Most people will tell you that Instagram is a busy place. With so many users, stories, and content to keep up with, it can be hard to stand out. But for those who can, the rewards can be great. Buying and selling of content, building and engaging with communities, and making money online are just a few of the possible routes to success on the app.
Since launching his own influencer marketing agency, Ignite, in early 2019, Jesse has worked with leading brands across the globe to grow their follower numbers and engagement rates on Instagram.
In this article, we’ll tell you about his experience.
Building An Instagram Following
When Instagram first emerged as a standalone app in 2010, many people saw it as a simple and easy way to build a following. Back then, the goal was simply to have a large audience to help grow your business or career. Following the rise of TikTok and other similar platforms, that path has become less distinct. Nowadays, people use social media to entertain and engage themselves, often neglecting to grow their audience for business purposes.
While there are certainly still opportunities to grow your Instagram following for commercial gain, the strategy needs to change. Instead of simply following and liking content to gain Instagram followers, you should be aiming to truly engage with your audience so that they come back for more.
The New Goal: Engagement Over Following
Instead of merely gaining followers, you should be working to engage with your audience on the platform. What does that mean? It means getting involved in conversations with your followers so that they come back for more. It means using Instagram as a tool to talk to your audience and have meaningful interactions with them.
When you engage with your followers on the platform, you show that you’re paying attention to their needs, questions, and concerns. You allow them to tell you about themselves and their world, as well as give you advice and tips on how to improve your own life. To truly excel at engaging with your audience, you must do the following:
- Pay attention to your follower’s needs and questions
- Offer value
- Be consistent
- Build trust
- Be authentic
- Show you’re a human like them
By regularly interacting with your audience, you show that you’re a safe bet for authentic and engaging content, and encourage people to follow you. When done well, it can prove to be an effective strategy to grow your Instagram following and keep them engaged.
How I Became a Top Instagram Influencer
Jesse grew up in England and came to the United States to study at Boston University. While there, he started a YouTube channel to share his photography. To fund his travels and daily activities, he took on a role as a social media influencer for a number of brands. This is how he became a top Instagram influencer.
Since then, he’s held a steady hand in the Instagram space, working with big brands like Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs, and Ralph Lauren, as well as smaller businesses, like studios and art galleries, across North America and Europe.
In 2019, Jesse launched his own digital marketing agency, Ignite, and began working with international clients to grow their presence on social media. He and his team of specialists use a data-driven approach to provide the best possible results for their clients. With his agency, Jesse has worked with brands to create content that is both authentic and engaging, ultimately driving increased sales and web traffic.
If you’d like to learn more, check out his blog at jessepattinson.com or follow him on social media to get the latest news and updates from his agency.