8 Growth Hacks for New IG Accounts: Getting Started on Instagram in 2022
Starting a new Instagram account in 2022 can feel like a daunting task. What should you include in your Bio? Should you try all the Instagram features? How do you best get discovered and found on Instagram? So many questions! Where should you even begin?
Luckily for newcomers, with all the recent algorithm changes and platform updates, arriving late to this party can go nearly unnoticed. With a little bit of strategy and a lot of valuable content creation, you’ll build an engaged following in no time.
If you’re just getting started on Instagram, first off – Warmest Welcome!
Secondly, we recommend you consider these 8 Instagram Growth Hacks to help drive brand awareness on Instagram for New Accounts. Psst! It’s not all about Reels; although leaning into creating Reels IS extremely important to growth.
1. SEO Your Username and Bio
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) isn’t just for websites and blogs anymore!
Think of your bio as your Instagram Business Card. This is the first thing a user sees.
Optimize your bio by using keywords that answer questions like “Why they should trust you? What makes you qualified? What is your call to action?”
Write a bio that clearly describes who you help, and how you serve them, and start attracting your ideal followers!
Best practices include:
Using a searchable username
Optimize your nameplate (bold text on your bio)
Optimize your bio’s details (text under the nameplate)
2. Choose Your Content Pillars
Choosing your content pillars will offer clarity to your audience on the type of feed and posts they should expect from you. We recommend choosing 3-5 pillar types that align with your brand’s identity and goals.
Ex. What do you want your audience to remember about you/your brand? Create pillars that support this.
Now under each pillar, create 4-5 content ideas. Take it to your content calendar, and voila you have a few post ideas ready to go!
Pro Tip! If you imagine your content pillars literally holding up your brand's identity, it becomes a little easier to identify what posts or messages support your Instagram strategy and which don't make sense.
3. Quality Value-Based Content Only
Serve your followers with value-based content. Take the “learn from me” over the “look at me” approach. Most social media users are on a mission to become the best versions of themselves, so before you click “post” ask yourself:
Will this post serve my audience?
Is it entertaining, educational, or inspiring?
Will they feel encouraged to engage?
Fun Fact: People's attention span is now shorter than a goldfish! It's fallen from 12 seconds in 2000, to 8 seconds today! So before you click post, be sure it’s something your audience will find shareable and saveable.
4. Pick Your Frequency & Stick To It
Take an audit of your weekly, monthly, and quarterly business goals, and pick a frequency that works for you. Be realistic and then stick to it. Consistency helps with the algorithm, but that does NOT mean you have to post every day or multiple times a day.
Being or getting consistent is more about the systems you create by the habits you form, versus posting every day.
5. Community Connection and Engagement
Social media is about community, so remember to get social!
Engagement could be argued as one of the most important tasks of social media management. Think of writing a thoughtful comment or replying to comments as leaving or giving out your business card at industry events. People scrolling through the comments will not only see your profile picture but also your engagement style.
For best results, we recommend engaging with your audience for 15 minutes before and after you post or at least 30 minutes.
6. Test Out All The Instagram Features
Content on Instagram does not start and end with your Reels and feed posts. There are highlights, stories, direct messaging, videos and lives.
Define your goals and leverage the feature that makes the most sense. Here’s a snapshot of how to use each feature.
1️⃣ Feed Post = Share valuable content & attract more followers. Carousel: brand story, product reveal, before/after, employee/client feature, educational content
2️⃣ Highlights = Your Ad Space to share what your page is all about
3️⃣ Stories = Building trust, showing personality, and reliability
4️⃣ DM’s = Building 1:1 relationships and Sell
5️⃣ Reels = GROW your following, serve and entertain
6️⃣ Videos & Lives = Serve and educate
7. Original Content Is Queen
Instagram’s algorithm favours Reels and original content. What this means is to organically get discovered, businesses and creators need to lean into Reels and create original content.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram said, “We’re going to do more to try and value original content more, particularly compared to reposted content.”
Although creation and editing do NOT have to be done on the Instagram app, it is encouraged to remove any watermarks or logos before you post on Instagram.
8. Batch Plan, Create, and Schedule
Save time and reduce stress! What stories do you want to tell/teach? Plan your content and schedule in advance. Here’s our winning (and stress-free) formula.
✅Batch brainstorm ideas and ensure it ties back to your pillars.
✅Batch create (record/design).
✅Batch caption write for all your posts or Reels.
✅Schedule using FB Creator Studio (free) or Later app.
Pro tip:
➡️Check your analytics. What type of content does your audience engage with the most? Start there.
➡️Carve out specific time slots for each, and stick to it. ex. 2-4hrs creating, etc.
➡️Don't be shy or overthink reusing old posts and captions!
Final Thoughts
Start with defining what “I want to grow on Instagram” mean to you and your social media strategy. Is your goal to gain a certain number of followers? Perhaps it’s increased conversions and engagement with your content? Or maybe it’s driving more UGC (User Generated Content) and testimonials for credibility?
Defining a clear strategy will help set the foundation for the home you’d like to build with your community on social media. Track your analytics. Check what’s working, and what’s not working, and pivot accordingly.
As with business growth, the best strategies are the ones that are ready and willing to adapt and evolve, to match not only the changing trends of traditional industries but more importantly, the changing needs and goals of your customers and buyers.
If you go where they are buying and will be buying, with the content they enjoy engaging with… Your presence at the party will become the standard.