Growing an Instagram account from scratch may seem challenging, but with the right steps, you can start building a dedicated following. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revive an existing account, this guide offers a straightforward approach to grow instagram account from scratch in 2024.
Step 1: Decide on Your Brand Identity
First, start by deciding whether you’re building a personal brand or a business brand. Generally, personal brands tend to grow faster, as people naturally connect more easily with individuals than with faceless companies. For instance, figures like Gary Vaynerchuk and Mel Robbins have successfully cultivated personal brands that resonate with large audiences. Their relatable presence makes them more approachable, allowing for a stronger connection with followers.
Key Elements to Help Grow Your Instagram Account from Scratch:
• Identify Your Target Audience: Begin by defining exactly who you’re trying to reach and consider how your content will address their needs. This understanding is crucial for creating content that not only engages but also attracts the right followers from the start.
• Create a Mission Statement: Next, craft a clear mission statement that reflects who you are, what you do, and why people should follow you. Your mission can clarify your purpose and help draw in the right audience, making your Instagram account more focused and impactful.
For example, here’s a mission statement for a Fitness & Wellness Instagram Account:
“Empowering busy professionals to live healthier, happier lives through quick, effective workout routines, balanced nutrition advice, and daily wellness tips. My mission is to make fitness accessible and enjoyable, offering realistic guidance for achieving goals even with a packed schedule. By sharing science-backed advice, motivational stories, and practical wellness strategies, I aim to create a supportive community where members find the encouragement and tools they need to take control of their health and well-being, one small habit at a time.”
With these steps, you can lay a strong foundation to grow your Instagram account from scratch, ensuring you’re building an engaged and loyal following over time.
Step 2: Optimize Your Instagram Bio
Your bio is the first impression visitors have of your account, so it’s essential to make it both engaging and informative. By following a few simple steps, you can create a bio that not only introduces your brand but also helps convert visitors into followers—an important part of learning how to grow your Instagram account from scratch.
• First Line: Start with a clear statement about who you help and what you offer. For instance, try something like, “Helping busy moms meal prep for a healthy lifestyle.”
• Second Line: Next, build authority by highlighting an achievement or unique trait that sets you apart. You could write something like, “10 years as a certified nutritionist” to instantly showcase credibility.
• Third Line: Finally, encourage visitors to click the link in your bio by offering something valuable, such as a free resource, limited-time offer, or exclusive content.
With this setup, your Instagram bio becomes clear, compelling, and tailored to attract the right audience, an essential step as you grow your Instagram account from scratch.
Step 3: Start Posting Content
Once your bio is fully optimized, it’s time to start creating posts that showcase what your brand is all about. Even if you don’t yet have a large following, it’s still crucial to create a batch of quality posts. This way, any new visitors can immediately get a sense of your style and focus.
Here are some content ideas to get you started:
• Answer Common Questions: Think about frequently Googled questions within your niche. For example, if you’re in the travel industry, try creating posts around topics like “Top Tips for Packing Light” or “How to Find Hidden Gems in New Cities.” By answering common questions, you’ll attract people looking for insights in your area.
• Build a B-roll Library: Capture daily moments, such as reading, working out, or cooking, and use these clips as background visuals for future posts. These types of clips, known as “B-roll,” are versatile assets you can add text to or use for reels and stories, giving you plenty of creative options to work with over time.
Step 4: Prioritize Engagement Over Virality
While going viral can certainly bring quick growth, it’s even more important to focus on building quality engagement with followers who genuinely align with your brand. After all, having followers who truly resonate with your message is far more valuable in the long run than just experiencing a temporary spike in views.
Here’s a tip: Don’t rush to delete posts that don’t perform well right away. Instead, remember that Instagram’s algorithm can sometimes re-suggest older content, giving it a second chance to gain traction. Therefore, take underperforming posts as valuable learning opportunities, and carefully analyze what you can improve for better engagement in the future.
Step 5: Engage Directly with Your Audience
One of the best ways to grow on Instagram is through active engagement. Not only should you respond to comments, but also take the extra step to reach out via Direct Messages (DMs) to followers who show interest in your posts. By engaging through DMs, you can build deeper connections, which in turn may transform followers into loyal supporters and even potential clients.
To encourage interaction, prompt your audience to share their thoughts in the comments, and then follow up with DMs to keep the conversation going. Additionally, you could feature their responses in future content, which further strengthens your community vibe and makes followers feel valued.
Step 6: Use DM Automation to Save Time
As your follower base grows, consider implementing a DM automation tool, like ManyChat, to streamline responses. These tools allow you to set up automatic replies triggered by certain keywords in comments or DMs, ensuring that you stay responsive without needing to be constantly online.
Using DM automation saves time and helps maintain engagement with followers. You can set up auto-responses to deliver links to popular resources, webinars, or even product promotions.
Step 7: Continuously Test and Adapt
Finally, keep refining your content by analyzing what works and what doesn’t. Use Instagram’s analytics to see which posts are driving engagement and what types of content resonate most with your audience. Keep experimenting with different content types, captions, and hashtags to see what drives the most engagement.
Step 8: Use AI Tools for Repurposing and Editing
To boost your Instagram content and save time, try using AI tools like Vizard for easy repurposing and editing. With Vizard, transforming a long video into multiple, short social media clips becomes quick and simple. Here’s how Vizard can elevate your Instagram strategy:
1. Effortless Clipping: Vizard’s AI automatically detects key moments in your videos, generating engaging, ready-to-post clips ideal for Reels, Stories, or feed posts. This lets you keep your feed active without extra effort.
2. Customized Edits: Need to spotlight specific moments, like testimonials or funny scenes? Vizard’s AI can highlight exactly what you want, personalizing each clip to meet your goals.
3. Consistent Branding: With options to add fonts, colors, and logos, Vizard ensures every clip matches your brand. So, every video post reinforces your brand identity seamlessly.
4. Automatic Hashtags and Captions: Vizard’s AI suggests hashtags and captions, boosting discoverability and saving you time on optimizing each post.
5. Increased Efficiency: By automating the editing process, Vizard frees you up for other key tasks like engaging with followers or planning future content.
By following these steps, you’ll have a solid foundation for growing your Instagram account from scratch in 2024. Focus on building meaningful connections, creating valuable content, and optimizing your strategy to set yourself up for success on Instagram.
