media marketing.

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