How to Grow Instagram Audience For Your Shopify Store?

If you are one of those Shopify merchants who think growing an Instagram account is not essential for your online business, well gear up!

Instagram (not a new invention!) has been around for quite some time and can showcase your Shopify store to not hundreds, but thousands of people. So please tell us why you are still not using this social media platform to its fullest potential?

Let us remind you that social media marketing is one of the cheapest marketing strategies for any ecommerce business. Companies who initially spent a lot on PPC marketing activities are now focusing entirely on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

Why Is Instagram An Essential Social Media Platform For Your Shopify Store? 

For starters, Instagram is one of the largest growing social platforms out of Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ (as per a report published by “L2” in Feb 2014). To top it all, it also has the highest engagement rate. 

Instagram has barely a tenth of Facebook's audience, yet it receives 15 times as much engagement. A recent report also reveals that nearly 90% of luxury brands maintain a presence on Instagram, a significant increase from just 63% in July 2013. This highlights Instagram's increasing significance for businesses seeking to engage a highly engaged audience.

And let us tell you about the visually appealing factor. 

Instagram is a mobile-first social media site that focuses on pictures. Users share photos with their followers, often enhancing them with pretty filters. This visually appealing format makes it an ideal tool for Shopify store owners to display their products, engage with existing followers, attract new ones, and ultimately drive conversions.

5 Effective Strategies To Increase Your Instagram Followers

We will discuss the top 5 ways in which you can grow the number of followers in your Instagram account. This will help not only increase your engagement rate, but will also help you to build a loyal audience. 

#1 Relevant content 

A common error made by Shopify store owners is to go right into Instagram engagement. Although a user's attention may be briefly captured by liking or following you, this won't result in significant interaction unless your profile has quality content. 

Without a well-established foundation of engaging posts, users are less likely to engage with your account.

Here’s how to optimize your Instagram content to attract a loyal following:

Prioritize high-quality images: Crisp, clear visuals are crucial. Make sure that your images stand out since low-quality photos can drive away potential followers.

Diversify your content: Although it's vital to highlight your products, avoid making your Instagram feed become a catalogue. Mix things up with lifestyle shots, customer stories, or user-generated content.

Add a personal touch: Let followers into your world. Post behind-the-scenes photos of your team, workstation, or even private moments. Post relatable content to give your brand a more genuine vibe, like inspirational sayings or humorous anecdotes.

Generate powerful captions: A captivating photograph alone doesn't tell the whole narrative; the context is given by the captions. Don't be afraid to ask questions to promote interaction, and write captivating subtitles that speak to your viewers.

Hashtags: Use hashtags that are directly related to your industry and brand. Using the right hashtags can assist you reach a more specific and larger audience.

However do not overuse hashtags. Adding a lot of hashtags can lead to distrust, algorithm penalty, and reduced engagement.

Use pretty filters: A captivating filter can improve the mood and appeal of your photo. Select one that complements the tone and message of your brand.

#2 Follow the right audience

To grow your Instagram audience, it's crucial to follow the right people. Here's how:

Focus on your niche: Pay attention to customers who are considering your products or services. For instance, follow customers or influencers who are concerned about sustainability if your Shopify store sells eco-friendly goods.

Engage with potential customers: Interact with potential buyers by leaving comments on postings from individuals who may require your products, such as those discussing eco-friendly living.

Keep an eye on rivals and their followers: Take note of those who have expressed interest in similar products and interact with them carefully.

#3 Keep a track of your progress

It's crucial to track your Instagram growth in order to improve your approach. Regularly check your analytics to see which posts are resonating with your audience. Important metrics like reach, follower growth, and engagement rates can provide insightful information.

Depending on your results, try varying the times you post, the kinds of content you share, or the hashtags you use. You can modify your strategy to focus on what really works by testing and tracking, which will guarantee ongoing growth and improved audience engagement for your Shopify store.

For instance, if you notice that behind-the-scenes content performs better than product posts, try posting more of these.

#4 Do not buy followers

Buying followers might be a quick way to increase your followers but it is certainly not a good idea. Let us see why:

Low engagement rate: Although the number of followers might increase, oftentimes these accounts are either deactivated or fake. This will leave you with a low engagement rate.

Can lead to trust issues: It can damage your brand credibility as genuine followers can sense an artificially inflated follower count.

Low conversions: Since these accounts are almost always deactivated, they will never turn into any real conversions. 

#5 Avoid copying 

Instead of imitating other people's Instagram strategies, focus on creating content that captures the distinct voice of your brand. Here's how to accomplish it:

Analyze your rivals, don't copy them: Examine similar businesses, take note of what works for them, and modify concepts to fit your target and tone.

Create a distinct brand aesthetic: Make sure that your posts stand out by using a consistent colour scheme, filters, and style. Try out various styles to see which one appeals to you the most.

Try different hashtags and captions: Instead of following trends, write captions that capture the essence of your brand. Test hashtag sets to see which ones drive engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I interact with my Instagram followers without coming across as overly commercial?

Focus on creating a mix of product highlights, lifestyle content, and behind-the-scenes posts that resonate with your brand's personality. Use relatable scenarios and narrative captions to offer followers with a genuine glimpse into your company. This maintains the feed interesting and strengthens the bond with followers.

How can I choose the best Instagram hashtags to connect with my target audience?

Start with keywords associated with your niche and products. Look up for trending hashtags in your industry using Instagram's search function, and get ideas from resources like Hashtagify or Display Purposes. 

How often should I post on Instagram to see consistent growth in followers and engagement?

Aim for consistent, quality posts rather than high frequency. Start with 3-5 posts per week and monitor your analytics to see what resonates. Adjust your posting frequency based on engagement rates, and use Instagram Stories and Reels to keep your audience engaged between posts.

Author

Chandni Bhavsar

Chandni, a skilled project manager, brings the perfect blend of creativity and technical know-how to Shopify stores. Her approach to ecommerce stores is all about making the user experience feel like a breeze. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she not only manages projects smoothly but also loves educating others on the latest Shopify trends, helping them keep their stores vibrant and competitive.