Instagram has strict rules about how many people you can follow. This includes rules about how many people you can follow in general, as well as how many people you can follow per hour and per day.
Instagram only allows you to follow 7,500 accounts in total. That means that if you want to grow your online presence and reach out to new potential customers, you are going to have to be very careful about your follower to following ratio.
Fortunately, there are many proven strategies for making the most out of your limits. Read on to learn some of the best.
What Does Your Follower to Following Ratio Say?
When a user is deciding whether or not they want to follow you back, they will look at all sorts of things on your page. That includes the posts on your feed, the amount of engagement you get with your posts, and your ratio of followers to following.
This comparison helps them weed out brands that are using the follow/unfollow method to grow, and those that are influencer accounts with many followers.
If your account has more than fifteen thousand followers, then you will be considered an influencer and users will be more likely to follow your account back. The key is getting to that 15,000 mark.
Consider a Follow/Unfollow Strategy
A follow/unfollow strategy involves following people who you think might like your content, waiting for a few days, and then seeing if they follow you back.
Today, there is software out there that can automate the process for you. This can be a good way to get your follower count off the ground and drive yourself to the 10,000 follower mark.
How to Maintain Your Following
In order to continue to grow your Instagram following, you need to maintain the followers that you have. That means trying new things and seeing what works for you, just like you should do when developing your website.
1. Make Sure You Post Consistently
The more often you post, the more likely you are to gain followers. This is because Instagram’s algorithm pushes the posts of people who post often to the top of the timeline. The better your engagement, the higher you rise.
To make sure you consistently grow your following, come up with high-quality posts at least one post a week, and ideally one post a day.
2. Use Quality Hashtags
While using a follow/unfollow strategy is one way to gain followers, many users on Instagram follow hashtags.
Make sure you’re creative and use a good assortment of hashtags for all of your posts if you want them to be found.
3. Share Content From Your Users
Users love it when you decide to share their posts. Just make sure you contact them first and tag them in the post!
This kind of collaboration will make you more likely to gain followers since people who follow you will know they are likely to be recognized.
More Advice for Business Owners
Now that you know how to optimize your follower to following ratio, you will be able to grow your Instagram account more quickly.
For more helpful advice for business owners, check out our other blog posts today.