What’s the Big Deal About Organic Growth Anyway?

“Organic” doesn’t have to be expensive. Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars on each Instagram post, think about how you can strengthen your business’s online presence with an effective organic marketing strategy. With these tips, you can step up your Instagram game and start building your brand.

As Instagram is constantly adding new features and changing its algorithm, it’s important for your business to stay on top of the platform if you want to see growth in your brand’s online presence. Organic growth creates the foundation for a loyal audience, giving you proper exposure and increased engagement. This means that your Instagram account is reaching the type of people that you want interacting with your brand. Although organic growth is slower than maximizing your reach quickly through paid campaigns, you’ll gain valuable followers who will engage with your brand at a deeper level than the users seeing a sponsored post in the middle of their feeds.

So…how do you do it?

Content is key.

Start by improving the “look” of your page. Using similar colors in your grid can go a long way in creating consistency for your brand. Take a look at Sprouts for example. The supermarket company is recognized on Instagram for having aesthetic, cohesive images. Spruce up your own brand’s aesthetic by planning out your posts with apps like Preview or Plann.

Make sure to post consistently, around 1-2 times per day on the platform. People also like seeing people, so think about ways that you can humanize your brand online. When in doubt, images with babies and puppies can help do the trick! Trendy LA coffee spot, Carrera Café, does a great job of this.

Additionally, make sure to use relevant hashtags under your posts for exposure. One rule of thumb? Make sure to follow your caption with extra space underneath before adding your hashtags. Many Instagram users don’t like their feeds getting clogged up with hashtags, so adding in extra space to your caption (as pictured below on Blue Bowl’s Instagram profile) can help hide them while still giving you the exposure you need to grow your account organically. 

Now let’s talk branding.

If you can combine the aesthetics of your Instagram page with a unique brand personality online, you’re on the road to success when it comes to increasing organic reach. Humanize your account by creating a specific voice and tone, using “I” and “me” statements in your captions, and staying on top of current social media trends. An easy way to do this is with memes. But make sure they’re relevant and brand-ownable because if not done correctly, the use of memes on a business account can come off as cheesy. Two companies that incorporate humorous, brand-ownable memes on Instagram are Chipotle and Vitamin Water. Take a look below at their work.

And of course…engage, engage, engage!

As you begin to grow your Instagram account, make a presence for yourself by interacting with your current audience. This means liking and responding to users leaving comments on your profile. Additionally, engage with accounts similar to yours by following, liking, and commenting on their posts. This will not only help you find more people to engage with your own brand, but also allow you to stay updated on what is and what isn’t working for your competitors.

Happy growing!