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9 tips for growing your Instagram

Last year was the year I really fell in love with Instagram. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve always had a soft spot for it because I’m a very visual person, but I worked SO hard on my Instagram throughout 2016 and completely fell in love with it.

At the beginning of 2016, I had 1.5k followers and at the beginning of 2017 I had 7.5k. I think a growth of 6,000 followers in a year (especially for someone who started off fairly small) is pretty good going. To be honest, I went through a bit of a “I hate my Instagram” phase for a couple of months (damn, I wish I hadn’t) so if that wasn’t the case, I’d have probably managed to hit 10k, but that’s purely guessing at this point.

Basically, I think I managed to grow my Instagram fairly well in the space of a year, all things considered. *cough* algorithm changes making it 10x harder *cough*.

After talking about how proud I was about my Instagram growth on Twitter a few weeks ago, a LOT of you asked for tips. A LOT. From little old me. I did a thread of all the tips I could think of, but I was short on time because I was on my way to stuff my face with a big New Year’s Day curry, so I decided to compile all my ‘growing your Instagram’ tips into a blog post for y’all. You. Are. WELCOME.

(P.S. Plz follow me.)

1. Make sure your photos are actually good

For me, good quality content is ESSENTIAL if you want a lot of people to follow you. If you post rubbish, blurry, grainy photos then nobody is going to be interested. That doesn’t mean all your photos have to be taken on a DSLR and have to have a stark, white background just FYI. It just means that they should be clear, easy to see the subject and generally pleasing to the eye. (If you want to post bright white photos then that’s fine and dandy, but don’t feel like you have to in order to see growth!)

I use my iPhone 6S for about half of my Instagram photos and my Olympus EPL-7 for the rest, it totally depends on the photo, where I am when I’m taking it and what it’s a photo of.

Top tip: If you want to take your ~aesthetically pleasing feed~ up a notch, use an app like UNUM to pre-plan your feed. I don’t use it religiously but I do sometimes when I have a photo I’m not certain on.

 

2. Post regularly

I consistently see a direct correlation between how much I post and how many followers I gain. At the beginning of the year, I planned out my Instagram in terms of what pictures I needed to take and when I’d post them. About half were pre-taken on the weekend and the other half were a case of “I know I’m doing this on that day, so I’ll make sure I take and post a photo of this”. I posted three times a day RELIGIOUSLY and I saw my followers double in a couple of months.

But, at the end of the day, it was hard. I was running out of ideas for 3-times-a-day content and I was massively burning out. Now I post once – twice a day, depending on what I’m doing and how many “back up photos” I have. (More on that later). It works much better for me and although my growth rate has decreased a little bit, it’s easier to balance and I’m gaining followers at a pretty decent rate.

3. Interact with other accounts (insightfully)

Like people’s photos, comment on people’s photos, follow people you like – just INTERACT! But please make sure it’s insightful. Actually read photo captions, actually look at the photo and comment something relevent. None of this “Great pic!” “Awesome!” “Cool feed!” nonsense pleaseeeeee.

Also, interact with other people on your own photos! I make sure I reply to all of my comments and make conversations with people. (Except for the aforementioned “100!” “Great!” comments – they get ignored.)

Top tip: Try interacting with other accounts just before and just after you’ve posted. Especially accounts that are recent in the hashtags you’ve used on your photo! Think of it as like a “hello I’m here!” signal!

4. Change your account to a business account

Did you know you can turn your Instagram into a business account? All you need is an active Facebook page and you can access TONNES of helpful information like how many impressions you’re receiving, how many followers you’re gaining and at what rate, when you’re followers are most active (AKA when is the best time to post) and which of your photos are the most popular.

To change your account to a business account, go to your Instgram profile and click on settings in the top right corner. Scroll down and click the “Switch to business account” option. All you need to do is have a Facebook page for it to hook up to – I used my blog Facebook page.

5. Post at the same time every day (or, every day you post)

Using the new fabulous information you can access from your swanky business account, check when your followers are most active and decide on times to post. STICK TO THOSE TIMES. Obviously not to the second, but if your followers are most active at 6pm, post between 5:30pm and 6pm every day (or at least every day you post) to try get the most engagement possible on your photos. People will start to get into a routine and expect posts from you and I can guarantee your engagement will be better than if you were to just post randomly.

6. Have a back-up log of photos

Joe and I have what we call an Instagram bank. It’s a collection of photos we’ve taken, maybe on a day out, maybe generic “hey look here’s a cup of tea” photos we’ve taken on a weekend. They’re basically photos that can be used at any time of day in any situation with the right caption. I use them when I want to post, but aren’t doing anything photograph-able or if the lighting is too rubbish to get a decent photo, or if I just can’t be bothered snapping a pic. It’s GREAT to have some just in case you can’t post but want to.

