How to Gain Instagram Followers for Your eCommerce in 2023

New networks are appearing and consolidating, such as TikTok, some promised a lot but became marginal, like SnapChat, some even changed their name, like Twitter but Instagram remains: in a prominent position and a real value for marketing.

 

That's why we wanted to write this article, to help you grow your online store's community.

Of course, the phrase “in 2023” is important. For those of us who have been in digital marketing for a while, it's clear that Instagram has changed a lot in recent years.

 

For a long time, the biggest revolution was the introduction of Stories. But now, Reels have gained a lot of weight. And we have yet to see what other features like Threads will bring. In terms of formats, they've also added monetization-oriented features like Instagram Shopping.

The photo-based social network has evolved into something more and jumped on the video bandwagon (especially short, vertical format videos).

 

For all these reasons, it's currently interesting to work with this channel and, of course, increase the number of followers our business has on Instagram.

It doesn´t mean that you should forget about photos, but audiences spend a lot of time watching Reels, and static content is becoming less appealing and, therefore, less viral.

 

With the algorithm making organic reach challenging, Reels is a tool that can multiply it by up to 12, according to a study published by the Metricool tool.

 

However, creating Reels also means working on the script (not necessarily the production; a good idea is better than perfect execution).

 

Important: your content can reach many people, but if it doesn't offer something unique, it won't get you more followers. As a tip, I'd advise you to focus more on building brand awareness, telling stories, rather than trying to sell directly with ads.

Sometimes we might focus too much on branding or other goals, and in doing so, we make the mistake of not specifically preparing campaigns to get new followers.

 

I don´t mean that you should run paid campaigns with that objective, mainly because, unlike Facebook, Instagram doesn't allow it. But you can do something as simple as adding a hook at the end of your posts. You know how YouTubers often say things like, "follow me, give a like, and comment"? 

You'd be surprised how effective that can be.

As you may already know, Instagram has opened the possibility for all users to verify their profiles, similar to Twitter Blue.

 

Before, it was quite complicated to get that famous checkmark next to our username. With the new Meta Verified, the exclusivity effect is somewhat lost, but it still maintains something very important when attracting new followers on Instagram: it projects authority and validates our content.

 

In addition to this, another important aspect is that, by paying, we also improve our visibility. The algorithm will favor us more.

Another tip for gaining Instagram followers for your online store is to use all the platforms at your disposal.

 

For example: add the link to your Instagram account on all your profiles that allow it. This includes everything from your TikTok bio to YouTube.

 

It's also advisable to share the same reels on Twitter (I'm still not used to calling it X), Telegram, Whatsapp, or even in our newsletters or our website.

 

Anywhere where people follow us or see us, a link can help generate more followers on Instagram.

A few months ago, Instagram modified its algorithm, and now posts receive less visibility and less organic interaction than before. You've probably noticed how the number of "likes" on your posts has decreased compared to a year ago.

Previously, "likes" were very significant, but now comments and bookmarks are much more valuable. That's why Instagram provides us with the option to invest in advertising to increase our reach.

If you decide to invest in Instagram to promote a post, you can reach a large number of new users in your niche and, as a result, increase the number of followers.

Interacting and responding to users who visit our profile and our posts is crucial for Instagram to display our content.

In addition, users will feel important and valued, increasing the chances they will comment or interact with our account again in the future.

Remember that the sooner a post receives interaction, the higher the chances of it being displayed. The first hour after a post is published is vital in setting its success.

However, don't limit your interaction only to users who come to your profile. You should be proactive and establish personal connections with accounts related to your niche.

This is widely known. There are websites that sell them "per weight", but in reality, these followers only serve to inflate a metric.

 

All those profiles from distant countries, bots with random names, will never generate realistic interactions for you, so you could have millions of followers and only a couple of likes per post, which produces a very counterproductive effect.

Strategically, it's a channel that allows you to carry out different actions. 

We will mainly focus on 3 main aspects:

 

 

In a nutshell: Instagram helps us throughout the key phases of the customer journey, from discovery to evangelization.