Tips For Recording Artists To Grow Their Followers On Instagram In 2021
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 23, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 24, 2021
Written by: Jonny Taylor, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Are you looking to grow your following on Instagram but have no idea where to start? Maybe you’re new to the platform or trying to figure things out since their latest algorithmic update.
Perhaps you participated in the “celebrity influencer” growth strategy where an established internet star encourages users to follow your account in exchange for prizes, and now you have a ton of “ghost” followers. Perhaps you’re like me – your account is saddled with spam followers, and as a result, your actual followers may never see your posts because they are being served to fake followers.
I started a new account for that reason. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, keep reading. This article discusses some basic steps that will help you as a recording artist to gain followers and establish yourself as an artist on the mega social media platform.
Post Consistently
As a recording artist, you understand that consistency is essential when it comes to building your brand. You are likely to spend months working on your latest album, so why wouldn't you want to give the same level of dedication to growing your Instagram following? The truth is, if you post consistently, then people will start to recognize the time and effort that you have put into your account. Plus, the algorithm rewards accounts with regular posting activities. Set a goal of one post a day.
Enhance Engagement
One of the most effective ways to grow your following on Instagram is to engage with other people. It is evident that recording artists are usually busy. A good idea would be to set aside an hour throughout the week when you can go through and respond to comments from your fans. Note that this is the best Instagram growth hack that has worked for the indie artist. There is no getting around it.
Tell Your Story
One of the biggest mistakes that artists make when they start out is to post their work with minimal context. If you want to grow your account and get more followers, then you need to take the time to tell a story. Provide background information or add some kind of dialogue so that your fans can better understand what inspired your music. Keep in mind audiences connect with people more than content. If they decided they like YOU, they will most likely champion your content and even spread the word about you. You can’t get any better organic advertisement than that!
Aside from growing your fan base, this strategy will make it easier to sell your music, merchandise, and even virtual experiences. However, this is a growth hack that very few recording artists understand and have implemented for their Instagram growth. Be authentic instead of being an image!
Make Use of Hashtags
It is important to start using hashtags on your posts, but don't just use them because they are popular. You need to focus on using relevant hashtags that people search for. These will make it easier for people to find your account and see your work. For example, if you have a new album coming out, then you should use the "#newalbum" hashtag. Also, avoid the overuse of hashtags in posts. As of this writing, Instagram allows up to 30 unique hashtags per post. I would suggest 5-7. This is an area where I can improve as well.
Use a Good Picture Quality
On this platform, a picture is worth a thousand words. Make sure your pictures are of high quality. Failure to do so may result in minimal growth or, worse, a loss of followers. Memes are a popular way of connecting. However, try to avoid the use of memes that look like essays or paragraphs. Also, avoid overly edited photos.
Make Use of Ads and Sponsored Posts
If you are serious about using ads to grow, then you need to make sure that you only invest in adverts that will actually work. You don't want to spend your money on ads that simply aren't providing the benefits you are hoping for. In a future article, I will provide information about targeting and general ad set-up strategies specific to the goal of growing Instagram followings.
Another paid strategy might be to reach out to owners of pages that have a similar and following ask how much they would charge for a post that asks their following to follow you. You’d be surprised at how cost-effective this approach can be. You can also follow my new Instagram account, where some of this information is shared informally.
Post Stories When Possible
Stories are becoming more popular, and that means that they are a valuable resource. As such, you will need to use them as much as possible. For example, if you have a new single out, then consider posting it on your story. This way, people can follow along and comment without having to go back and check older posts. Plus, you can include a sticker of one of the tracks in your story and earn streams every time the story is watched. Stories posts have significantly more organic reach than timeline posts. Consider this strategy.
Repost timeline content as a story about a week after the initial post. This will allow you to repurpose content, reach a larger segment of your followers that maybe were not served the post organically the first time around, and the repost can serve as a reminder for those who see the content twice. No one is going to stop following you or think the worst of you for posting something a few times.
Craft an Ongoing Theme and Message
When it comes to posting, you need to make sure that your account has a clear theme and message. Your followers should know what to expect from your posts when they see them on their feed. If your goal is to post random content that doesn't have any theme or message, people will start to tune out. Feel free to visit my page to see how I set up my theme.
Serve Your Existing Followers
When it comes to engaging with your followers, you need to make sure that you engage with those who have already decided to follow you. This is important because these people have already proven that they like your brand or at least what it represents. As such, you want to do everything possible to keep them happy and engaged.
Focus on One Account
If you are serious about growing your following, then it is vital that you focus all of your energy on one account. This means that you shouldn't simultaneously launch several different accounts and start posting things to them at the same time. If that happens, people will be less likely to follow other accounts because they will be confused.
Conclusion
Growing your account can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. If you take some time to focus on the details and learn how to use each feature effectively, then you will get more fans. However, if you post randomly or try to engage in shady schemes that only benefit the companies selling them rather than yourself, then it won't work. No shortcuts. DO THE WORK!
Jonny Taylor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jonny "Jonny T" Taylor is a record label executive, label services provider, and Facebook/Instagram Certified Social Media and Digital Marketer. As a recording artist, he has achieved "Grammy Contender" status in his group JTLR in 2020. He has secured distribution and marketing agreements with Universal Music Group and The Orchard/Sony Music for his record label Phastlife Media Group and Rino Management partnership, where he represents a mix of multiplatinum legends and emerging talent. Taylor offers artist services via his website subscription service Major Indies and is also the founder of BeBetterShirts.