7. Ask questions in captions to engage your audience

I feel like captions are becoming more and more important the more Instagram messes with the algorithm. Engagement is becoming increasingly important when it comes to growing your following, so the more comments and likes you can get (and leave for other people) is crucial.

A few months ago I tried to mix up my captions by treating Instagram more like a ‘microblogging’ platform. I didn’t just caption my photo, I also gave a little insight into my life, what I was doing with my day etc. I also started asking more questions in my captions, inviting more of my followers to comment and I saw a big increase in the amount of comments I was getting – massively upping my engagement. Try it!

8. Which style of photos do best on your feed? Post them more!

Also using your swanky new ability to check your Instagram analytics, take notice of which photos are in your “top photos” section. This section will show you which photos get the most engagement and from there, you can easily see what type of photos do best on your feed. For me, it’s flatlays (specifically the ones I do with the laptop in, crossed legged, holding a cuppa) and photos of me (selfies or fashion shots) that always do the best, so I try to post them frequently! Get to know what your followers like to see and use that as inspiration on what to post!

9. For the love of god HASHTAG

HASHTAG, HASHTAG, HASHTAG. You’re allowed up to 30 hashtags on an Instagram post and you should use all 30 if you ask me. It’s like being told you have 30 lottery tickets but only using 10 of them – why not just use them all? (I put mine in a comment after my caption, only because I don’t like the way they clog up my caption!)

The key is to mix up what type of hashtags you use. Don’t solely use over-saturated hashtags with millions of photos in them, use smaller ones too! I use a mixture of large, well known hashtags and smaller, more community led ones to really make sure I’m making the most of my 30.

As far as finding hashtags goes – take a look at your favourite accounts and see which ones they use. Research into which are the best and do a bit of trial and error into which get you the best engagement. You can also search related hashtags for inspiration! When you search a hashtag from the app, there’s a ‘related’ section right at the top! Make sure you’re mixing it up per photo – you ain’t gonna get many likes on a food photo using only fashion based hashtags.

Top tip: Want to hashtag but hate how time consuming writing 30 hashtags at a time is? iPhones have this nifty feature in the settings where you can set up what’s called a text replacement. For example, when I type ‘instahash’ on my phone, it auto-corrects to 30 generic hashtags for me to use on Instagram instantly. I have a bunch of different presets for different photos e.g. instahashfashion, instahashflatlay and instahashfood to make my life easier. It’s also easier to have 30 hashtags instantly written out where you can just go in and swap out one or two afterwards. Trust me, this has saved me SO MUCH TIME. (I go through them every few months and add new hashtags I’ve found/like.)

To set up a text replacement, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. From there, click the + sign and add as many as you like! The hashtags you wish to use would go in the ‘phrase’ section and the shortcut text you want to assign to them (e.g. instahash) would go in the ‘shortcut’ section. You’re welcome.

GOOD GOD that was a long post. I’m sorry! I hope it helps anyone out there looking to grow their Instagram, though. Remember, you don’t have to do every single thing on this list – it’s just a bit of inspiration for you! Did I miss anything out? Make sure you leave some tips in the comments if I did – it’s great to help each other out!

And on that note, I’m gonna go make a massive cup of tea because I’m exhausted after all that. Rhianna, OUT.


If you liked this post, you might like Robowecop in 2017 or Blogging tips straight from the experts

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  • Danielle says:

    That instahash setting is such a great idea! I have a load copied to my notes but this will be so much easier! Danielle || Miss Danielle

  • The text replacement tool will be a god send for me, I had no idea about this! Unfortunately my IG will not find my blog Facebook page to set up a business account annoyingly. Though, I will definitely be using some of these tips!
    Thanks for sharing,
    Jaz xoxo
    http://www.thelifeofasocialbutterfly.co.uk

  • Eve Greenow says:

    Love this posts! Agree on the hashtag tip! love your blog and IG :D <3

    http://evegreenow.com/

  • Why am I only just finding this post now? Girl… you’re literally like IG goal dreams. I absolutely loved this post and found it so helpful. I feel like my IG has been so stagnant for so long now and I just don’t know how to get that mojo back, I’m definitely feeling inspired to try harder now!

    H, Heather McKnight x

  • Michelle says:

    Great post, my instagram game is very poor and the tips you have here will be very helpful. I will be stalking my favourite instagrammers (more than normal) to get the best hashtags.

