How to Find Your Community on Instagram

We know starting a new account on any platform is difficult, and we know that you are busy and juggling multiple tasks at the same time as a business operator. That is why we have created this outline to help simplify the process for you.

One of the best things about using Instagram is that, unlike many other social media platforms, it can be a very simple app. All there is to an Instagram feed is a bunch of little squares with a brief narration below it. So getting the hang of mindlessly scrolling through the feed is pretty straightforward, but starting the account and finding your community can be difficult.

So here are some tips to help you find your people.

1. Incorporate Your Personality

Have you ever opened up a website or clicked on an account and just thought, now this is bland? When this happens, it is usually because there is no personality behind the page. People want to know who you are; they want to feel like they are interacting with a human being, so give that to them. Before you go out and try to start finding your community, you need to create your account. Make it obvious who you are and what your business is all about, and while doing so, incorporate your personality into your page. Know what your brand stands for and communicate that to your followers. It will surprise you how many people with similar interests will find your account before you reach out because they are doing the same thing you are. Showing that there is a real person behind your business will draw in more viewers and help you create more personal connections! When doing this keep in mind how you would typically interact with someone interested in your business in real life and bring that to your page. This can range from recommendations to basic conversations; when you make a post or comment, think of it as starting a conversation.

2. Find Your Inspiration

We know that everyone is guilty of getting lost in the scrolling, looking at the delicious food, cute puppies, or the newest trends, but did you know that doing this can be productive? Now, this is the fun part, when you log into Instagram, there is an ‘explore’ tab with a search bar. Type in whatever comes to mind when you think of your business, whether that is health and fitness, food, cars, animals, or whatever you think of; type it in. Once you hit the search button, your screen will be filled with posts and people interested in the same thing your business is all about. Scroll through these posts and pages and figure out what you like about their pages, what draws you in, and what makes you want to come back and keep tabs on this page. Use this as your inspiration; most likely a lot of people will like the same things you do. Use the aspects you like about other pages and posts to create your own; if it is inspirational quotes, artsy pictures, or funny anecdotes, incorporate that into what you post.

3. Follow, Follow, Follow

Get ready to hear the word follow a few hundred times because this is your new mantra “follow, follow, follow.” While scrolling to find your inspiration, keep note of those accounts that you really felt a connection to and resonate with what you think your business is all about, and then hit that bright blue follow button. This is the first step in truly finding your community. Instagram even makes it easy for you; as soon as you hit follow, a ‘suggested for you’ list will pop up right under that. All of these are accounts that are similar to the one you just followed. Then, right to the profile picture of an account you like, it will show both their followers and who they follow. Scroll through these lists because you will find even more similar accounts, and any of their followers would also be interested in your business, and then you guessed it, follow them too. A good portion of the people you follow will follow you back, and now every post you make will appear on their feed.

4. #Hashtag

We’re sure you’ve heard somewhere along the line someone say, “hashtag that,” well, now you need to become one of those people. Now that you’ve got the hang of following everyone you can find with similar interests to you, it’s time to ingrain the word hashtag into your brain. To understand how to use a hashtag, you can do the same thing you did when finding your inspiration. Go back to your trusty ‘explore’ tab and type in whatever you want with the hashtag symbol (#) in front of it. Using hashtags is another excellent strategy to find others interested in what you do, but also a way to get your posts in front of others searching for accounts related to your business. To do this, when you make a post, caption it whatever you want, and then under that, add as many hashtags related to your post or business as you can. Simply add to your post the same thing you searched for; just remember to put the hashtag symbol in front of it. Every hashtag you add to your posts is another opportunity to get that post in front of your future customers and clients, so be sure to add as many as you can!

5. Be Active

Don’t worry, we are not talking about being physically active; let's remember we’re talking about sitting and scrolling on social media here; this kind of being active is a bit easier than that. The best way to truly be a part of your Instagram community is to be active. At this point, you now have a pretty good grasp on what you’re doing when it comes to finding your community on Instagram, but to gain followers, stay relevant, and provoke conversation, you need to be active. Being active is pretty simple; sit down and scroll through your feed whenever you can find some time each day. Like every post you see and comment a few words, doing this shows others looking at those posts on your account and reminds the one who posted it that you’re still around. Be sure to comment back at those who comment on your posts, even if it's a simple thank you. Commenting back at your followers and commenting on others’ posts also shows your personality, which will help you gain some real connections! Also, make it a point to post something on your account every day; it does not always have to be something complex or even a traditional post; it can be something super simple or even just a post on your ‘story,’ which will appear on your profile for only twenty-four hours. Using Instagram stories offers great ways to gain feedback from your followers as well; you can ask questions or create polls that allow you to interact with everyone. Another great way to be active is to direct message others who you have gained some sincere connections with! Being active is so important because the more active you are, the more your account will be promoted to others, resulting in more followers, likes, comments, and views, which is a great way to gauge how many people are engaging with your account!

We know that Instagram is not so simple for everyone; some people are just more tech-savvy than others and frankly have more time to put into their accounts, but following these tips will make it easier for you to find and be a part of your community. Running a successful Instagram account does not have to be complex; slow down, take a deep breath, remember these tips, and be sure to have your notifications on so you don’t miss out on anything!