Are you looking to grow Instagram followers for startups? Instagram is the most popular app that many successful brands use to reach a wider audience. These brands use a solid Instagram marketing strategy to engage with the right audience.
According to 81% of users, Instagram helps them research products and services. That said, you risk losing potential customers if you’re not active on the network.
Instagram will be crucial for brands in 2025. With over a billion users, companies that disregard this massive social media platform risk missing out on significant market prospects.
This blog will explore creative and practical ways to turn your Instagram into a buzzing hub of followers genuinely interested in your brand.
How To Grow a Business on Instagram
Instagram is a powerful platform for businesses to build their brand, engage with their audience, and drive sales.
Here’s how to grow your business on Instagram that attracts new followers and turns them into customers:
1. Optimize Your Profile
Once you have your keywords, strategically incorporate them into your bio, username, and name section. Your username should be easy to remember and relevant to your brand.
The Instagram search function works similarly to Google, showing the most relevant profiles based on your search query. Instagram search results are determined by various factors, including the accounts you follow and are connected to.
Instagram bio is a good spot to include keywords you want to rank for. It can be used to describe your business using relevant secondary keywords. For example, if you’re going to target the term “salon,” you may include secondary keywords like “styling,” “makeup,” or “makeovers” in your bio.
2. Make Your Profile Picture Stand Out
First impressions matter, and high-quality visuals are crucial for grabbing attention. Choose a professional and clear profile picture that instantly represents your brand. The best way to do that is to:
- Go for clarity: A plain, distraction-free background highlights your logo.
- Use a high-resolution image: A crisp logo enhances brand authority.
- Ensure consistency: Align colors and design with your brand identity.
- Maintain proper logo proportions: Avoid stretching or distorting the logo—keep it balanced and visually appealing.
- Optimize for different platforms: Ensure your logo looks great across various sizes, from profile pictures to website icons.
3. Add a Strong Call to Action (CTA)
A Call to action (CTA) is used to persuade users to take action. CTAs can be placed in captions of posts or reels such as ‘Follow us for more content,’ ‘Comment below to get exclusive updates,’ or ‘Share your thoughts in the comments.’
CTAs are essential because they:
- Boost engagement: A well-placed CTA grabs attention and encourages interaction, increasing likes, comments, shares, or clicks.
- Offer a clear next step: CTAs direct your audience on what to do next, avoiding confusion.
- Create connection: Even minor interactions contribute to building trust and engagement, which is crucial for startups to grow their Instagram followers.
4. Utilize Contact Buttons Effectively
Looking for more small business Instagram tips? Instagram’s “Contact” action button helps interaction between businesses and people by giving users an easy-to-find method to contact them directly using their contact information, such as phone number, email address, or business location.
This effectively simplifies the process for potential consumers to contact them without looking for their contact information elsewhere on the profile.
Content Strategy for Maximum Reach and Engagement
Crafting a winning content strategy is essential for a successful Instagram presence. Here’s an Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses that ignites conversation and builds a loyal following.
1. Establish Content Pillars Aligned with 2025 Trends
How to grow a business on Instagram in 2025 will depend on establishing content pillars that align with 2025 trends.
Simply put, social media content pillars are crucial themes a brand wants to focus on and communicate with its audience via its social media channels.
Any successful Instagram content strategies will also have to be creative and authentic. From 2025 onward, sustainability and purpose-driven content will gain center stage, with the creators and brands focusing more on meaningful stories that connect with socially conscious audiences.
2. Experiment with AI-Enhanced Post Formats & Reels
AI shapes how we generate content, from simple text to AI-generated videos. A staggering $12 billion is expected to be invested in AI tools for social media by 2031.
Implementing AI tools into your Instagram strategy can speed up content creation and generate targeted posts that resonate with your audience.
Here’s how to leverage AI for your Instagram content.
Brainstorm Instagram posts using ChatGPT. Even with minimal input, ChatGPT can generate a large number of ideas. You can find material that fits your brand’s specialty, upcoming holidays, or popular topics. It’s like having a creative director at your fingertips.