  • Alice Red says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m trying to grow my Instagram at the moment and these tips are really helpful x

    alicered.co.uk

  • sampan22 says:

    So useful! The hashtag tip is getting set up today! :)
    http://www.samspeaks.co.uk

  • Olivia Johnson says:

    Such a well thought out post! And some
    really amazing tips too, I use a few of these myself already so I’m glad to see that they could lead somewhere! Also the hashtag one is genius! Why have I never thought of this.
    Certainly will be giving your insta a follow you really photos are incredible.

    Olivia / http://www.describingolivia.com

  • Zoe H says:

    I love this post! Damn, I really need to get my butt in gear with Instagram, I’m such a slacker at it, it’s unreal!
    Great post lovely! *setting up Text Replacement*

    Zoe | http://www.nuggetstumpblog.com

  • Miss Jamie-Leigh says:

    I seriously need to sort my insta out. Thinking about starting from scratch if I’m honest… But definitely going to be using some or all of these tips!! Thank you x

    Jamie-Leigh x
    http://www.missjamieleigh.com

  • Miss Jamie-Leigh says:

    I need to seriously need to sort my insta out. Thinking about starting from scratch if I’m honest… But definitely going to be using some or all of these tips!! Thank you x

    Jamie-Leigh x
    http://www.missjamieleigh.com

  • Ellie's Bits of Beauty says:

    This is such a helpful post I have so many new ideas now! Need to get myself a Facebook page so I can change my Instagram to account a business one!

    Ellie x

    http://www.elliesbitsofbeauty.wordpress.com

  • Cristina says:

    Love this! Also love your instagram, so I followed you. ^_^

    Cristina | *janded

  • Emma Humphrey says:

    I know I’m a little late to the party with reading this post but THANK YOU!! It’s so helpful, especially for people like me who are small-time bloggers trying to get more engagement and readership. I’ve just switched my account to a business one, set up a blog Facebook page, and am going to make it my mission to comment more on other’s photos. Always love reading your content, especially when it’s blog related :)

    Happy Friday!

    http://www.colourmecopper.com

  • Jessica Keynes says:

    Oh. My. God. This post has revolutionised my life (blogging life)! Soooo many helpful tips, thank you :) Also do you find having a Facebook page for your blog helps a lot? Do you see a lot of engagement from it?

    http://www.thatsjustspiffy.com

    • Emma Humphrey says:

      I’ve been thinking the same Jessica – I’ve just set up a Facebook page for my blog and am a little nervous to invite all my friends over to like it!! But I think I’ll use it as a good place to not only share my own blogs but also other people’s content that I love – I feel like sometimes, my friends on my normal FB page probably get a bit fed up of me sharing certain content so this might help me keep things a bit more streamlined!! xx http://www.colourmecopper.com

    • Rhianna Bowe says:

      To be honest, I actually barely use my blog Facebook page mainly because 99% of the time I forget to post on it! I pretty much only have it now for the sake of my Instagram business account! That’s not to say it wouldn’t bring me traffic if I actually worked on it though haha! xx

  • Going to give these all a go! I find Instagram is my slowest platform for growing :(

    http://www.beingashleigh.com

  • Jess says:

    I love this! There are some great tips in here and lots of things I hadn’t thought of before. I will definitely check out the instagram for business setting – at the moment I have no idea which of my photos are the most popular! xx

    Jessthetics

  • Ela says:

    I’m not a fan of using 30 hashtags, but I think I need to use that tip if I want to grow my Instagram!
    Ela | http://www.stealingyoursunbeams.wordpress.com

  • Tania Jayne says:

    I have hashtags saved in my notes section. I’ve more than 30 for each genre and I go through quickly and pick the most relevant for each photo. Much easier than having to type them all out. I’m going to give text replacement a try too.

    Having a bank of photos is so helpful! I’ve just come to the end of mine though, so I need to get snapping sharpish! I definitely need to use the analytics in business account too. I keep forgetting! Xx

    Tania | When Tania Talks

  • Yes to all of this. I recently switched to this way of dealing with instagram, I dropped all comment pods etc an focused on accounts that made me happy and posting pictures that made me happy. Making sure I interact with accounts and leave good comments. It takes a lot of work but it’s entirely worth it as my engagement is now ace and my account is gradually growing. I need to gather more of a backlog of photos, I go through phases with this, sometimes I’ve loads, sometimes none. Great post and excellent reminders that it’s good to do it this way :)

    Honestly Aine

  • Sharni says:

    This post has so many great tips! Thanks so much for sharing – also I’m kinda obsessed with your pom-pom beanie!

