Does it ever seem like no matter how hard you try to beat Instagram's algorithm, it never works? Its as if all those influencers are having an easier time than you. You begin to doubt your Instagram game and think why is this only happening to me?

When you are just about to drown in despair from the lack of likes and follows - I’m here to say ignore the algorithm! Chances are we are never going to beat it because we are not robots and coders who safeguard Instagram's platform on the daily. As the value of Instagram grows (with no near end in sight) there is no better time than today to utilize its platform to the fullest potential. Below are 5 tips to drastically improve your Instagram game that you can adopt for the long run.

1. Use a Grid Planner

I use a grid planner religiously to curate my feeds. The click and drag feature makes it so easy to build an aesthetically pleasing page. My personal favorite is UNUM because it is so straightforward and to the point. It's a basic grid planner and that’s all you need to start curating. If you want to get down to the nitty-gritty and pre-plan posts/hashtags - I would recommend Planoly as a platform with more functionality. Sounds like a lot of work? Take your time and it will be well worth it because your feed is your first impression. Think of your grid like a job interview. At first glance, you want people to know you put the time and effort into your appearance. This translates into how people perceive your product/service you are selling. 

2. R & R = Research + Reach out 

I get it. Research takes up a lot of time and effort but trust me this is so necessary to grow your Instagram! The reason why you want to do research is to find your niche/market and target accordingly to your audience. When reaching out for collaborations, you always want to be asking but why? Why them? Your audience is the people your going to know right off the bat what makes them unique and ultimately finding the right people to work with you that fit your band.

3. Join Invitation only/Exclusive Engagement groups/pods

It’s a controversial topic because there are so many pods out there to join and some open up to the public. This is why it’s so important to join smaller more targeted demographic pods. For instance, if you're a mommy blogger - search for mommy engagement groups. If you follow the rules of the pods and engage in a meaningful way (leaving real response/comments rather than a bunch of smiley emojis) then you can boost your posts popularity and chances of appearing on the explore page. Just make sure to allocate enough time during the day to engage because it does require a lot of work liking and commenting on fellow pod members content.

4. Maximize Hashtag Reach

You want to have the full spectrum of outreach so find high - medium - low searched keywords so that your network of reach is maximized. For instance, if your promoting jewelry - tag the name of the exact item along with more general searches that have a higher search volume.

5. Geotag Photos and Stories

Just did a shoot at a cool location? Make sure to tag the location on your photo or stories for that extra reach. I noticed a lot of people do not utilize geotags and are missing out on that extra boost. In addition, people who are searching for specific locations you're tagged in potentially share common interests (like that thrift shop you recently collaborated with). 

The bottom line is Instagram is like a cocktail party: you put your best face forward, socialize, and build meaningful relationships. Ultimately, it comes down to consistency and hard work. If your willing to put the time in to your account then in return you will get results back. It’s slow and steady progress but within a year if you follow these tips I can guarantee you will see growth. 

About the author:

Alice is the newest team member to Beth and Olivia taking on the role as Director of Marketing. She is a designer turned digital marketer with experience from small to large corporations. Whether it’s juggling friends, family, work or studies, she finds encouragement from her father when times are challenging - he inspires her to stay grounded and to never stop learning.