Instagram Tips & Tricks

[LittleFroggySurfShop]

Hi Everyone,

I'm still fairly new to Instagram and only have about 650 followers. I know many of you are well over the 1,000+ Mark, so I thought we could start a thread with a list of "Tips & Tricks" for selling / promoting / finding targeted followers on Instagram.

Just post your tip or trick, along with your IG address so we can follow you!

-Erin
instagram.com/LittleFroggySurfer

[LittleFroggySurfShop]

Here is my first tip:

Find other "sellers" on IG who sell similar stuff to your shop. See what hastags they use for their items, and make a list in your "notes" section on your phone so you don't have to remember them each time you post a new item. I organize my hash tags by type and popularity.. but remember, the less popular the tag, the longer it stays at the "top" of the list.. so don't always go for the tags that have 1,000,000+.

Just copy & paste your tags from your notes section when you put up a new item! You can have a max of 30 Hash Tags per post.

[LittleFroggySurfShop]

Another Tip:

When you find someone who sells similar items to yours on Instagram, look to see who FOLLOWS them, and who responds to their posts with comments & likes. GO FOLLOW THOSE PEOPLE! They're already engaged and they like your product! Comment on a few of their posts to get interaction going & they will likely start following you as well!

The goal in IG isn't to have the "most" followers.. it's to have "targeted" followers... people who will see your stuff & be inclined to buy it or at least share it with others who will!

instagram.com/LittleFroggySurfer

[Former_Member]

I've noticed that what really gets you more followers is being more active and posting more images. It can be a struggle I know, but I've really noticed that the more I'm posting, commenting, following, and engaging the more followers I'm getting. Instagram works just like any other social media platform and you have to put yourself out there. I don't currently have much followers but I'm getting there.

http://instagram.com/jbyriwa

[HollyODesigns]

Great tips! Thanks! I'm new to Instagram so I'm still learning, but I found this article and found it to be pretty interesting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/instagram-followers_n_5537524.html

www.instagram.com/HollyODesigns

[StyledSimplicity]

One tip I have is to check what times you seem to get more likes on your photos. Those are the times your followers are on and more engaged! Follow me over @styledsimplicity

[Former_Member]

Wow Erin, you nearly doubled in followers since you posted this thread. I'm impressed. I'm still learning and soak everything up like sponge.

[PlumPolkaDot]

Also, I read that using emoticons increases engagement (just don't over-do it!)

http://instagram.com/plumpolkadot

[LittleFroggySurfShop]

Hi Guys!

Just checking in on this thread!

New Tip - running a contest or doing a quick give-away (AND PROMOTE IT) does get you a lot of followers. I did one big giveaway with 15 other shops, and I also give away 1 free babysuit to a follower each month. This keeps your followers engaged so they keep following you!

What other tips do you have??

instagram.com/LittleFroggySurfer

[AndreaWatsonDesigns]

I absolutely love Instagram and have found it to be the most successful social media platform Here's a general idea of how I use Instagram:

- Post often. I personally think that every other day seems to work the best (I know many who post daily) - but more than once a day will typically cause you to lose followers.

- Only post beautiful, edited photos. I've noticed that too much editing or overusing filters doesn't seem to go over well. I personally love the VSCO app and just use it to tweak each of my photos.

- Post when users will be checking Instagram. Here are the times I recommend: 8p-11p (this will catch people right before bed or when they wake up the next morning) or 11:00a-11:30a (this will catch the lunch crowd).

- Make use of hashtags. This is a big one! Using hashtags really maximizes your contact with other artists, IG fanatics, and potential customers. Here are the three categories I typically use:

1) VSCO app hashtags - #vsco #vscocam #vscoapp #vscobest #vscogrid #vsconature #vscolove, etc

2) Jewelry-related hashtags - #etsy #etsyshop #estylisting #instasmithy #instajewelrygroup #handmadejewelry #shopsmall #instajewelry, etc

3) Location related hashtags - #wilmingtonnc #ilm #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #wrightsvillebeachnc #eastcoast #northcarolina #surfcity #surfcitync, etc

- Finally, I only post about 10 hashtags at a time on each photo. I wait until 9pm to hashtag (it seems like this is when the most users are actively searching/viewing hashtags). I post only 10 and let them bring in views. I usually leave these hashtags on for a day... then delete them and post a new set of 10 the next night. Does this make sense? You can use up to 30 hashtags on one picture (after that they have no effect). So, I do this a third time + then after 24 hours, delete the last set of hashtags from my photo.

Those are my recommendations. I hope this helps! Instagram is such a great resource for finding new customers and I'm sure you'll be addicted in no time heehee :)

P.S. Here's my account if you want to see how I hashtag, etc:

www.instagram.com/awatsondesigns

[FairePartBedonaBebe]

I am new to Instagram, it's scary!!!! Is there an app to use that takes directly our Etsy pictures or I have to use one on my IPhone? It will be easier to take my pictures from my Etsy page. I am not really good with Instagram. Please Help me :)

[Former_Member]

Nathalie: I loaded Dropbox (an app) to my computer and I copy/paste my photo into it. Then I go to dropbox on my phone, get the photo and share it into Instagram. I hope that helps. I stumbled upon all that on my own. One just has to keep persevering when it comes to all this tech stuff. I spend way too much time trying new things that I don't know anything about. It can be a pain.

[Former_Member]

Can anyone tell me how to get hashtags to appear within an Instagram photo? I notice a very small icon in the lower left of a photo, and when I click the photo random hashtag words show up.

[Former_Member]

BTW: For about a week I was not able to get my photos to show up in dropbox to upload them into Instagram. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why suddenly it stopped working. Then I accidentally stumbled onto the possibility that I needed to update my app. Presto, that did it and now I'm suddenly back in business.

[Former_Member]

I am responding to my second post above. I read where if you do 5 dots followed by a space between each one, it will hide your hashtags. But it does not work for me. I guess one has to have an iPhone in order to get the " . . . . . " to work.