    Sharni // http://www.agirlandgrey.com

  • Caitylis says:

    This is most helpful post I’ve read in a long time. I really need to up my game, i feel like my photographs are good enough but I just struggle to see the numbers rise!
    Caitylis | xxx

  • Tomi Kay says:

    I never could have thought of the text replacement tip. Love it. I tried to move my Instagram to a Business page but since I didn’t have a Facebook page it wouldn’t let me. It might be worth it setting one up for the analytics.

    tomikaydoesbeauty.com

  • LizzieBee says:

    YOU ABSOLUTE LEDGE yes love this post ? And so well timed too as I was so lost on what to do with insta! That image bank you mention is going to be super handy – I’m already looking back at my old photos to see which ones would be good to post!

    Lizzie Bee // http://www.hellolizziebee.com

  • Hayley Ash says:

    This post was awesome. It’s given me some ideas for my Instagram. Im so bad at forgetting to post for days. And thank you so much for the hashtag info, I hate typing out all the hashtags every time.

    HAYLEY || Echo Luna Luxe

  • Layne Fable says:

    love this!!! always looking to grow my instagram

  • Rell Kiri says:

    Love your account! Going to give it a follow! These are great tips, I was able to grow my account to a decent amount of followers with these tips!

    Foirell | http://www.citygirlrell.com

  • This is such a helpful post! I hadn’t thought about setting up my phone to autocorrect to hashtags. That is such an amazing tip and definitely one I need to put into practice, because thinking about hashtags every time is time consuming. I need to work on compiling a bank of photos it’s such a brill idea. Thanks Rhianna!
    Juanita x http://www.juanitashikira.com

  • Emma Haworth says:

    This was great! I’m changing to a business account right now!

  • I decided to work hard on my Instagram in 2016 and I’m proud that I went from around 300 followers to just over 1k. I was growing at around 100 new followers a month but with all the algorithm etc changes that Instagram keep making and the ever increasing follow/unfollow culture it’s getting harder and harder. I do pretty much everything you’ve mentioned here but my growth is much slower than it was x

    Becky @ The Little Blog of Beauty

  • Rebecca Ellis says:

    At the minute I’m only posting twice a week and I’m using the photos from my blog, because I’m too picky to actually sit and take photos with my phone for it haha! I really want to get out of that slump when I get my new phone in September :) x

    http://www.sheintheknow.co.uk

  • alicesaga says:

    thanks for sharing:))))

  • Beauteagenes says:

    This was such a useful post :) I am a huge fan of Instagram and have been trying to post consistently everyday and at the same time :) can’t wait to try out these tips thank you xxx

  • THE BRITALIAN WAY says:

    Great post! This is the FIRST really helpful blog post I’ve read concerning this matter. I feel like many bloggers who post about ways of growing your social media accounts are sometimes too generic and don’t actually give you practical things to try out. Thanks for this :)

  • These are some seriously helpful tips! I had never heard of “unum” and used planoly instead. I will have to look that up!

    xx Caitlin // Minimalist Makeup

  • Just Joelle says:

    Really enjoyed this post – one of my goals for 2017 is to build on my instagram following as I love how visual it is.
    Joelle
    http://www.justjoelle.co.uk

  • This is a really good post! I’ve always struggled to grow my Instagram but now I have these helpful tips to help me :) Thank you!

    Megan / http://www.meganmarieblogs.blogspot.co.uk

  • Diana Dors-Haisman says:

    This is such a good post, i’ve really loved my instagram lately and want to work on building it up, as i was reading this i switched my instagram to a business account, the hashtag tip is great and going to save a lot of time. Thanks :)

  • Ami Rose says:

    Thanks for this Rhi, I really enjoyed reading and your Instagram is GOALS. I really need to up my game, I go through stages of loving it, then hating it. I’m hoping to reach my first 1000 this year, which is obviously nothing compared to your almost 8000 now, I just can’t deal with the follow/unfollow game!

    Ami xxx
    http://www.ami-rose.com

  • Abi Street says:

    This is such a good post!! You’re instagram is always looking amazing. Your blog is actually the one I go to when I need inspiration or to find new hashtags to use. I absolutely love the text shortcut idea – I will be changing that on my phone right now x

    Abi | abistreetx

  • DreamInLace says:

    Thanks for the post! I did switch my Instagram to a business account – but you reminded me that I literally haven’t looked at the analytics since. For me, I think growing on Instragram essentially means being more mindful of what I post and when.

    xoxo – Kelly
    http://www.dreaminlace.com

  • Hannah Schofield says:

    I just wish I was better at taking photos!
    Thanks for the advice x

    Hannah – http://alittlejigsaw.blogspot.co.uk/

  • Leda O. says:

    I used to be really self-conscious about using hashtags on my insta photos as I use my account for both personal/blog-related stuff, and was afraid of what my friends would think! Then I thought to myself that this is my blog and my brand, and if I’m going to grow then I need to make it happen!

