Figuring out how to get 1,000 followers on Instagram can be the most frustrating part of starting out. After all, everybody wants more followers. It’s no surprise, as recent data from PodSquad shows that Instagrammers are getting paid big bucks to deliver posts for brands. We’ve all stared with envy at stunning travel and luxury products pics in our feeds said, “We can do that too!” Here’s our guide to fast track you to 1,000 followers on Instagram and beyond.
How to Get 1,000 Followers on Instagram
1. Have a plan for your pictures, videos, and stories
What does your Instagram content say about you? If you’re working day to day, you may need to take a time out to plan your story. No, not your Story… I’m talking about the theme that connects all your posts together. That can be a visual language like a color scheme or post production treatment, or it can be something more subtle. The point is when people look at one of your posts, they should be able to tell it’s yours without seeing the name behind it. Sound difficult? It isn’t easy. But it’s number one on our list because it’s the thing most Instagrammers miss when starting down the path to influencer.
Try out this simple exercise: Write down three clear and measurable goals for your Instagram work. Since you’re here, your first goal should probably be get 1,000 followers on Instagram. From there it’s up to you. Do you want to work with a specific brand? Write it down. How about travel to a destination? Writing down goals are important because they will help you visualize the smaller steps you need to get there.
2. Join or rent a private Instagram pod
If you don’t have 500 close friends to start your own pod, there are services that help you cheat. Well, its not technically cheating, but it is a shortcut to getting more followers fast. Like everything else on the web pods have become lucrative for their founders. Many are now working with agencies to bring new influencers into the fold. Sometimes it’s the only way to get started because the pod has closed off new membership. While that may seem unfair, the good news is that costs to get your account mentioned in these pods is pretty low. As one example, PodSquad offers this service starting at $25.
Even if you take this route, you should still make the top steps your priority. Having good content that tells a story will help you attract and retain even more followers when you hire an outside service to get you more exposure.
3. Don’t be afraid to start small
While it’s tempting to jump straight to the end game, you have to start small to get there. That means looking to local and more accessible people or companies to start your journey. If your goals involve travel, check with local travel agencies for up and coming destinations. Food and wine? Try top restaurants to see what’s going on in their world. By meeting people and networking you’re learning and getting new ideas for content. Both will come in handy later.
Local to national exercise: Draw a map of the local brands or connections you have and how they tell a story about your niche. For example, can that local travel agency connect you to the destination country board of tourism? If they can, what would you do from there? It’s all about following the map from multiple starting points that you can easily access to your end goal.
4. Research and stay on top of trends
Instagram is all about trends. Brands want to be in the limelight, and being cool means staying ahead of the curve. Remember when your feed was pretty much all charcoal face mask peeling videos? Those fun to watch viral videos started with a trend that just a few Instagrammers jumped on. But you can bet as soon as they did many more influencers were tracking down brands that pay and reaching out.
Spotting Instagram trends starts by keeping an eye on the suggested and trending sections of the app, as well as looking in your niche for particularly engaging types of content. It’s about following the herd, but keeping a close eye peeled for those special moments that you can contribute to. Then go out and make some content to ride the curve of popularity upwards. Rinse and repeat!
5. Reach out to other Instagrammers and form a pod
Pods are groups of Instagrammers that gather around a common theme. They can be all about a topic like fashion or a city like San Diego. The purpose of the pod is to help each other by liking, commenting, and viewing videos. When the pod all engages with one another, Instagram’s algorithm promotes that content to thousands of other users, giving them a huge spike in followers. If you’re wondering how to get 1,000 followers on Instagram, this is probably the biggest secret there is to accomplishing the goal.
Start your own pod. If you aren’t sure how to find or join a pod, you can start your own. If you have friends that are using Instagram, reach out to start talking about collaboration. Identify times and topics that you will each post to Instagram. Share this information in a collaborative environment like WhatsApp or Google Sheets. Go to work posting and notifying each other when to comment and like. There’s a lot of technical work to mastering the Instagram algorithm, and the best way to figure it out is by trying.
6. Develop partnerships with photographers and videographers
People love a curated look. But camera equipment is expensive and takes a lot of skill to use. You can learn photography and videography on your own, but that can also leave you with the challenge of having to shoot your own images. By partnering with local photographers or videographers, you can work on improving quality and consistency without shelling out big bucks. In return you can offer to manage their social media or help get them new business by sharing their content with your followers. Admittedly this article is about how to get 1,000 followers on Instagram, so it’s probably not an option for you right now. Keep this tip in mind and stay in touch with photographers you meet along the way.
7. Stay in front of public relations agencies
PR agencies are the heart of major influencer relationships for many brands. That means one point of contact for you can turn into multiple business relationships. Agencies can also turn Instagram newbies into overnight Instagram famous. Familiarize yourself with local and national public relations agencies. Use websites like LinkedIn to track down account executives or people with job descriptions mentioning influencers. When you are ready, reach out and show off what you’ve done. Chances are you’ll get on a list for future opportunities, and may start to receive event invitations. Show up and make your presence known! After all, the Instagram influencer market is only getting more competitive. If the PR agency happens to post Instagram photos from events or activations, make sure they tag you so other people know you open to collaborations.
That’s a wrap on our tips for how to get 1,000 followers on Instagram. With a little time and effort, you’ll be there in no time. The first 1,000 followers are the slowest to get. After you’ve reached your first goal make another. Keep going until you’re collaborating with the brands of your dreams!
