The goal for many people is to have 10,000 followers on Instagram. But what does it take to get there? Is it just a numbers game where the more followers you have, the easier it is to attract even more followers? Or are there other factors that contribute to how we're seen on social media and in general? What steps do you need to take in order to grow your following to 10K? I'll be discussing these questions today.

How do I get more Instagram followers?

In order to grow your followers, you need to ask yourself a very important question: What is it that you're doing right now that is growing your following? And why are people following you in the first place.? If this isn't something you've considered before, there's a chance that you're wasting time with strategies that don't actually impact your growth.

Analyze your content.

The first step is to take a look at what type of content you're posting and why people decide to follow you on Instagram.  Is it because of your feed or the pictures you're posting? Or is it because they like or respect what you have to say on a regular basis?

The secret behind growing an Instagram following quickly is that people need to feel a connection with you. You'll have to show them who you are and why they should care about you before they will be inspired to follow you.

The best way to do this is by being helpful.  For someone who is just starting out, the only thing he or she has to offer is "expertise" in a specific subject. People will be drawn to your pictures and posts because of how you use words and images to clearly express these ideas.

Keep in mind that engagement levels are just as important as the number of followers you have so if people aren't engaging with your content, your growth will be much slower and inconsistent.

Join an exclusive community.

This is a simple strategy that will help you find like minded people who share the same passion for photography or videography. On my travels, I've been fortunate enough to meet some great people from all around the world and I've learnt a lot from them.

I've even set up my own community called Modern Travel Collective, where I help connect brands with other photographers and build a strong network of amazing people. 

Organize a brand collaboration.

This strategy is all about creating an experience for your followers that will keep them coming back for more. For example, last year I helped a fashion brand create an experience where a few of my followers tagged their friends in a post while wearing the brand's products. By tagging them, these people would be entered into a draw to win prizes like free trips, merchandise and more. I also helped another company run an Instagram giveaway for new software that was launching. Not only did this drive signups for the software, but it also helped the company get more followers.

Only post great content.

If you're only posting photos of yourself, your friends or your travels, chances are not many people will follow you. That's because Instagram is about connecting with other people and experiencing things from a different perspective. So in order to grow your following on Instagram, don't forget to post photos and videos that let other people experience what they're missing out on. This can be anything from a video of your favorite band, to photos of an event you attended or even behind the scenes footage!

Use hashtags as much as you can.

I don't believe in 'buying' followers but hashtags are one of the best ways for users to find your work. This is especially effective if you're trying to connect with a specific type of person or brand. For example, as an aspiring travel photographer, I use hashtags like #girlsthatwander and #travelphotography in order to reach more people who are interested in my content. You can also use tools called Tagboard and Websta which allow you to visually see new posts and engage with your followers in a much better way.

Get some help.

The Influence Booster is a social media marketing company that uses software to boost your Instagram followers and likes. This service has been used by well renowned companies in order to grow their following quickly without having to spend time or money on ads. It works by analyzing the type of content you post, what hashtags you use most often, who your followers are and other factors in order to find new people who might be interested in your work. Once this software finds a potential match, it will share your content with their followers on Instagram. In my opinion, this is really the only way to go if you're looking for an easy and affordable way to grow your following without the need of spending money on ads.

In conclusion.

Social media has disrupted the world as we know it. It has become an integral part of our lives. By using strategies and tools like those mentioned above, you'll be able to use this network of billions in order to further your career or business in ways that were never thought possible.

Good luck and happy growing!