    Thanks for the helpful tips (I follow you on twitter but just followed you on insta ;) )

    xo Leda

    littlegirlbiggerworld.blogspot.com

  • missgetaway says:

    Great great great blogpost. I haven’t been following you on Instagram before but now I do, your feed is absolutely amazing.

    Love, Kerstin
    http://www.missgetaway.com/

  • I love this post! I’ve just started getting back into Instagram and while I haven’t quite found what I want to get from my feed, I’m really loving interacting with followers/followings, getting great tips, like all of these!!

    ps. Your Instagram is so damned good!!!

    Tamsyn | http://www.peachesandbear.co.uk

  • Isobel Rose says:

    LOVE the text replacement hashtag tip – you’re a genius! Off to do that now xx

  • I didn’t know you could get a business account, I’ll definitely be switching to that! I definitely find Instagram the most difficult of social medias to build anything on, so I’ll be utilising these tips this year!

    -carryonbeautiful.com

  • I stick religiously to my theme and post between 8-9:30 each day and hopefully use all the right #’s and it’s worked well so far! :) Tania Michele xx

  • Beth Fell says:

    Love this post! Definitely something I’ve been waiting for and it’s really insightful so thank you :) one thing I really wish was possible, is switching your Instagram to a business account without linking it to Facebook as I really don’t feel like Facebook for me is relevant.

    But super happy that what you’re doing has worked out for you! I’ve often thought about giving engaging captions a try, but weren’t sure how people felt about that. Glad to see it’s working for you!

    Beth x
    http://www.bethanymariefell.co.uk

  • Flora Emay says:

    This is such a helpful post Rhianna, thank you! I hadn’t thought to make the most of the text placement feature on iPhone, so I’ll set some of those up tonight as it’s the hashtagging that bores me stupid!

    I’m having a bit of a love hate affair with instagram at the moment…sometimes I’m go go go, and other times I can think of nothing worse. So perhaps I’m burning out and just need to pace myself! :)

    Flora

    http://www.theeverchanginghome.com

  • Aimee Julia says:

    Oh my gosh, this post is so useful. Thank you!! That tip about having a shortcut for hashtags? Lifesaver! I’m definitely going to try that now. I recently switched to a business account but haven’t really taken advantage of the statistics and stuff, so I’m definitely going to do more of that now, too. Great post! x http://www.aimeeraindropwrites.co.uk x

  • Tasmine Williams says:

    This is one of the best posts I’ve seen on Instagram engagement. I NEVER would have thought of the text replacement idea for the hashtags but my god is that a lifesaver! Great post gal ??

    Written by Tasmine | UK Style Blog

  • Sophie Stewart says:

    This was SO helpful! Thank you for sharing! Sophie x

    sophiehmstewart.com

  • Really great tips – thanks so much for sharing your instawisdom!

    Kate | http://www.petiteadventures.org/

  • Lynn says:

    I can’t wait to try these-esp the instahash. Thank you!

  • Jude says:

    This is such a great blog post! Some really great tips – especially the keyboard one! x

  • Emm Jey says:

    This was such an insightful post – I am always struggling with Instagram because I simply forget to post or I’m just too busy, so it’s really good to see how much time needs to go in it to succeed.

  • liannabell says:

    Such amazing tips… I will definitely be giving them a try and hopefully will grow my insta too xxxx

  • That hashtag tip is amazing! Thank you xx

    Blog:: hanrosewilliams.co.uk

  • Rose says:

    These are some great tips! I especially like #3. It is soooo annoying when someone just comments “awesome” – especially if it really doesn’t have anything to do with what the caption or picture is saying lol

  • Mo says:

    This is the best post on how to grow your Instagram I’ve ever read! I especially loved the text replacement tip! Thanks so much for sharing, I’m definitely going to try some of these out!

    xx Mo| shewearsblush.com

  • Trecee Hutchinson says:

    This was a great post! I definitely make use of that auto text tip on my feed! Its so much easier than typing out the hastags each time. I think my next step is changing my account to a business account qnd preplanning my feed! Thanks for your tips!

