This is something we get asked a lot! Most people think that you need a lot of followers in order to make the explore page or dominate hashtag results pages. This is wrong!

The algorithm will decide if they think your content is ‘great’ by how much your current audience is engaging with you!

So you  need to make sure you get the most out of your current followers:

• ENGAGE WITH YOUR CURRENT FOLLOWERS
  Engage with your followers 10 minutes before and after you post and share with your new post to your story. Only 10% of your followers will see your post come up on their feed straight away. So, you want as many people as possible to know you have a new post!
• USE STORY POLLS & QUESTIONS
  Use story polls and questions often, people love these and Instagram loves story engagement.
• USE RELEVANT HASHTAGS
  Use relevant hashtags, so you are also getting engagement from new potential customers & if your engagement is good - Instagram will boost your post closer to the top.
• BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS THROUGH DIRECT MESSAGING
  Don’t be afraid to direct message your followers! Instagram thinks you have a good relationship if you are direct messaging each other.
• POST REGULARLY, DON’T BE FORGOTTEN!
  Post regularly, consistency is one of the best ways to grow!
• REPLY TO ALL COMMENTS
  Reply to all comments on your post, even if you have to really think about it! Show Instagram you have relationships with your followers.

If you get great engagement from your 10% of followers who easily see your posts, Instagram will then show this post to more of your followers and start putting you on the explore page and bumping you up on the hashtags!

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