My biggest bugbear with Instagram is all the talk about the algorithm. 

I feel like on every other social media platform (which all have algorithms btw) no one talks as much about the algorithm as they do on Insta. There’s so many people sharing tips to “beat” or “please” the algorithm; selling courses on it, etc. Let me tell you the algorithm is not there to be beaten – in fact its there to help (but that’s a topic for another day).  

More than that, if you want to enjoy your time on Instagram and build a business on it, then you should be focusing on your community, not the algorithm. 

In fact, it’s what Instagram is there for; the headline statement on their ‘about’ website is “Give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.” They have designed a platform to build communities; so why are we trying to please their algorithm, when we should be focusing on pleasing our community?

Your community are the real people behind the ‘gram. The people who support you, who recommend you, who buy from you. 

Focus on creating content for them, and if it works for the algorithm along the way then bonus!! 

Having a community on Instagram means you: 

• Can truly connect with people online
• Will focus less on reach & vanity metrics
• Can share content that people want to see
• Are more likely to convert followers to clients

The biggest plus – having a community online makes it all a lot more enjoyable! You’ve got people in your corner, to talk to and connect with – its the SOCIAL of social media. 

Tips for building a community

Here’s some tips whether you’re just starting out or looking to develop your current community: 

ENGAGE

The first step is to engage with those already engaging with you; respond to comments on your content, thank people for sharing, respond to responses to interactive Story stickers. 

Engage with other people’s content – reciprocate the support shown to you, comment (genuinely) on their posts.

MESSAGING

Getting into people’s DMs, in a genuine, authentic way, can help to quickly build a relationship as you’re having a 1:1 person to person discussion. 

How to do it genuinely? Send message replies to comments left on your posts, reply to Stories, follow up on responses to interactive Story stickers. 

Make it more real by using voice replies rather than typing; build that personal connection. 

CREATE CONTENT FOR THEM 

Focus on what your community will find valuable when planning your content. What questions do you get asked frequently? What challenges are they facing right now? Your content is not about you & your business; its about your community. 

If you’re not sure what they’d like to see then ask them – be specific in your questioning, very open & general questions may not get a response, so instead ask “what questions do you have about XYZ” or “last week I shared content about A would you know rather hear about B or C”. 

Use your Insights to understand what they enjoy & engage with so you can create more of the same. 

COLLABORATE

Find new audiences by collaborating with others; find people who fit with your business and look for ways to collaborate. Whether that’s sharing advice, going “Live” to talk about certain topics, or looking to work together on a joint offering. Collaborating can build your network and get you in front of a new audience, and potential new people who will want to be part of your community. 

Don’t forget to use the Instagram ‘Collaboration’ feature to maximise this. 

BE AUTHENTIC

Gone are the days of the “Insta perfect” feed and pictures. Yes, they still exist and we do all like to swoon over an insta worthy cake but people also like to see the real person. 

Show up as you are – not everyone will like you, but that’s ok – you don’t need everyone to like you. 

Also we can all see through the fake preamble to sales chat can’t we, so just don’t do it. Build genuine connections with people and then the selling won’t feel so icky. 

RECOGNISE & ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION

Credit the people in your community for their questions & suggestions. If you’ve learnt something new from them, or they’ve inspired you, let them know. 

If you want more community involvement (client feedback, photos, etc) then consider incentivising this with discounts / small prizes. 

So next time you’re feeling frustrated with Instagram, or wondering what you should do for the algorithm, remember it’s not about the platform – it’s for the community it facilitates.

I want you to enjoy using Instagram to build your community and grow your business; to find out more about how I can help you do this click here to view my Instagram services.

Or if you’re not sure where to start or have some questions, then get in touch to book a free 30 minute clarity call, we can chat it all through and work out how I can best support you. Book a call here.