    Trecee

    http://treceefabulous.blogspot.com/

  • Jessie Lewis says:

    YESSSSS! This is such a good post!! I’ve noticed such a different since improving my Instagram photos, and regular posting is so important to growth. I try to post daily but only if my pics match my theme haha! xx

    Jessie | allthingsbeautiful-x

  • Shevy Bee says:

    WOW so much useful tips. THANK YOU!!! I instantly added keyboard shortcuts on my phone. How tiring it used to be typing out 30 hashtags for every IG post. Thanks.

    http://www.travelbeautyblog.com

  • Kate Cheetham says:

    Amazing post :) I’m looking to grow my very small 300+ audience this year so this was super helpful!

    http://www.whatkatedidnext92.com

  • Jenny Rae says:

    looooved this! what camera do you use for your snaps? they’re all super gorgeous.

    http://www.paperbackthrones.co.uk

  • Your Instagram feed is amazing so I loved reading these tips! I’ve definitely found that including a question in my captions is helping with engagement :)

  • Sonia says:

    i love your instagram feed, i am really trying to grow mine too and develop my blog with it, these tips were great thanks for sharing :) x

    http://www.sonias-style.blogspot.co.uk

  • This is just the best Insta tips post! the whole text replacement is the best thing ever to exist thank you sooooo much for sharing

    Leanne | http://www.oohsimplething.blogspot.co.uk

  • Sara Strauss says:

    This was so so SO helpful!! I love Instagram so much and have been wanting to grow mine, so these are wonderful tips! I had no idea there were text replacements on the phone! Using that asap! :)
    ~Sara

  • Humaira says:

    I love this post, so helpful! I have all the hashtags that consistently work for me in a note on Evernote, and I just copy and paste. So easy!

  • That auto fill tip is SO helpful, I’ve never thought to do that but definitely going to spend some time setting those up tonight. Really really great tips lovely!

    The Makeup Directory

  • Fashion Du Jour LDN says:

    Wowzers!!! Rihanna! You have got your Insta game en pointe ? Great tips that are time-saving and insightful and easy to put in place. I am ALL over the saving of different types of hash tags – lifesaver ?

    Thank you!

    Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN x
    http://www.fashiondujour.co.uk

  • Emma Hart says:

    Rhianna, this post is AMAZING! So many useful tips for growing Instagram following and engagement. I really want to improve my Insta game this year but I know my audience LOVE photos of beaches and pretty sunshine filled landscapes. When you live 2 hours away from the coast in usually grey Yorkshire, that can be hard! Maybe I’ll just have to make the most out of sunny days to build up my bank of photos :)

  • Yasmin Rebecca says:

    Great tips! Thanks for sharing :)
    Y x The Sweet Seven Five

  • Laila says:

    Thank you for the tips! I love Instagram, but I find interacting/growing my insta very difficult >.<

    Laila from Townhouse Palette

  • This has to be my favourite insta post ever! This was so useful!

  • Kinga Kurek says:

    These tips are so useful and helpful! I just started a new Instagram account and will definitely use your blog post as a reference to grow my Instagram follow! Thank you so much for sharing!
    Kinga xxx

    There’s a giveaway on my blog if you’d like to enter ^_^
    http://rockthisrunway.com/

  • Yasmin Leigh says:

    This is super helpful! Thank you for taking the time to write it. I’m going to look into UNUM now..
    Yasmin

    http://www.thirteenfingersblog.com

  • Becky Hughff says:

    These tips are actual lifesavers! Definitely going to give the text replacement a go, didn’t even know this function existed!!
    http://www.ohsobecky.com

  • This was so helpful thankyou for sharing!! xxx

    Frances Kayleigh

  • This was such a useful post! Thanks so much for all the tips! Especially the text replace thing for the hashtags!!! I definitely need to build up more of a bank too x x

  • Chloe says:

    Hi, I shall be using the auto hashtag tip as this will save me a lot of time. Thanks for sharing, Chloe https://pinkiebag.com #SundayBlogShare

  • Viki Bell says:

    I hadn’t thought about using the iPhone text replacement before – SUCH A GOOD IDEA! I’ve usually just got a list of hashtags on my Evernote but I tend to forget to use them. Today I’ll be adding them into the text replacement. Thanks for the tips! xx

    Viki https://vikibell.com

  • Yasmina says:

    This is so helpful, thank you for sharing your Instagram tips! I’m definitely going to try and start interacting with a lot more people on Instagram rather than just liking a photo :) xx

    Yasmina | The July Journal

  • Sam Sparrow says:

    This post is just INCREDIBLE. I’ve long been following your Insta and love the vibe you have going on. I’m bookmarking this to review each week as I try harder to get to grips with insta this year.

