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SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY

How your business can attract more followers on Instagram

By our News Team | 2021

The competition to attract Instagram followers is immense. Here are a few expert tips to help your company build a strong following.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms across Africa, thanks to its image-focused content which makes it easy for followers to digest information.

This makes it highly relevant to marketers wanting to brand-build or sell products that have a strong visual element. But the competition is immense, with thousands of brands – not just from Africa but around the world – vying for the potential customer’s attention.

How, then, do you set yourself apart and increase followers on Instagram for business? Ned Quekett, the UK-based CEO of Relevance, a digital agency specialising in reaching high-end consumers, has provided his tips in a column written for industry publication, The Drum. 

Here is a selection of them:

Social Media Strategy

Image by Solen Feyissa from Pixabay

Instagram tip 1: Get partners and brand advocates to post your content by partnering with like-minded brands and creators

The best way to get customers to follow you is to get in front of them and be present. It’s critical to be present on your own Instagram as well as others. Try sponsoring user-generated content to get your brand in customers’ feeds. You can also hold Instagram contests to get your brand noticed.

The power of a collaboration or a co-marketing campaign for your business is huge, and it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to get Instagram followers. Teaming up with like-minded businesses and brands will introduce your profile to a new and engaged audience. Giveaways, partnerships and co-marketing campaigns can all pay dividends. However, make sure you partner with the right brand to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership that benefits both of your audiences.

Finally, team up with relevant influencers and industry experts and encourage them to republish your content and give reviews.

Instagram tip 2: Use your competitors as a guide

See who your competitors are following by tapping on their ‘following’ count on their profile. Don’t just spam follow everyone – vet each user for relevancy before committing.

Target users that follow your competitors. You can view your competitors’ followers by tapping on their ‘follower’ count on their profile. These users are already following an account similar to yours, so they may be more likely to follow back.

Finally, support social causes that fit the industry your brand works in.

Instagram tip 3: Use the power of storytelling

Instagram’s carousel model allows multiple photos to be inserted into a single post, ensuring an eye-catching feed filled with interesting content.

Keep your feed interesting by aggregating common content together, and make posts that have continuity or even tell a story. This format, besides avoiding feed-flooding, generates value and increases the interaction time between the user and your posts.

Finally, make sure that you write descriptive captions. Storytelling will help generate engagement and sharing, and thus help increase your number of social media followers.

Instagram tip 4: Create your own filter

Creating your own filter is a fun way to engage with your audience and increase your followers. If your filter proves popular, even people who do not know your brand will search for your filter, thereby helping to increase your brand awareness. Finally, filters are frequently shared, further helping to grow your social media audience and spread awareness.

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Dr Kin Kariisa

Group CEO - Next Media

Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.