Creating an Instagram is easy, but gaining followers and growing your account can be more difficult than you would expect. Learn my top 5 steps to grow and get likes on Instagram.

With all of the new changes that have been happening (or will happen soon) with Instagram, it’s time to start getting more tactical with your posting techniques in order for your Instagram to grow and to ensure that your content gets more likes regardless of these changes. In less than 2 years I have gone from 1 Instagram account with 700 followers to creating more than 30 accounts with over 16 million real Instagram followers and earn $250,000+ from advertisers that pay me directly.

Longer Videos Means More Opportunity

The most recent change to Instagram was the change in video length that users can post. It’s slowly transforming what was once static content into diverse collections of posts. No longer are users limited to still image posts. Instagram has transformed into the ultimate marketing tool filled with gifs, cinemagraphs, and now even longer videos than allowed before. What does this mean for you and your Instagram account? More opportunity to stand out in the crowd. With 60 seconds you can tell more of a story than you could with the limiting 15 seconds previously allowed. Take advantage of this change to give your followers some insight on your brand/company. Create videos that engage users that view it. Use those 60 seconds to really tell a story about your brand.

Staying At The Top

Another of Instagram’s changes includes the feed change that hasn’t happened yet, but will be occurring soon. In case you haven't heard, Instagram's feed will now prioritize content on our feeds. So users who's content you most frequently like will show up at the top of your feed. Working to make sure that your content is still being viewed by your followers is important when you're trying to grow your account. Always remember, content is king! If you create content that is worthy of being at the top of user's feeds, then you shouldn't have to worry. Many Instagram users are encouraging their followers to turn on "post notifications" for their profiles, which is a smart move. This will guarantee that their content gets seen.

I let my followers know how to make sure they see my content after Instagram changes the feed algorithm.

Create or Curate Like-Worthy Content

You'll never be able to grow your Instagram account if you don't have the content to back it up. After all, Instagram is all about how many followers you have and how many likes your posts get. It's all about content. So create posts that are deserving of likes. This means paying attention to the composition of your posts, even if you're using a phone to take pictures/videos. With all of the free editing apps available, there's no excuse for boring posts. On my MadWhips Instagram accounts, I consistently post the highest-quality photos of exotic cars, and now that's what my followers expect to see. Of all the social media platforms, Instagram is by far the most superficial. Post pictures and content that look good, and you'll get more likes.

Create Your Brand Identity

Instagram is an extension of your brand or company, so creating a brand identity is a key factor in growing your account. The content you post is part of the packaging that is your brand's identity. What does your brand do? What do you want your Instagram to represent? Think about these questions with every post you create. Your Instagram should look uniform and clean. The content that you post should make sense and clearly represent your brand.

One of my Instagram accounts, @gentlemanscreed that has an established brand identity and continues to attract new followers and likes.

Take Advantage Of Hashtags

Hashtags used to be just a Twitter thing, but not anymore. Using hashtags on Instagram helps to build communities around the brands that are using them. They establish connections between users and brands. Keep in mind that you should only use hashtags that are relevant to your brand. Don't clutter up your posts with hashtag after hashtag- especially if they don't relate to your brand or company. Hashtags can bring new users to your Instagram thus leading to more followers and growing your account! If you're launching a new product, create a new hashtag to promote it. Using hashtags can be tricky, but I get into more detail on using them in my Wolf Millionaire Instagram Guides. Make sure you understand how to really utilize hashtags so that you can grow your account.

Notice how a few key hashtags that are relevant are being used, keeping the caption clean and uncluttered.

Put Strategies To Work

If you take anything from this, it should be that hashtags and longer videos won't mean a thing if you aren't creating quality content. So find your brand's identity, do some hashtag research, get creative, and get to work on creating some content worthy of likes. Follow these steps and you'll be growing your account in no time.

While implementing these strategies will yield immediate results, these are just some of the tactics I employ to drive follower growth among my network of accounts. There are dozens of other best practices, strategies and productivity apps when used together generate powerful momentum for growth for any Instagram account in any niche. If you are curious to know more, I have a FREE 20 Page Instagram guide filled with more strategies & best practices, which can be downloaded at www.wolfmillionaire.com, we even just launched an affiliate program. Contact me directly at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more!