    Sam xx
    asthesparrowflies.com | unsorry.co.uk

  • Nadia says:

    Babe, how good was this post!! You honestly did a fab round-up of all the goodness that is IG and how to grow it! Which, by the way, reminds me – massive congrats on such a great growth in 2016!! So excited to see what 2017 will bring for you! Just know it will be big ;)
    p.s. I remember literally refreshing my feed when you were about to hit 10k on Twitter :D Exciting times!! So happy to support amazing fellow bloggers who also happen to be awesome people! <3
    xox Nadia
    http://www.mielandmint.com

  • Lucy Alana says:

    Thanks for this post was great help!

    Lucy | http://www.lucyalana.blogspot.com

  • Brooklyn says:

    Awesome tips! I love Instagram but the last few months have been not so great for me and I kind of ignored it. Time to get back into it for sure!

    http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com

  • Thank you so much for this post, I am going to try posting every day! x
    http://www.flareaforte.com

  • Jess says:

    This was such a helpful post. I’m definitely upping my Instagram game this year, not really to grow followers but more because I just bloody love taking photos and didn’t take anywhere near as many in 2016. I love your tip on text replacement, I’ve had an iPhone for 4 years and did not know you could do this?! WHY DID I NOT KNOW!? Rhianna, you are literally a lifesaver haha. Thank you so much.

    http://www.whos-that-girl.co.uk

  • franalibi says:

    These tips are so helpful! I feel like Instagram has been more fun for me recently but I am getting more of those nonsense comments… -_-

    franalibi.blogspot.co.uk

  • Natasha Storey says:

    Writing out the hashtags each time is so time consuming, so the auto text tip will definitely come in handy! Thank you :)

    http://www.thestoreyteller.co.uk

  • Thanks so much for this. I’m still quite new to insta but I’m absolutely loving it, definitely going to be putting these tips into practice soon!

    – Natalie
    http://www.workovereasy.com

  • Stephanie Hartley says:

    I’m so glad it was that long – it really helps when people go into detail! This is my favourite post that I’ve read all week, and I’ve set my own instahash shortcut up now. That is going to be a LIFESAVER. I think setting one up for beauty and food pictures is going to go on tonight’s to-do list

    Steph – http://www.nourishmeblog.co.uk

  • This tips are so useful. I feel like I have been stuck on the same number of followers on Instagram now for well over a year.
    Love Alicia x
    http://bambidreaming.blogspot.co.uk/

  • Lea H says:

    Thanks soooooo much for this post. Since last spring I’m trying like crazy to get my engagement up and it worked at the beginning but since a few month I have gone nowhere. Now I know what I can do to hopefully help me gain some new followers. I definitely use the text replacement, post more pictures and use more hashtags !
    Lea, xx
    http://www.asnippetoflife.com

  • Fab! Excellent tips – I never knew how much of an impact these little things like posting regularly or using hashtags could be! And genius idea to use the text replacement!! Top tip!!

    Thanks so much for your insight – what a difference it’s made, Congrats on that!!

    JosieVictoriaa // Fashion, Travel & Lifestyle

  • Rochelle X says:

    I still think replying thank you to a “great” comment is nice because it shows that no matter how generic the comment is, you’re still appreciative of it :) Even if it’s just a heart emoji as a reply, commenting back is a nice gesture <3

  • Thank you so much for this post!!

  • Super useful tips :} I’ve started working harder on my Instagram over the past few months and I’ve gained about 1000 followers in 3 months, by doing some of the stuff you’ve recommended above – so I can vouch that it works! Putting effort into my photos, posting three times a day, engaging and hashtagging like a mofo have really helped me.

    N xx | http://www.lovelaughslipstick.com

  • These are so helpful thank you, I am switching my account to a business one now :) xx

    Zoe Mountford x

  • Becky says:

    So helpful! I’m currently trying to transition my Instagram from personal to more professional. I’m going to take tip 6 and post tons of old blog photos and travel pictures to make my content more relevant to my blog.
    Thank so much for this post

    Becky // Colourful Sins

  • Laura says:

    These tips are so helpful, thank you! x

    Laurzrah

  • wow that text replacement is actually a life saver!! This was such a helpful post, I feel like I’m so bad at instagram.
    The Pale Tails
    – Beckie x

  • Francisca says:

    Oh my god, that text replacement thing is absolutely genius!! I loved this post, so insightful and awesome tips!

