I loooove Instagram. There are many reasons: it’s visual and you can post deep insights at the same time. It allows me to connect with other yogis, inspire them, get inspired, learn and grow. It doesn’t take a lot of my time and IT’S FUN!

So let’s dive into strategies. But first I want to get this straight: The number of your followers is not important!

I admit I used the headline “5 Tips To Grow Your Instagram Followers“ to grab your attention. And it worked, you’re here, right?

But really the number is just a tool. Something to measure if what you’re doing works.

What’s more important than the total number of your followers is the connection you have to them. How they engage with you and you with them.

I just wanted to get that out there. So don’t get discouraged by other famous Insta-Yogis with tons of followers.

Remember, social media is about being real and about connection. Be authentic and you will find your tribe. And the following strategies will help you with that:

Here are 5 strategies to grow your Instagram followers:

1. Prettify Your Instagram Feed

Have you ever noticed how pictures in successful Instagram feeds all fit into a theme, have the same look, and generally the same aesthetic?

To set this up is not as difficult as it might seem, though it takes a bit of planning.

Step 1: Figure out what you like

Take a look at who you follow on Instagram. Who are your favorite users? Take a scroll through the main feed and see what pops out at you. Do you enjoy color? Do you prefer muted tones? This will help you decide on an overall aesthetic for your Instagram feed.

Step 2: Plan ahead

Want to know the secret to a perfectly styled Instagram? Planning. Many Instagrammers take dozens of photos during one “shoot” and then use them throughout the week.

Not only does having all of your images pre-planned help to maintain consistency, but it makes it easier for you when life gets hectic during the week.

Step 3: Give your images one consistent look

In order to maintain consistent branding, consider either picking a filter and just using that one, or using no filter at all. Be consistent and pick one look.

My favorite tool to edit all my images using the same individual filter is Canva (*affiliate link) (yes, I edit my images on my Mac). Other great tools are the apps Afterlight, VSCO, and ColorStory (they are all available in the App Store).

2. Post Meaningful Content

Being a successful Insta-Yogi does not mean that you have to only post pictures doing advanced yoga poses (unless you want to).

Instead, post pictures with a purpose. You want your feed to be pretty AND have substance.

Don’t be too perfect! Show the real You – the behind-the-scenes to the „perfect“ poses everybody sees on Instagram all the time.

Be real in your descriptions and keep them relevant. Posting a photo of a handstand and a Rumi quote has been done too many times.

Don’t be afraid to mention your products, services, and blog posts regularly – how else will people know what you are about?

You want to use Instagram as a way to bring people to your website and your email list. If you just post pretty pictures without talking about what you are offering, you lose out on the chance to connect with new potential customers who are eager to come to your workshops, retreats, or buy from you.

3. Be Consistent

If you are serious about growing your Instagram followers, you have to be consistent and post regularly.

I recommend posting 1 to 2 pictures a day, for example, morning and evening, and only post one image at a time, don’t spam your followers.

Instagram doesn’t offer scheduling options yet in their native app, you have to post in real-time using your phone or use a scheduling tool from a third party (for example http://schedugr.am or https://later.com).

It’s best to post at a time when many of your followers are online, but don’t overthink it – I always post when it works for me.

4. Use Hashtags Wisely

Using hashtags will place your posts in the collection of photos that have also used that hashtag, making your content searchable, findable, and ready to inspire new yogis.

Everybody who clicks on a hashtag will see all photos and videos that use the same hashtag. It’s a great way to connect with other yogis and build Insta-relationships!

Here are some Tips for Hashtags:

• Use relevant hashtags that your audience is using.
• Less popular hashtags can get you better results. This is because you are not lost in the clutter of thousands of other photos using that hashtag as well.
• Post only one hashtag with your original post and add up to 30 in a comment immediately after posting.
• Think outside the box… be creative with hashtags, invent your own and go a bit crazy.

5. Connect and engage

To grow your followers, you need to engage on Instagram. It’s not enough to post beautiful photos and have a well-designed feed. Find other accounts you like and follow them, comment on their posts, like them and build a community.

Follow other people and comment on other people’s images regularly — they will start to notice you. Whether or not they follow you back depends on your profile and your last nine photos – rarely people will take the time to look beyond the last photos.

Always engage with your followers. When they leave a comment reply.

Use hashtags related to your niche so people can find you.

I hope you find these 5 strategies to grow your Instagram followers helpful. Whatever you do, don’t be afraid because you think your yoga practice is not advanced enough to share or you are not beautiful enough to be an Insta-Yogi! Be authentic, share your message and you will find your tribe.