Proven Strategies for Writers on Instagram

One of the top questions I get asked is “how did you get your following on Instagram?” Let me be real. I don’t have the largest following. I don’t have the most beautiful pictures. I’m not a genius with captions. Most days I’m running around the house chasing children with a side of #writerlife.

My 6,000+ followers didn’t happen overnight. If someone is looking for a quick following, I’ve seen other people do it. You might need to use reels and then pay attention to these strategies.

1.) Find your exact audience using hashtags. See what they’re talking about and posting. Interact with them. You want a following, but it’s better to think of Instagram as finding your people.

2.) Make sure each post or reel is ENTERTAINING, INSTRUCTIVE, or ENCOURAGING. If you can’t think of anything, be interactive. Ask a question and be relatable to your audience (This is why you needed to get to know them).

3.) Respond to comments. Leave comments. This sounds too simple, but I promise it works for getting to know people.

4.) Take pictures in a general same location or with the same things. Why? You are branding yourself. When people scroll, they’re going to recognize your style and you. There are so many people bookstagramming (that’s why you’re on Instagram). Make sure you have a distinct edge.

5.) Be real. People want to hear your heart. I’m not saying you should over share. Of course, each individual decides their own boundaries. I am saying that people want to hear who you are, your happy moments, and your struggles. Slightly less curated photos do better for me.

There are so many other nitty gritty details I can add. Sometimes, it’s good to take a few good concepts and practice. Let me know what helps you.

Follow me on Instagram and write me a comment! 😉

Also, check out this interview I had with Jill K. Willis. My debut novel, UNBETROTHED, releases in a week! I couldn’t be more excited.