    Francisca | http://www.franciscamay.com

  • This is honestly one of the best Instagram tip posts I’ve read! It’s just 100% real and actually easy to follow tips. Thanks so much for writing this. I’m definitely going to be referring to this a lot x

    Lauren | itslaurenvictoria.blogspot.co.uk

  • justauniform says:

    Oh my goodness yes!!! I always say this about the hashtags, love the comparison to lottery tickets!! I’m stealing that one.

    Looking forward to keeping up with your blog.

    Big Love,

    Siobhan
    justauniform.com

  • love this post! I take my Instagram very seriously, therefore it’s so important to just do it right. I love your tips! X

    http://kayleigh-williams.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

  • This is AMAZING!!!!!!! You are a superstar! Thank you so much for doing this, definitely saving it so I can use it as my Instagram bible!

  • Megan Hobson says:

    My 2017 goal is to increase my instagram followers so I’ll defo be trying these out! x

    meg x meghobson.com

  • Lee says:

    Oh yes, I love love love this post! Need all the help I can get :)

    Lee | http://www.thatbellemakeup.co.uk

  • Holly says:

    Love love love this post. It actually included some tips that I hadn’t read before! Thank you. It is my mission this year to up my Instagram following so I will be putting some of the above into action asap! http://bit.ly/20z22DM

    Holly x
    http://www.ldnmuse.com

  • This was a really helpful post! I love instagram and would say it’s definitely my favourite platform to use!

    I had noticed some of my favourite accounts had “contact” buttons and seem to be set as business accounts and had no idea how to change it for my own account, so thanks for that!!

    The text replacement is also definitely something I’m going to try get to grips with.. hashtags take FOREVER!

    I’ve noticed on my own account the more often I post I see a daily increase in followers, but I’ve also noticed that they reduce back down in a matter of days and get a lot of those generic comments you mentioned. It’s a bit of a mind field and can get frustrating, as you just hope for genuine followers that like to interact!

    Chelsea | theloveofsunday.co.uk

  • Ohhh! I’m definitely gonna try this out to step up my instagram game…thank you! ?? Frankie x

    Joieandthevivre.com

  • Sophie says:

    I’m so bad at Instagram, it’s embarrassing. My pictures aren’t great, I post once in a blue moon and (after reading your post) I’ve realised that I literally NEVER comment on people’s pics. I’m going to use your post and give myself a shove to improve my Insta, wish me luck!

    Thanks for the post Rhianna, it’s fantastic!

    Sophie
    http://www.sophiesnotebook.com

  • Hayley Loves says:

    I saw your twitter thread the other day on some tips about growing your insta and I instantly started doing them and my likes shot up! My followers are now followers who genuinely like my pics (I post a lot of vegan pizza haha) but thank you so much for sharing! I am going to work on the rest of the tips …. seriously your photos are stunning!

    http://www.hayleyloves.uk

  • kathycakebread says:

    Thanks for those they’re more detailed then others I’ve seen. I really want to grow my inst but I’m terrible at posting regularly- why can’t they have a schedule app!!
    http://www.glitzandglamourmakeup.co.uk

  • I enjoyed reading this post, you’ve got a lovely writing style. I’ve read a few of the Grow Your Instagram posts and can see some of the same tips, so I think they’ll be the first for me to try ☺

    This year is the year when I’m trying to grow my social media and engagement and I think I’ve a lot of work to do, but posts like yours make me believe it’s possible if you invest some time(or a lot of it ?).

    I’m very glad I came upon your blog and I’ll make sure I come back and read more!

    How do you discover the hashtags to use that work for you? I’m guilty of going for the same ones over and over ?

    Maya | londondamsel.co.uk

  • Ravacholle says:

    Oh my! This post was everything I was looking for! Thanks for the tips – the iPhone one about text replacement is a pure discovery because I had NO idea! I’m not really a tech nerd. Thanks so much, even though I already knew a lot of the tips, I learned a few handy tricks! x
    Clem ravacholle.blogspot.com

  • Neelam Jayna says:

    So many amazing tips! Thank you!! I love the idea of the text replacements! I’ve been trying to post every day or two and ive noticed my follower count growing! Probably should try uploading way more! Do you think it’s worth having an insta theme?

    Neelam | http://www.neelamjayna.co.uk x

  • Lynnsay says:

    That text replacement tip is going to save my life!! I have a list of hashtags saved in my notes but I have to change them manually every time to fit the theme of my photo. Thanks so much for this post, I’m trying SO hard to grow my instagram at the moment so it’s come at the right time!

    Lynnsay x
    http://www.sartorialscot.com

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