I love Instagram so much I can hardly picture my life before it (pun intended). What started as a personal endeavor morphed into a huge benefit for my business …and with hundreds of millions of users, this app has major impact on our culture. So how can we get more Instagram followers? Here are a few helpful tips…

Be Consistent
If you want to build a loyal audience, it's important to post photos with regularity. Developing a rhythm (and sticking to it) teaches your audience what to expect. If you make the commitment to post every day, then post every day. Developing a relationship with your followers with gaps of silence stretching for days or weeks is nearly impossible, so create a pattern as soon as possible.

One of my favorite fashion Instagrammers is @SincerelyJules…she updates 2-3 times per day and her millions of followers have come to love her updates.

Respond to Followers
The best way to foster conversations is to respond to comments and questions as much as possible. Replying makes people more invested in creating an online rapport and sustains longterm loyalty and support. Also, take a few minutes each day to comment and like your followers photos…not only is it nice, it's a great way to get seen (and followed) by their followers.

And can I please take a moment to say how much I love Taylor Swift…recently she took the time to shout out to one of her cutest followers. She's my BFF. She just doesn't know it (yet).

Use Captions to Showcase Your Personality
A good caption can make a decent photo amazing. Making someone laugh or smile is the best way to keep and grow your audience because it helps grab their attention and gives insight into who you are. A weak caption example is: “Loving tonight's dinner #nomnom”. Not only is it vague, you've probably seen it a thousand times before. A good caption might share what is eaten, how it was prepared, who's eating it with you, etc. And if you can make someone smile, it's pretty much an epic Instragram photo.

Here's an example I find particularly good…@JenGotch is my spirit animal.

Hashtag…but not in the annoying way
You know that person in your feed? The #one #who #uses #hashtags #for #everything? Yea, that's annoying. Overdoing hashtags isn't just irritating, it's a quick way to attract followers from spam accounts (unless you dig those weight loss advertisements). Instead of using a generic reference to #cat or using the #catsofinstagram hashtag (which is great, but is overtly crowded with content so it's hard to stick out), use a hashtag with specificity for ideal results. Say, like, #hairlesscat. Or if you want to create a specific hashtag for your followers to find photos of just your hairless cat, make one up! #mrkittyhairlesscat (or something along those lines) can help create loyal followers and, who knows, one day your cat will be as famous as @SnoopyBabe!

Take a Good Photo
This may sound really elementary, but to actively grow an audience, good photos go a long way. You don't have to shoot with a professional camera or a fancy lens, but understanding basic photo principles make a big difference. If you're still wondering what I mean, here's a few pointers…
1. Shoot in natural light
Studies have shown that bright, airy photos with minimal editing are preferred on Instagram, so find good light (staying away from really bright/harsh illumination). The best light is at sunrise and sunset, when the sun is easy and the rays are soft.
2. Set exposure manually
Take the extra time to leverage the amount of light in a photo. If you need more/less light, simply create what you need by adjusting the exposure. If you have an iPhone, tap the desired focal point and a sun icon will appear. All you have to is swipe up (for more light) or swipe down (for less light).
3. Keep editing consistent
Gone are the days of only using Instagram filters (but if you're still using them, please don't use them at 100%!), so now you can create a custom look to your feed. It's important to use tonality, vibe, and colors in a way that represents what someone sees as they scroll through your feed. No need to use 27 different filters on 27 different photos…find your jam and adjust accordingly. If you're interested in a good editing app, check out Afterlight, VSCO, and PicTapGo.
4. Explore
Often times your home, dog walk, town, cappuccino has a greater story to tell if you look hard enough. Find interesting alleys with painted murals…find a patch of lavender…dress your dog in a hat…sometimes working hard to see life in a new way pays off (both personally and socially).

I hope this helps and if you're want to watch a tutorial, be sure to check out video I made with tips and tricks HERE!