Use SocialBu to generate creative Instagram post ideas. Where ChatGPT sparks AI innovation, SocialBu’s AI post generator takes the long view. For example, if you run a small business on Instagram with few content ideas, you can use the AI post generator for free to generate diverse social media content in only a few clicks.
3. Leverage Captions for Storytelling and SEO
One important Instagram tip for small businesses is to use captions. Engaging captions tell a story about your brand, product, or service.
Moreover, incorporate relevant keywords into captions that relay a story about your brand image for better reach. You can also use emojis to add personality or ask questions to spark conversation and encourage interaction. These strategies boost engagement and help grow Instagram followers for startups.
4. Incorporate Trending Audio
One of the latest features on Instagram is sharing audio content. With Instagram, you can add music to posts and stories, including your reels. Users can search by title, artist, or genre.
In addition, Instagram has a vast library of licensed music tracks for your stories, posts, and reels. An effective way to stay updated with trending audio on Instagram is following popular accounts such as content creators and influencers.
You can also create your own trending audio on Instagram, for instance, by using a catchy tune, voiceover, or sound effect that resonates with your audience.
Hashtag Strategy for Discoverability on Instagram
Not sure how to grow your small business on Instagram? Like keywords, hashtags on Instagram help users find the content that corresponds to their interests.
Regarding Instagram business, it’s essential to have a good hashtag strategy for increasing reach and getting business followers to grow Instagram followers for startups.
1. Advanced Keyword Research for Hashtags
If you’re familiar with traditional SEO, you’re likely aware that keyword research is the first step toward establishing an effective search strategy. Your approach to hashtags should be no different. To select the best keywords for hashtags for your Instagram post, start with the search bar.
Begin by entering the first few letters of a relevant term. Take notice of all the keywords that Instagram provides and note down the ones that are most relevant to your post. Below the search field, you’ll notice a list of trending hashtags. Put those in your back pocket and include them in your posts, or save them for later.
2. Use Niche Hashtags for Better Targeting
Another prominent ingredient for business Instagram tips is using niche Hashtags. They were the initial Instagram search signal and are still relevant. Instagram recommends tacking on three to five relevant hashtags, but we’ve found that especially regarding reels.
Regardless of the quantity, choose high-quality hashtags. Explore the top posts and take note of the hashtags they use. Use hyper-specific and generic hashtags (such as #springfootwear and #springsandals).
3. Track Hashtags Effectively with Tools
To evaluate the impact of hashtags using social media management tools, you can use social media management tools such as SocialBu.This allows you to monitor how frequently your chosen hashtags are used and evaluate the engagement they generate.
4. Use SocialBu to Track Hashtags
With SocialBu, you can monitor hashtag analytics for multiple platforms, saving you time from running analytics natively on each app. You can track reach and engagement and identify top-performing hashtags within your niche.
Benefit from Instagram Reels, Stories, and Live Feature
Wondering how to grow a business on Instagram in 2025 with Instagram posts, reels, and stories? These features allow you to go beyond static posts and create a sense of authenticity that resonates with viewers.
Here’s how to leverage Reels, Stories, and Live features to understand ‘how to grow a small business on Instagram’:
1. Optimize Reels for Algorithm Boosts
Reels, short-form content, are an excellent option for Instagram small businesses looking to make a mark on the platform. It enables small businesses to market directly to their fans and customers.
People enjoy watching Reels, particularly those from brands they admire. For instance, Nike attracts an average of at least 4.6 million likes on reel posts. For startups, leveraging Reels is a powerful strategy to grow Instagram followers for startups and enhance engagement.
A Reel is more than a short video shared on a social media website. It is a way for people to connect with others and organizations, to be entertained, and to be informed.
To create engaging Reels:
- Keep it short and focused
- Use creative effects like filters, transitions, and music
- Research trends and themes in your niche
- Incorporate trending audio
2. Interactive Stories for Engagement and Personalization
The advantages of using Stories for your brand go far beyond helping your brand reach the right audience.
Recent Instagram figures reveal that 50% of all IG users have become website visitors buying after viewing them through Stories.
