How do people randomly find me on instagram?
People can find you on Instagram through several methods, each with varying degrees of control you have over them. Here are some key ways:
Hashtag Search / Trending Posts
When you use hashtags in your posts, they become visible in the hashtag feed. Users searching for those hashtags can find your content, especially if your posts are recent or trending. However, the visibility is influenced by the number of people using the same hashtag and Instagram's algorithm for trending posts2.
Instagram Suggests
After someone follows an account similar to yours, Instagram may suggest your account to them. This is based on an algorithm that considers your account's niche, bio, and the accounts you follow and engage with. While you can't control who Instagram suggests you to, you can optimize your bio and engage with accounts in your niche to increase the likelihood2.
Discover New People
Instagram's "Discover New People" feature in the Explore tab suggests accounts based on users' existing likes and follows on both Instagram and Facebook. You can influence this by maintaining an active and engaging Facebook page, as Instagram may suggest accounts based on Facebook connections2.
Word of Mouth
High-quality content and engagement can lead to word-of-mouth recommendations. When your followers share your content or recommend your account to others, it can drive new followers to your page. You can encourage this by asking your followers to tag friends or share your posts2.
Cross Promotion from Other Social Media
By sharing your Instagram posts on other social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, you can direct your followers from those platforms to your Instagram account. This method is entirely under your control2.
Shout Outs
If other accounts, especially larger ones, give you a shoutout, it can attract new followers. However, this method is less predictable and often depends on relationships or collaborations with other accounts2.
Contests
Running contests or giveaways can attract new followers, although the quality of these followers may vary. Contests can be controlled entirely by you, but they often result in followers who are more interested in the prize than your content2.
Being Active
Engaging with potential followers by liking and commenting on their posts, especially those using relevant hashtags, can significantly increase your visibility. This method is highly effective and under your control2.
Direct Links and Mentions
Posting a direct link to your Instagram page on your Facebook page or other social media platforms can also drive traffic to your Instagram account. You can connect your Facebook page to your Instagram account to easily share posts across platforms2.