4 Instagram Growth Strategies from a Travel Blogger During Quarantine
As a travel content creator, I know firsthand that the pandemic and resulting safety restrictions has significantly impacted the way we as influencers create and share content that is relevant to our audiences. People are not looking to consume the same content as before, during a time that travel, fashion, and other industries are no longer as relevant to their day-to-day lives.
However, since there is no definitive end in sight to some pandemic-related restrictions in many places, there are still strategies you can implement to continue engaging with your audience and sustaining Instagram growth in a culturally relevant way. However, they all require going beyond your usual post-once-a-day routine.
Four Strategies for Instagram Growth During Quarantine:
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Host Instagram Lives: Many creators have already used this tactic during quarantine, but it works for a reason. When you partner with another creator to conduct an Instagram Live, you are gaining exposure with their audience too, some of which may be keen to head on over to your profile and click follow. Not sure what to talk about? An audience-driven Q+A is a great place to start! Just be sure to re-post your Live session on Instagram Stories or IGTV afterward for those who weren’t able to tune in.
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Connect with Feature Accounts: Don’t forget feature accounts still need content to post during this time too! And as you know, when they re-post your content, you gain exposure to another relevant audience that almost always results in a boost in followers. Politely message feature accounts in your niche, especially if they have shared your content in the past, and ask them if they are looking for content to post. You can direct them to your highest-performing posts, create a unique Instagram story series for them to share, or even do a “takeover” on their page.
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Provide New Additional Value: Now that we have additional time at home to create different forms of content, think about what you can create and share with your Instagram audience that you haven’t before. For example, many of my followers are aspiring photographers, so I’ve started releasing photo editing tutorials that I can record in my home. My followers can then share these to others they know are interesting in learning how to edit photos, driving additional views to my account while travel photos are less relevant than ever before.
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Utilize Other Platforms to Drive Instagram Traffic: Have you built, or are starting to build, a separate audience on a different platform? Make sure to drive that traffic over to your Instagram page! For example, TikTok is a great social media platform for this, just be sure to include your Instagram handle in your TikTok bio, your video captions, and even include it in some videos. Your TikTok followers won’t know you have additional content for them to see on Instagram unless you tell them.
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In addition, don’t be afraid to ask what your audience wants to see from you! Your followers are more than willing to let you know what they’d like you to create and post, all you have to do is ask. Knowing your audience specifically and what they want is key for keeping the audience you already have from unfollowing. It is near to impossible to generate Instagram growth if you don’t sustain the interest of the audience you already have.
By adapting your content strategy and utilizing these tactics, it is absolutely possible to continue and sustain consistent follower growth on Instagram, even at a time when creating new and culturally relevant content is difficult. There are always different and creative ways to engage with and grow your audience!
About Kelsey Johnson
Kelsey Johnson is a Seattle-based commercial photographer, digital marketer, podcast host, and social media influencer with a passion for outdoor adventures and travel storytelling. She uses her work to encourage sustainable travel and educate others on how to become a full-time freelance digital creative. Be sure to check out Kelsey’s Instagram, TikTok, podcast, and her online business course for creatives.
