There are plenty of ways to succeed that have only been uncovered by years of experience and experimentation. If you're new to Instagram advertising or even if you've been doing it for a while, these tips will help you get ahead of your competition.

1. Ensure You Understand The Algorithm

The first step to success on Instagram is understanding how the algorithm works. By default, the posts on your feed are sorted by how recent they are. However, Instagram also takes other factors into account, such as the number of likes, comments, and shares a post has received and your relationship with the person who posted it. Even though you can consistently implement strategies from previous years, it's always good to develop new and fresh ways to engage with followers.

Ensuring you follow the latest trends is the best way to give yourself a fighting chance of appearing in the top posts section. If you're blogging about popular topics within travel, fashion, or food, you'll get many likes, comments, and shares.

2. Hashtag Research Never Goes Amiss

Hashtags are one of the essential tools on Instagram. They help categorize your content, but they also make it easier for people to find your posts. Researching can be pretty time-consuming, but finding the most popular and relevant hashtags for your brand is worth it.

Breaking down your posts and separating them by hashtags can be a great way to monitor which ones are giving you the most engagement. You can use up to 30 hashtags on each Instagram post. Take advantage of this by using popular, relevant, and niche-specific hashtags. This will help you reach a wider audience with targeted Instagram followers, those most likely to be interested in your content.

3. Small Changes Make Big Differences With Visuals

Editing your images can seem like a small task, but it can make a big difference in how your posts are received. There are plenty of free editing tools available online, such as Canva, PicMonkey, and Fotor. These tools allow you to make basic edits, such as cropping, resizing, and adding filters.

There are many small changes you can make, such as adding a frame, increasing the brightness, or changing the color palette, that can significantly impact the overall look of your images. Experiment with different edits to see what works best for your brand.

4. Permanently Geotag Your Posts Where Possible

Geotagging your posts is a great way to increase your reach and get your content in front of more people. When you geotag a post, it appears on a map within the Instagram app. This makes it easy for people searching for content in that area to find your post.

Since travel has become so popular again, geotagging your posts is a great way to get your content in front of people looking for things to do in that destination. If you are a hotel, for example, geotagging your posts with the location of your hotel will make it more likely for people searching for hotels in that area to come across your post.

5. Share User-Generated Content To Create Authentic Relations With Followers

User-generated content is a great way to create authentic relationships with your followers. It also helps to humanize your brand and make it more relatable. When you share user-generated content, be sure to credit the creator in the caption. 

This shows that you appreciate their content, but it also helps build trust and credibility with your audience.

6. Post Content At Optimal Times

It can be challenging to know when the best time to post is when you are first starting. Experiment with different times of day and days of the week to see when you get the most engagement.

There are a few general guidelines you can follow. For example, research has shown that the best time to post on Instagram is between 9 am, and 11 am EST. Most people are just getting started with their day and scrolling through Instagram while they have some downtime. However, this will obviously vary depending on your location and if you are targeting a national or international audience.

7. Stick To A Consistent Posting Schedule

Once you have determined the best time to post, it's essential to stick to a consistent posting schedule. This will help you build a loyal following and engage people with your content.

If you are struggling to maintain a consistent posting schedule, you can use a few tools to help you out. For example, Facebook Business Manager is a great tool that allows you to schedule your posts in advance. This can be a lifesaver when trying to maintain a consistent posting schedule but don't have the time to post multiple times a day.

8. Use Instagram Stories To Give Glimpses Into The Content You Wouldn't Normally Share

Instagram Stories are a great way to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your brand. This is a great way to humanize your brand and make it more relatable.

People want to see that there are real people behind the brand, so don't be afraid to show your personality. You can also use Instagram Stories to share new products, events, or campaign sneak peeks.

It can be a good idea to save stories to your profile highlights to portray a narrative and give people a reason to follow you.

9. Engage With Followers Using Instagram Live

Instagram Live is a great way to connect with your followers in real-time. This is a great way to build relationships and engage with your audience. Although Instagram live isn't a new feature, it still holds great potential for brands and businesses.

When you go live, be sure to announce it in your stories so that your followers know to tune in. You can also use Instagram Live to answer questions, give sneak peeks, or host giveaways.

You can use Instagram Live to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your brand, answer questions, or host a Q&A session. It can be an excellent opportunity to ask your followers what they want to see more of and give them a voice within your brand.

10. Instagram Advertising Is A Secret Powerhouse For Success

Instagram advertising is a secret powerhouse for successful brands. It allows you to reach a wider audience, target specific demographics, and track your results.

When you are first starting, it can be tempting to use the free features of Instagram. However, if you want to grow your following and reach your business goals, you need to start using Instagram advertising.

There are a few different Instagram ads, so choosing the right one for your goals is essential. For example, if you want to increase brand awareness, you would use a different type of ad than if you were trying to increase website traffic. If you intend to purchase other forms of real Instagram views, make sure you make the best of your investment with Instagram Insights to track your results.

11. Analyze Your Results With Instagram Insights

Analyzing your results is essential to determine whether or not your efforts are paying off. Instagram Insights is a great way to track your progress and see how your content performs.

It's essential to keep track of your metrics to see what's working and what's not. This will help you make necessary changes to your strategy to continue to grow your following and reach your business goals. Metrics may be daunting for Instagram beginners; however, it'll be a breeze once you get the hang of it.

12. Drive Success With Shoppable Posts

Shoppable posts are a great way to increase website traffic and sales. These posts allow people to shop for your products directly from Instagram. There are many customization options to help you create a shoppable post that fits your brand.

If you have an eCommerce store, you need to start using Shoppable posts. This is a great way to increase website traffic and sales. You can use Shoppable posts to showcase your products, share a coupon code, or link to a sale.

If you want to be successful on Instagram, it's essential to use all of your features. This article has shared 12 secret tips that big advertisers use to drive success. These tips will help you build a loyal following, engage with your audience, and increase website traffic and sales. So what are you waiting for? Start using these tips today and see the success you deserve.