Users can respond to your Stories via DMs or using features like polls and stickers. This is the best place to showcase unique products, such as custom jerseys, to attract niche audiences.
Additionally, unique subtitles, overlays, and custom music provide a creative touch to your stories.
And while Stories expire after a day, you can save your best stories as story Highlights. These Highlights then appear on your profile right above your regular feed.
3. Live Videos to Build Trust & Real-Time Connection
Instagram Live is a great way to connect with your audience in real time and show them a more human side of your brand. Creating a live Instagram stream can reach a larger audience. When you go live, followers who open their app will be notified that you are broadcasting.
Furthermore, as shown on the home screen below, all live videos appear at the start of Instagram Stories. This ensures that any of your followers who open the app will notice that you’re online and may join in to watch your live stream.
Analytics and Measuring Success
One of the top Instagram tips for small businesses is tracking performance metrics. These indicators help you evaluate your content’s performance and your audience’s engagement. They show how many people watched, liked, and interacted with your posts.
Master Instagram Insights for Actionable Data
If you’re running a small business on Instagram (such as an online store), you’ll want to know how well it’s doing. Your Instagram insights will show you whether or not you need to change your messaging.
Instagram analytics have evolved from basic metrics like likes and followers to extensive information that provides deeper insights into user behavior and content performance. As a result, they have transformed how businesses manage their social media presence.
To view Instagram insight for Instagram business:
- Go to your profile.
- To view Insights, tap on the Professional dashboard.
- You can access your insights through the hamburger icon or by clicking on it on your profile.
Utilize SocialBu for Advanced Analytics
While Instagram analytics is easy to use and provides extensive insights, SocialBu analytics goes one step further with its detailed reports and graphs, which help users make better decisions.
SocialBu allows you to track your growth trends in one place, making them easy to compare. It also helps you identify which accounts are performing well.
In addition to viewing extensive reports, it identifies top-performing posts, allowing you to create new social media strategies and analyze your social media content strategy.
Furthermore, the social media management tool enables you to reply to Facebook posts, Instagram comments, and X (Twitter) mentions from a single, integrated dashboard. These strategies boost engagement and help startups grow their Instagram followers.
Bottom Line
Due to Instagram’s active and constantly expanding user base, it has proven itself as a centerpiece of social marketing rather than an occasional trend.
Startups that aim to build a loyal following and customer base and have a visual story can still be featured on the platform.
SocialBu helps take your Instagram marketing and presence to the next level through scheduling, analytics, and engagement features to ensure you get the most out of your content and grow your audience.
Sign up for a free trial today and start maximizing your Instagram potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Instagram for Business Free?
Creating and using an Instagram Business account does not require investment. Users are given access to features such as analytics and an advertising tool for business promotion without any upfront expenses.
2. How to Make Money from Instagram?
You can make money on Instagram in different ways. As an affiliate marketer, you can promote people’s products and sell your own or collaborate with brands to get sponsored posts.
3. How do I Set my Instagram to Business?
On the Instagram app, go to settings, select “Account,” and then “Switch to professional account.” Click on “Business,” and then follow the on-screen instructions.
4. How to Monetize your Instagram?
To monetize your Instagram account, ensure it is configured as a business or creator account and follow Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies. You must also reside in an area where Instagram allows for revenue generation.
5. What is Required for an Instagram Business Account?
To create an Instagram business account:
- Tap the menu in the top right corner of your profile.
- Select “Account type and tools.”
- Choose “Switch to a professional account.”
- Tap “Continue.”
- After choosing a category for your company, click “Done.”
- Upon choosing Business, click Next.
6. How to grow a food business on Instagram?
To grow Instagram followers for startups:
- Use of a suitable handle and account name.
- Select the niche that works best for your food business.
- Take lots of capturing pictures.
- Make use of creative captions.
- Manage the timing and frequency of your Instagram food posts.
7. How to you grow a business account on Instagram?
Not sure how to grow a brand on Instagram?
Follow these tips to grow your business on Instagram:
- Regularly publish content.
- Use relevant hashtags.
- Post High-quality pictures
- Create engaging Reels
- Run contests
- Reshare other Instagram users’ content.
