Instagram growth hacks are a powerful way for brands to connect with an audience, earn more revenue, and stand-out from the competition. However, Instagram tricks aren’t just for the pros. Anyone looking to expand their reach online and get noticed can learn a few Instagram tricks to elevate their online presence.

Ready to change things up? Here are eight Instagram tricks to expand your reach.

1. Hack your bio links

Your Instagram bio is a tool to add personality to your account. There are several Instagram growth hacks you can do with your bio, and the first place to start is with your fonts.

Use the LingoJam tool to type in the message you want in your bio and select the font you want it to appear in.

Then copy and paste the font you want to your bio.

Some Instagram tricks are about re-purposing the embellishments you already use. For example, you can also use CoolSymbol to copy and paste symbols and emojis into your bio. Choose from different symbols, emojis, emoticon texts, and text art.

Instagram tips and tricks don’t need to be expensive. Using more links directly in your bio one of my favorite Instagram growth hacks. Instagram only allows you to add one link to your bio unless you use a service like Linktree to add more than one. You can also start with the free version to dress up your bio without the expense.

2. Choose the best hashtags

Hashtags are an effective way to connect with an Instagram audience with similar interests. Get noticed by experimenting with some Instagram hashtags to find the right fit for you.

Hashtags directly inserted onto your Stories is an increasingly popular technique. However, it’s also a smart way to get noticed for tags your content isn’t generally featured for.

The above hashtag for #BootyDay draws the audience to the content. At the time the Story first went live, there were only seven other Instagram Stories for the same hashtag, making it easier to stand-out.

You can also try adding a location tag to the Story. Even if you don’t get featured in the original Story tag, you can get your tag noticed for your location.

Incorporating video to your Instagram Stories can also help drive more traffic. Here’s a video Leafy created with Wibbitz for their Instagram Stories.

Pair video with the power of a Swipe-Up to increase your traffic and conversions. Wibbitz research found accounts that using Swipe-Ups boosted traffic by 28%. Swipe-ups are an innovative Instagram growth hack to turn a teaser into a clear CTA.

3. Sell your brand with Instagram Stories

Interactions are crucial Instagram growth hacks, and brands that get results are spending time engaging with their core audience. Instead of just answering comments, you can also poll your audience via a Story. Here’s an example to consider.

You can use this polling feature to generate feedback on the performance of your products and services.

Consider who your audience is and what you can offer them. An audience eager to purchase NFL hats from your online store will likely respond to a question in a poll. You’re not only driving more sales, but also engagement that can help grow your Instagram audience.

Want more Instagram tricks to drive engagement? Another option is to try a sticker in your next Story to help sell your brand.

Frequently using stickers with your Instagram Stories can entice both newcomers and your long-standing audience to engage.

4. Get more ROI from influencers

Many Instagrammers approach influencer marketing all wrong. You need someone with a large, engaged following that also aligns with your product or service. Paying an athlete instead of a renowned foodie to promote coffee brand is unlikely to see significant conversions.

Looking to get more value from influencers? Here are some Instagram growth hacks to see more value:

Target micro or niche influencers

Influencers with 1,000 and 100,000 followers are called micro-influencers. They often have the highest engagement rates with their followers. You can also verify their engagement before you partner with them with a tool like Phlanx.

Just type in an Instagram handle and confirm the engagement rates quoted to you by an Influencer.

Partner during contests, giveaways, or offers

The best time to partner with an influencer is when you’re running contests or offers on your platform. Or you can partner with an influencer when they’re running their own promotion to tap into a warm audience and increase your conversions.

5. Make accounts shoppable

Until recently, you could only sell something through Instagram by adding a product link in your bio. Today, Instagram allows you to host a store on your business account if you’ve amassed over 10,000 followers.

Here’s an example of what a shoppable Instagram account looks like. Notice the white shopping bag to indicate you can purchase the product featured in the post.

After clicking, Instagram directs you to a page with a link, or to your website, to purchase a product.

You can purchase products through some Instagram accounts without ever leaving the platform. As this feature grows, more influencers will use Instagram as a one-stop-shop for selling their products.

6. Tweak your videos with IGTV

IGTV was launched in June 2018 and is a growing favorite among Instagram tricks. Many Instagrammers still haven’t used this product or explored the array of features and possibilities. Here’s an example of what comes up when you click on the IGTV icon on Instagram.

Here are a few Instagram tricks to help you make the most of IGTV:

Keep it short

IGTV allows you to record 10 minutes of video, or up to an hour for verified accounts. However, keeping it below 5-minutes is more realistic. Few people are going to scroll through their feed and stop to watch a lengthy video. Instagram is all about keeping it short, to the point, and highly engaging.

To get a sense of an ideal video length, check out this video from yfy LatAm video created with Wibbitz

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B0y9_xlhY9l/?igshid=1vreabgtfp4hl

Explore IGTV analytics

Are you trying to target an engaged audience for future videos? Get insights from your IGTV app to study the demographic data for a video and carefully curate your target audience.

7. Scroll through old photos without accidentally liking

There are several other Instagram growth hacks you can use to make your social media life even easier to use. Trying to catch up with an old friend, but don’t want them to know you just dug through the last five years of their posts?

Load their account and then wait for everything to appear before activating airplane mode on your phone to restrict internet connection. Now you can browse safely without accidentally liking or engaging with their content.

8. Use exclusive tags

It’s not always easy to entice followers on other social media apps to come and find you on Instagram. Instead of hoping they’ll show up, use exclusive tags like the one above to promote Instagram-only offers.

Instagram growth hacks aren’t just for hobbyists or big-name brands looking to launch their next product. Whether you’re dreaming of being a micro-influencer or just want to maximize your online reach, you can use these straight-forward Instagram tips and tricks to skyrocket your engagement and make social media easier.